Replace Gas with Diesel
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Replace Gas with Diesel
I'm new to the board. I have a '96 F250 with the 460 engine. It is used 90% or more to tow a 28' travel trailer. My wife and I recently retired and are planning to travel a lot more now. I am wondering about putting a diesel engine in the truck. Is that feasible? Has there been a discussion on this?
Thanks
Mark
Thanks
Mark
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 936
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Replace Gas with Diesel
Tell ya the truth, it would be cheeper and easier to sell your rig and buy a truck already equiped with one. Reason being, once you buy the engine, you'll also need a new alternator (if not also the rest of the engine acessories), harnesses, computer, relays, (starter, glow plug, and what ever extras are in the fuse boxes), fuel lines, you'd have to get new tanks or get yours cleaned out real good, a heavier duty front suspension, a second battery. Another thing to consider is your tranny. If you have a manual I *think* your okay, but if you have the E40D it would be well worth the time and $ to have it rebuilt with heavy duty parts to handle the torque output. Posibly even new u-joints (not sure if they are differant or not).
I looked into it a while back, even with a nearly complete donor truck from a junk yard it would have been much cheeper to sell mine and buy a diesel equiped truck, so that's just what I did.
If you do tackle this project, I'd be very interested in being kept up with it's progress.
I looked into it a while back, even with a nearly complete donor truck from a junk yard it would have been much cheeper to sell mine and buy a diesel equiped truck, so that's just what I did.
If you do tackle this project, I'd be very interested in being kept up with it's progress.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,298
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From: Southern California
Replace Gas with Diesel
I agree with the DieselF350. The 460 is a good engine for towing even if you're only getting 6-8 mpg. A diesel will get better mpg but you would have to drive a lot of miles to recoup the cost of a conversion.
I know we all get attached to our trucks, but yours isn't that old and probably will fetch a good price. I'm sure you can find a nice late model diesel equipped the same as yours. Any money you lose in a trade will probably be a lot less than the cost of conversion. You'll be enjoy'in the good life towing, instead of being mired down in a never ending project.
I know we all get attached to our trucks, but yours isn't that old and probably will fetch a good price. I'm sure you can find a nice late model diesel equipped the same as yours. Any money you lose in a trade will probably be a lot less than the cost of conversion. You'll be enjoy'in the good life towing, instead of being mired down in a never ending project.
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