Dumb question:

would it be worth swapping in a 6.9 or 7.3L diesel (the early ones with IDI, no computer), instead of a 460? (as long as I put a banks turbo kit on it). I figure i'd get a lot of torque and decent mileage.

 

Well worth it....The 7.3L has a noticeable power gain and is actually a bit stronger!

My .02 worth

-Jason-

 

my frame was originally a diesel- i swapped in a 351w with the mounts. I still have the disel mounts... it is a 90 frame... I assume that it had a 7.3L diesel? I probably have to get a new tranny for a diesel, i'd probably go for a np-435 tranny though.

 

If it is 90's model it had the 7.3L...yes you will have to get a new tranny and I would highly suggest the Ford ZF 5 or 6 speed. They are tough as hell, Ford still puts them in the 450's and up, but will do awesome in an F-250/350!

-Jason-

 

does your ZF6 have a removable bell housing (or the ZF5 for that matter)? do the zf6's have L-1-2-3-4-OD? I think the ZF5 are cool (L-1-2-3-OD)..

 

First off, no, the ZF's do not have a removeable bellhousing, and, FWIW, they require a hydraulic clutch setup(the SB ZF 5 has a concentric slave, BB and Diesel are external and look like they may be adaptable to linkage. The ZF6, I forget, been a while since I've seen one.)
And, the ZF 6 does have L-1-2-3-4-OD, with L off to the left, seperate from the 1-4 pattern.
Evan

 

Yoy said---
"would it be worth swapping in a 6.9 or 7.3L diesel (the early ones with IDI, no computer), instead of a 460? (as long as I put a banks turbo kit on it). I figure i'd get a lot of torque and decent mileage."

The diesel has a lot of low RPM torque, but not a lot of HP, and a restrictive RPM range, and it depends on what you are pulling out for the swap.

It would be a heck of a lot easier and cheaper to fix up and sell what you have and buy a stock diesel truck to start with, rather than swap all the related components and have the truck down forever and a day.

Engine, sound proofing, trans, drive line length, fuel system, exhaust, frame mounts, dash/tach, related wiring that was not installed for a diesel as it was not originaly a diesel, and will your gearing give you decent freeway speeds with the lower maximum RPM range?

A lot to consider, that and if you dont do a first rate job (like stock) it will hurt the resale value big time.

 

hmm. you have a good point. I do have 3.55 gears, which should be high enough. but the other stuff will probably need changed. like you said, alot of stuff to think about. A 393 or a 460 isn't looking so bad now.

the main reason i was looking into a diesel was for gas mileage, but they doesn't seem to have anything great though either.

 

I want to share my recent experience with you guys here.
Look at this truck for now .I bought it site unseen and NOT road tested until after i brought it up from Florida.

Consider that I was under this FORD TRUCK FORUM's advice when considering TOWING,however I never thought of fuel economy. Y e T !


I never owned a diesel before.
My test drive details for this, my new diesel ride, may follow.
And i will be setting up my new truck a thread for your help.
See if you can guess the year of this one.cyaltr

 

If you do go with a diesel, Find a good truck you can pull the Wiring harness and all from to do the swap. If ya watch closely of how ya pull the harness You can slide it right in your truck and be good to go. Yes, I'd go with the ZF5 speed Which should be found behing the year truck you'll be looking for with the 7.3L non computered. if ya go with a newer 7.3l with computer you'll be lookin into quite of bit of work because they use some of the controls found in the dash cluster. What I'm not sure of just read info over it. unless the 460 was widely used in your area ya may find it quite costly trying to piece together the mounts, Ast. brackets and all to drop in a 460 unless you already have the stuff. I spent 2years trying to find a parts truck to rob what I needed to do a 460 swap in my truck, All i came up with was the frame mounts. L&L products sales a full kit to swap to a 460 but I was quoted $2,500 for the pieces i needed. So i stayed with my 302 and have a 95 351W ready to slide in it's place. If I was you and Went ahead with the 460 Swap I'd spent a lil more time to drop in a EFI 460 for the lil better MPG they get over Carb'd.
The ZF5.
L 2 OD
1 3 R Like the everyday 4spd setup with a extra OD gear.
The ZF6's gear pattern is like this.
R 1 3 OD
L 2 4

Rebel, guess the year of the truck or the diesel in it? If truck I'd say 85?

 

1985 is correct.
to the dude wondering to go diesel,
part of me wants you to buy this truck,the other part cant wait to tow somthing.it smokes when i accelerate,it does wind out at fifty and burns way too much fuel according to the fuel milage.
from my house to inspection and back took 1/4 tank.
it failed for the steering columne being too loose and the triangle glass has tint on them.When i found out they dont check for emissions on this truck i went expeditiously.it smoked them out too.I now want the F250 4x4 that has more drivability,ie six speed tranny !?



originally i wanted to turn this 150 truck into a 250 truck for towing a 6000lb tractor. I love this truck can you guess the year of it too ?

 

i guess now both trucks are for sale !

wanted :early model 250 4x4 w/ drivablity

 

bremen gas mileage wise my 85 truck is 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 4 speed manual, final drive at 1.00:1 so no overdrive. I have 3.55 gears and the only thing I've really done to the 460 is put headers on it and ditch the stock carb for a not made for motorcraft holley 600 with vacuum secondaries. once I tuned it and jetted it down a little I get 14 miles per gallon unloaded 12 loaded with a 20 food trailer pulling another 3/4 ton truck. and I can do the 40 footer with my buddies rock crawler and mine on it but then she works and only gets about 9 miles per gallon. so gas mileage wise 460's can be made great just gotta tune them up a little. and power wise I can outrun my neighbor pulling a trailor or not with his turbo charged 6.9 diesel.