how hard would it bee to put a early model diesel into my 89 f-150

 

Early model what? I don't think a powerstroke or IDI would fit, neither would a Cummins 6BT.

A cummins 4BT would probably fit relatively easily, but they aren't exactly power houses, and the useable RPM range is only about 1200RPM unless you mod the injector pump

 

well i was thinking something from the same body style like a f-350 diesel like in the early 90s or late 80s i used to drive one so why would not that fit the body was the same????

 

Sorry, I thought it was like back then how it is now, with the F-150 being a smaller body style. In that case an IDI or PSD would probably fit, but remember that a powerstroke, cummins, or an IDI would could weigh more then double the stock engine that truck had. Your going to have to make sure your suspension and frame is up to the task of handling the engine. If you have a way to get the engine mounts, and tranny, dropping in a 1994 or earlier IDI engine shouldn't be impossible

 

If you're wanting fast/cheap/easy/reliable, buy a good condition F250/350 with the engine already in it. Sell the F150.

If you're looking for a project for a truck that's not your daily driver, and have lots of time and money, buy a wrecked F250/350 of the same year as a donor truck, and swap the components. At the minimum, you'll need everything between the grill and the driveshaft; As in, radiator, engine, transmission, and front suspension at the minimum. (the transmission, if automatic, will have the hydraulics tweaked a little differently, to better handle the low-speed diesel torque.)

There are some who will argue about whether or not you'll need the whole fuel system, including the tank. I personally think that a properly drained gasoline tank will be perfectly useable. You'll need to grab the water separator/fuel filter and it's mount. You may need a lift pump.

Then you've got to figure out how to wire the glow-plug controller, and the other wiring systems that are in the diesel and not the gas.

You'll need to substantially beef up the front suspension; the diesel engines weighed nearly twice as much as the gas engines.

It's never cheap or easy to swap fuel types, even in an older truck. It quickly snowballs into a nightmare. Look carefully at the websites that specialize in these kinds of conversions; the price tag is usually well into five digits ($10,000+). That's why it's usually cheaper/faster/easier to just buy the running truck.

-blaine