Ladies and Gentlmen,

I purchased a used 7.3 IDI to swap out with my tired "blow-by special" 7.3 in my 1988 F250. I plan to do the swap myself in my driveway (some dopey neighbor won't like that I'm sure, but who cares?) This is my first diesel truck and I'm wondering about a few things. First, the motor I bought is from a wrecked 91 F350, I don't know if it was an automatic or manual truck. Is the flywheel on an auto the same as the manual? Otherwise I will have to change out the flywheels from my current motor to go in the replacement because my truck is an automatic. The motor I bought has the flywheel but no clutch pack attached to it so I will swap my current one. The biggest motor I've ever pulled was on a Toyota Camry I owned years ago so this will be different and a heavier lift job so I'm renting a 2000lb hoist. The motor appears pretty simple to pull not a whole lot to disconnect it appears. Do you need to disconnect the exhaust Y pipe and remove it? or just from where it connects to the manifolds? It looks like it would be in the way when disconnecting the engine from the torque convertor. If I can get away without having to fully remove it, I'd prefer to. I will pull the starter and oil filter before removal as well. Once I get it out and begin to put the new motor in, is there anything I should look out for in that process or a technique to make it easy or smooth that you did that worked in your case? Is there anything special I need to do with clutch after its bolted to the flywheel and I prepare to re-attach it to the torque convertor? (I know you need to turn the crankshaft to align it) Anything you guys can provide as suggestions to make the job work smoothly I'd appreciate. Finally, I wanted to keep the old motor and slowly tear it down for a rebuild doing it in bits and pieces as I ge the time and money. Unfortunately, I have no garage on my old house and no place to store it. That being said, it needs to be gone ASAP. If anyone out there lives in the Washington DC area or doesn't mind a road trip if not local, '(I'm in Northern Virginia) and is interested in a FREE rebuildable motor, I'm your guy. I need it gone quick. It can be rebuilt and I'd hate to see it sit outside in the weather although I'll tarp it. I need it gone quick once I do the job.

 

Starter can stay, oil filter can too, but I definitely recommend you remove that.

Just swap your flywheel over so you know it's all good.

I doubt the engine hoist will lift high enough to get it up and over the core support. At the very least you'll have to pull the radiator so if I was using an engine hoist I would take the core support off. Make it's alot easier.

Edit: That being said if your 2wd I pulled a 7.3 once with a napa hoist, I ended up letting the wind out of the front tires and it sat low enough to just barely get it past so you could try that first. Or even take the wheels completely off once the motor is free and set the hubs down on some wooden blocks.

The exhaust can just unbolt from the manifolds. That's how I did it last time.

Be sure to put a strap from frame rail to frame rail to help hold up the trans, when you go to mate them back together a jack is handy to lift it up a bit.

Also pick the best set of motor mounts or replace them while it's all apart

 

Thanks, I plan on removing the core support as part of the deal. I plan on renting a hoist from United Rentals. I would love to rent a forklift from them but I think it would sink in my grass by the driveway. My truck is a 2wd and that was something I didn't know about the clearance. I'll let all the air out of the front tires when its ready to be pulled.

 

If you plan on removing the core support there will be plenty of clearance

 

This can save you some grief:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kti-62115a

Hobo

 

I suppose it depends on the hoist but I've pulled mine twice without removing the core support. You can always remove the front wheels and set it down on blocks to get a little more clearance too.

 

I pulled my core support, but i have a RSK and SAS so im lifted about 4" over a stock F250. Cherry picker may well clear the core support but thats a heavy engine and a long ways up. You can get a cherry picker at harbor freight pretty affordably, and if you dont want to keep it you can resell it pretty easily.

 

Yeah, I just looked at the Harbor Freight Chineseium one. I was thinking the same, instead of renting one for 99 bucks for a week. I may buy because eventually I plan to pull another motor but on my 04 Toyota RAV 4 with 256k on it. She's using some oil but still running good. I was screwing around on the computer last night and decided to see if I could find a used motor for it. I saw four all under 120k on the motors with warranties for around 1600 bucks. My daughter is graduating and will be attending school in the next fall, my son will be a high school senior then. Way more affordable to re-power the Yota as well rather than buy new or pre-owned. My truck is stock factory height, no suspension upgrades and a 2wd so it sits lower than a 4x4. I imagine the clearance height issue won't be a big one if at all.

 

If you buy the harbor freight one get the bigger one, it holds more weight fully extended, which is what it usually sits at. Years ago I got the smaller one and kicked myself once I used it. Ended up trading it for a toolbox and headache rack so no loss luckily.

 

I have the 2 ton unit made by Torin no issue with lift height.

 

Might be worth looking into renting a rolling gantry at that point. You'll be able to keep it off the lawn, too. I'd expect the rental to be very similar in price. Might need to buy a chainfall. I personally like those better than come-a-longs for vertical picks.

 

My driveway is so small the gantry may not work. I plan to go with the crane and back my truck far down the driveway blocking part of the sidewalk. It'll **** some neighbors off no doubt, but most, probably don't give a darn. It'll only be a a day or two at the most and I'll push it back up the driveway if necessary. Getting the engine in and aligned seems like from the posts I've read, the hardest part the rest easy.