ive posted before on this topic, but have never really got a straight forward answer. i have an 89 f250 4x4 with a very worn out 351w. i want to put a diesel in it. either a 6.9 or 7.3 turbo or maybe even a 12v cummins. i am wanting to know what exactly i would have to do. it is not going to be an everyday driver except during the spring and fall around the farm and mainly for towing. ive heard different things about the electrical. one side that you have to replace the entire harness then on the other side that the diesel harness will plug into the harness of the truck. i know that i will have to switch the front leaf springs to heavier ones. but what else will i need to do. i dont want any of the "it would be better to just sell it and buy a diesel" bs. thanx in advance.

 

wow, quite a big project to get "straight forward answers".
This seems like a project you personally would have to do a lot of research on.
However, if you get someone to lead you through it on here, good on ya!

 

i know there is a website of a place that puts cummins into fords, i think it is something like fordcummins.com or along those lines, they surely would have some pretty specific info.

 

Sell, selling the truck and getting a similar year diesel is the path of least resistance, and why you've gotten that suggestion. Calling it BS is unnecessary because it's a valid answer, even though you didn't like it. Many people ask about such swaps and since most of us haven't met everyone who asks about complex swaps we don't know the mechanical ability of the person posing the question. How many vehicles do you think get taken apart and never put back together because someone got in over their head? It's a big number. Anyway, that's why you got that answer from some people. They were trying to help.

You need to use the engine bay harness from an 89-91 Ford diesel truck to swap in the Ford (IHI) Diesel. It will directly plug into your firewall connectors. If you have an in-cluster tach, you'll have to swap the cluster as well to diesel, but there's no rewiring necessary to make it work - just swap it.

Mechancally, you'd have to change:

The engine (complete, pan to throttle body, flywheel to water pump)
The tranny (diesels have a different bell housing, clutch, pilot bearings, etc.)
Fuel pump and gas tanks.
Fuel lines unless you can really clean them thoroughly.
Front springs.
Motor mounts.
Radiator
Radiator core if you want to run an intercooled turbo because the diesel's radiator core has holes and mounting points for a factory intercooler as it was an option on some trucks. You could use yours, but you have some cutting and welding to do - not a big deal actually. but for $90 for an aftermarket one, why bother. Your's is probably a bit rusty like everyone else's anyway.
Radiator hoses, etc.

Depending where you live, this swap may not be legal. In NJ for example there's no provision for changing the title from gas to diesel, and NJ specifically prevents this. I can swap in a same year or newer engine from any other manufacturer as long as I retain the emissions equipment from the new engine, but gas to diesel is a no-no. I spent a lot of time fighting this with no ju-ju. Different states handle this differently - some resist it, others couldn't care less. Emissions testing here in NJ is based on VIN, which has the engine code in it so if I were to swap a diesel in anyway, I'd never pass emissions again as diesels pollute differently than the 351W I have now.

Before you undo a single bolt, do yourself a favor and confirm with your DMV you can do this swap legally, just to avoid the major headaches come inspection time.

 

by a donor truck perhaps? but then it would still be easier to swap the thing off os yours onto it. there is a cheap one in the classifieds here on fte right now.

 

thanks to all of you. that is what i have been looking for all along. i know it would be easier to just buy a diesel, but i am one that is always looking for projects. i was planning on getting a donor truck or atleast having a place that has the hole truck and just go get parts as i need them. thanx alot

 

People with attitudes like yours are better off just buying an OEM diesel. After all, you'll just be back here pissing and moaning about things.

Sell the truck, and buy a OEM diesel

 

Maybe this will help you out a little. Good Luck

http://www.cummins-conversion.com/phpBB/index.php

 

You're welcome!