engine swap
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New User
Joined: Dec 2006
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engine swap
I just bought a 1986 Ford f350 with a bad 6.9 motor in it and I want to find out how hard will it be to swap that engine for a 7.3 out of f350 truck.
Anybody done this before. Should i bother or just get an identical 6.9 and forget about the swap
Thanks in advance for any reponses
Anybody done this before. Should i bother or just get an identical 6.9 and forget about the swap
Thanks in advance for any reponses
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,491
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From: Kuna ID
It would be cheaper and easier to get another 6.9 and add a turbo to it. The 7.3 is computer controlled which means there is a lot of extra stuff to swap. I have heard of it being done, but it was a nightmare of a project to complete, lots of little details to worry about.
New User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: texas
i have a 85 f-350 with the 6.9 in it. i checked it out, and if i want to put a rebuilt 7.3 in it with turbo its about 2,000- 2,500 dollars. if i were you i would just put a new block in the 6.9. it should pull wat you want to pull. but if you want a turbo then go for the 7.3. after the time you bought a turbo for the 6.9, you could have had bought a rebuilt 7.3.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: socal
There is a 7.3 NA motor that is the same dimensions as your 6.9. My buddy just did this swap,Ford also sold a factory turbo 7.3 for a couple of years before the Power strokes came out. He had to change a few minor things but it was pretty straight forward and he is much happier with a turbo 7.3 than he was with the 6.9 he is getting better fuel mileage out of it as well not on the throttle as much anymore. I thought the difference would be minimal but it seems to run alot stronger.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Kuna ID
Originally Posted by ford_guy_08
i have a 85 f-350 with the 6.9 in it. i checked it out, and if i want to put a rebuilt 7.3 in it with turbo its about 2,000- 2,500 dollars. if i were you i would just put a new block in the 6.9. it should pull wat you want to pull. but if you want a turbo then go for the 7.3. after the time you bought a turbo for the 6.9, you could have had bought a rebuilt 7.3.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Kuna ID
Originally Posted by pud
I think youre forgetting there was a 7.3L IDI perhaps?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
The 6.9 and 7.3 IDI, are basically the same engine. In very basic terms, the 7.3 is a bored out 6.9 with bigger head bolts and a slightly different injector location(in the name of cleaner emissions.) There are other minor differences, such as the glow plug control system, but, that's no big deal. More or less, it's a bolt in swap.
Take a gander at the Pre Powerstroke diesel forum
Take a gander at the Pre Powerstroke diesel forum
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New User
Joined: Jan 2007
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swap a 302 to a 300
Form what I have read I made a mistake when I replaced my 302 with a 300 . I put a 1982 6 cyl Into my 1979 truck that had a 302 and I used the fly wheel Off the 302 . I have just got it running I have not tried to move it yet but I guess the vibration I feel while the motor is running is the fly wheel.The torque convertor and fly wheel fit but can some one please tell me If I have to go back and change my fly wheel?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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yes the flywheel will have to be changed out. the 390 used a flywheel with no conter weight, which the 302 and 351w used a 28oz up to 83 i believe and then they went to a 50oz counter weight. from my under standing the 390 is a self balanced or something like that but i do know a 390 does not use a flywheel with a counter weight. so thats where the vib is coming from and if you keep running it you will mess that engine up
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
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fly wheel
changed fly wheel could not get tranny to face up,took the tranny back off seated the torque converter and then bolted back up, cannot turn crank shaft with socket could this transmission need to be shimmed.
thanks for any help
thanks for any help
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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when you installed the torque converter, how many times did it click? when installing the torque converter it should click in two times. set the torque converter on the shaft. turn once. you should hear or feel 1 click turn again, some times back and forth and you should feel or hear the second click. it sounds to me that you do not have your torque converter all the way on the shaft.
a buddy has a 351w and we put another c6 on and we couldnt get the crank to turn over. we dropped the tranny and reset the torque converter and that solved that problem.
let me know how this goes.
a buddy has a 351w and we put another c6 on and we couldnt get the crank to turn over. we dropped the tranny and reset the torque converter and that solved that problem.
let me know how this goes.
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
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torque con.
Ok I will try it again ,I can not see any reason the transmission will not work it came off my 302 and worked just fine, changed fly wheel but did not know if for some reason since the 6 cyl was a straight shift before ,(and I did take the pilot bearing out ) there was just something I am missing here.thank you for your responce