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Long time no talk. I've been lurking every now and again, but, as it has a way of doing, life really got put on the front burner. And of course, the truck moved to the back burner. We moved to some property out of town with 10 acres, renovated the house, built a lean to, a soap building studio for the wife, a chicken coop (cathedral?), and all the work that comes with taking on a 10acre project. To say nothing of the fact that while we were pregnant with our third, we got a call from the foster department asking if we'd take a newborn (of course!). So from two to four we went, and all the chaos that brought.
Personal therapy session aside, I've been lurking here while shuffling around Frank the 49 F1 I picked up a few years ago. Just about ready to put the doors on my new 30x40 shop I'm building and start tearing into the truck. Which has got me thinking about a re-power. If I can't get my I4 to reliably fire up, I'll put something more fun in there. Been planning toward a 302 or 351, but recently ran across a crazy idea. Has anyone ever put a 4 or 6cyl Detroit Diesel in one? I know they're heavy, and loud, and smelly, and I sort of love it!
I'm a ways away from it, but figure I'd throw it out here in case it's a an absolute nutty idea, I welcome your wet blankets. Or, if it's crazy in a way that just might work, maybe you'll see a build thread.
So, long story longer, anyone know of a Detroit powered fat fender?
And, photo of me and some of the kiddos last summer. Because all threads are useless without pics.
Wow! Talk about a full plate, but you're young and strong. Great looking kiddo's. Ok, back to the engines. As you know, the 71 series are very heavy for that chassis, and with a governed speed of 2,100 r/m kind of impractical. A 3-71 or 4-71 (1,500 lbs) would be doable with considerable suspension, axle, chassis mods. The 6-71N non-turbo only puts out 216 HP, and weighs North of a ton. The more practical Detroit would be the 4-53T with 175 HP @ 2,500 r/m, and 1,200 lbs. These factors are why the lightweight compact four stroke modern diesels are the popular choices, like the Cummins BT, IH & Ford Powerstroke, GM/Isuzu, etc.
I know of no fat-fendered Fords that have been repowered with Detroits (one steam powered though), but quite a few GMC/Chev PU's have the 4-53 and 6V-53 repowered (check You Tube).
Don't do it. I love the 2 stroke Detroit Diesels. I put a quite few of them in farm tractors and equipment. Sitting behind one, even in a well insulated cab requires good hearing protection. There is nothing like the sound they make up against the governor. Which is what they were made to do. But you do not want one in a pickup that you plan on driving.
The suggestion of a 4BT is a good one. If you want a diesel that would be a much better alternative.
I saw a 3208 Turbo Caterpillar in a Scout. Where there's a will ,there's a way I guess. The 4BT Cummins as suggested is a good choice but, if you have your heart set on the Detroit...............Please post your build for us all to enjoy.
Actually there were a few in my area. First I ever saw was a friend who put a 4-53 in a 1973 lincoln Mk 4. The
big think is you have to have overdrive or rear end gear change. In fact 15 yrs ago I bought a 70s F250 from local junk yard and that had a 4-53 Detroit with a 5 over Clark I bought it just for the tranny it was cheap enough
and left the truck there. 500 bucks to me is a deal for the tranny which slid into my F800. Problem is with those
is pedal to the metal all day and without gearing you may only do 30mph wide open. I use to love those screamin jimmies until I bought a LN 9000 3406 Cat. A life changer......
I couldn't find my copy of Ford Trucks since 1905, but I know Ford built that series of trucks with diesels for export. Mainly F3's etc. I believe they used the Dagenham diesels. I have a friend who was a 2 stroke salesman for aftermarket application for 20+ years. He built a GMC pickup with a 4-53 Detroit. Drove it for years that way. Then he picked up a turbo setup for it and ran it another 20yrs. Finally he decided to rebuild the GMC. He picked up a 1st gen Dodge Cummins to drive while doing the restoration, and now he has 3 of those!! He scoffed at Cummins for years till he finally had one. Yes, stock in earplugs definetly needed with a Detroit. There is a group called the CONFAB group. All the members have a vehicle with some kind of conversion, not brand particular.
If you want diesel, a 4BT cummins is a great way to go. I've seen trucks with 354 Perkins, Deutz air cooled diesels too. A 7.3 powerstroke? You have to make sure to get all the electronics.
Frank looks like a nice little F1. I was mine was in that condition. You can put a 302 and C4 in it with basically zero modifications to the truck. AOD or C6 requires some work at the transmission crossmember. The 302 in mine is mounted to the '50 3 speed and sits on flathead mounts.
Or you could go with the flathead. This year I'm putting the flathead back in mine.
That's a nice truck, too good for a diesel conversion in my opinion. If it was a piece of junk that needed everything....maybe.
Actually there were a few in my area. First I ever saw was a friend who put a 4-53 in a 1973 lincoln Mk 4. The
big think is you have to have overdrive or rear end gear change. In fact 15 yrs ago I bought a 70s F250 from local junk yard and that had a 4-53 Detroit with a 5 over Clark I bought it just for the tranny it was cheap enough
and left the truck there. 500 bucks to me is a deal for the tranny which slid into my F800. Problem is with those
is pedal to the metal all day and without gearing you may only do 30mph wide open. I use to love those screamin jimmies until I bought a LN 9000 3406 Cat. A life changer......
For me it was getting a D6C with a turned up 3306, you can get use to a flat torque curve pretty quick.
The Cummins 4BT fits just fine with the radiator in the V8 position. 4 cylinder version of the 6BT (gen-1, 5.9L) so parts are readily available. The B3.3 in the Chevy should fit just fine as well. Nice thing about the 4BT is all the performance parts available. I've got mine set around 200hp and that's plenty to move the F5 around well. It does weigh 780lbs.
There was a member here years ago that had a 3-53 in an F-1 that he was driving. Haven't seen anything about it in years though.
I have a 5cyl. Mercedes diesel in my 53 F100 and love it.
01-18-2019, 11:06 AM
To say nothing of the fact that while we were pregnant with our third, we got a call from the foster department asking if we'd take a newborn (of course!). So from two to four we went, and all the chaos that brought. 
You can put a 302 and C4 in it with basically zero modifications to the truck. AOD or C6 requires some work at the transmission crossmember. The 302 in mine is mounted to the '50 3 speed and sits on flathead mounts.
