Hello all I was just wanting to pick everyones brains. To start i just aquired a 85-6? Ford f250 xl lariat with a 6.9 int. and a auto... Not sure what the tranny is just yet as we just got the truck today. The guy that had it blew the motor by not putting oil in. Pretty smart stuff on his part. anyways. We will be towing a four horse trailer fully loaded, gear and hay in in the truck when we use it. What motor would work best for heavy towing (We would preferr Gas) and what mods would be needed to get the truck from diesel to gas? We are not really wanting a 460 due to gas consumption but not sure if 360-90 will do the job. On the other hand will lowing the rears to 4:10 help a 351-390 size blocks do the towing adequetly. We do not want to be in 1st gear going up hills. Plus I have never done a diesel to gas swat what needs to be done? Tranny swaps? will the one thats in work or should we get a manual? Fuel take swaps or just flush the system. Ignition swaps. Drive lines for different trannys? any comments would greatly be apreciated and if i missed something important which i probably did please let me know.

 

Sorry forgot to note that we have a nice running 83f250 with a 6.9 and 4manual that may get the swap if easier but will the 83 fit into the 85 and what is different in years. But then still need swap info for 83 so iam kinda stuck either way.

 

if i were you i would keep a diesel its much better for towing. when it comes to engine swaps i have seen a 428 cobrajet put in a truck but it did take some work.

 

I would have to say stay with the diesel too, but I'm no expert on them. Pretty sure the tranny will only bolt to a another diesel. You should be able to move the 6.9 out of the 83 and right into the 85-6, if you so desire. Sounds like you will have an extra truck shell when you are done either way. You need all the electronics from a gas powered donor. The 390 or "FE" motor was not offered after 1976, so you would be working hard to get that under the hood. The 351/400m's probably wouldn't handle your towing requirements, leaving 460 for the only out as far as gas....

Good luck... --Mike

 

If you do repower with a gasser, I need the fan shroud from the diesel radiator. I'm swapping the other way, gas to 6.9 in a 78 F100 SWB stepside. The 6.9 and C6 is in place now, but I need the shroud to get the correct height to fabricate the front motor mount stands. BTW, yer gonna need a gasser radiator cuz the bottom hose is in the wrong place.

 

Let me just say that I have an 86 F250 6.9L w/banks turbo, Ex Cab, 4.10 axle, C6 auto, and I converted it to a dually. It runs great, but it’s still a DAWG! I tow a 29' 5th wheel that weighs in at 8700 lbs, my GVW is 17,200 lbs with the truck. You’ll be about the same with 4 horses and full tack!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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When I tow this up a 6 to 7% grade she slows all the way down to 23mph... it used slow down to 26mph but once I converted it to a dually I lost 3mph on the hills. The turbo works hard at 11 to 12 lbs of boost! I just sit back and watch the newer 7.3L, Cummins and Duramax trucks with big loads go by me like I am sitting still! OUCH! <o:p></o:p>
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The C6 and the 4.10 gives me a max speed of 73mph and the RPM is in the orange to red on the tech. By the way my mileage while towing is 7.3mpg and 13 not towing. I would prefer the 3.73 axle, this will allow you to do the speed limit on the interstates. These older trucks were designed for 55 not 75mph.<o:p></o:p>
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Its a great truck but I am currently looking to replace the 6.9L with a different diesel, like a 7.3L powerstroke, or the new 6.0L, or Cummins 6B/5.9L or maybe even a CAT. <o:p></o:p>
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You have to ask yourself, how fast or in this case how slow are you willing to go up hills?<o:p></o:p>
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Have you made a choice yet?<o:p></o:p>
Good luck<o:p></o:p>
Cory<o:p></o:p>

 

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You need a 6.0 I pull a bit more than you up some reall tuff grades and never get below the posted speed limit!

 

Here we go again people trying todo a job with a undersized truck or underpowered truck. If you only use the truck to pull the horse trailer and around the farm etc get a medium duty truck something that will pull what you want. A older International with a 466 will out pull any light duty P/U truck.

You figure to rebuild the 6.9 it will cost you 5000 dollars well take that money and buy a better truck and sell the 250 to a wrecker for parts. With diesel P/Us once the engine dies part it out. The only exception is if the truck has very very low mileage then it maybe worth spending the 5 grand.

I don't think you could give me a gas powered truck a 360 or 390 will only get maybe 5mpg max unloaded or empty a 460 will get about the same.

The 6.9 maybe slow but it won't guzzel fuel back like its going out of style. I hear people biatching that the older diesel trucks are slow but you can go faster but it will cost you money ie 40 grand plus for a new truck. My 89 F-450 is slow with a load but who cares the truck didn't cost me 40 grand.

When my truck is grossed to 15,000lbs it climbs the 8% grades here in 2nd or 3rd gear at a speed breaking 30km/h (18mph) with the engine screaming at 2500 rpm. There are other trucks with more power passing me but I never spent 40 grand and I get to my destination abit slower but I do get paid by the hour. I wish for more power but you look at the problems the newer trucks have and the expensive repairs I will stick with old and slow for now.

 

Are you in Inchelium Wa?

Join us in the Northwest Forum down at the bottom if so, we have a blast, I saw this thread because Im interested in doing a Diesel swap INTO an old ford that was Gas, but it has to wait until someday when I have a shop, If your in Inchelium, and wanna get rid of that motor cheap just to get rid of it, send me a PM or come visit us in the NW forum.

Welcome to FTE...good luck.