you all helped me get my '79 diesel project going.there is loads of info in here.when i figure out how,i'll post some pics.thanks again.

 

That's gotta be a cool truck, the best of the '70s trucks with a mechanical diesel!

 

thanks,ireally like the truck.i've owned it since 1989,and i'm the 2nd owner.and no, my wife does not understand why i keep the truck.but i guess that just goes without saying.

 

My wife doesn't try to understand why I have all these trucks, well anymore anyway. Her friends sometimes ask why she "lets" me have all these trucks, she says she doesn't "let" me I just get them anyway. Is has got to the point that I even know some of them need to go. So this summer more than half of them are getting brought up to spec. and out for sale!

I don't say this to brag as the majority of my trucks ,no cars anymore, are 2-3,000 dollar rigs but I have 20 or so. You just have to organize them well and keep them out of the public eye. So show this to your wife and say "hey this guy's crazy, you could be married to him" then how could she possibly be agianst you having just ONE extra one?

I'm sure this argument will work as Women are very in control of their emotions and logical! LOL

 

well,if you have 20 or so,theoreticaly i should be able to sqeeze in a couple more.hmmm,what to get next?

 

That's my point exactly!
There are a lot of orphan trucks out there that need a home and/or rehabilitation. It's our duty as compasionate Americans to help out where we can!
If we give all of the American trucks home we may have to start on the imports. It is good forieghn policy after all.
Remember charity starts at home.

 

heres a thought,The society for the humane treatment of trucks.chics have soft hearts ya know.

 

Sounds good to me let's sighn up members. I htink as the founders we're entitled to some dues or something.
What x-case did you use in your project?
Did you use a diesel specific T-19 and BW 1345?
I've always wanted to do a '60s Dodge CrewCab with a Cummins, 727 2wd w/Gear Vendors OD and divorced NP205. Totally modernize the interior: PW, PDL, A/C etc. and insulate the snot out of it for noise supression. Probably never will though.

 

i used the cast iron t-case from the '79.ibelive it's a np 203,its the gear to gear,not the chain type.the 4-speed tranny from the '87,and i retro-fitted(thats fancy talk for alot of cutting and cussing)the hydraulic clutch fromthe'87.i went with the '79 t-case so my drive shafts would be a bolt in deal.now the radiator is awhole diferent story.there just is'nt enough room for that monster,so a buddy gave me a 4 row cross flow for a mid '90s 460 truck.it seems to be enough,but time will tell.never say never,the biggest reason i did this project was because my late father always wanted to do his '74 ford like this.kinda a nod to him i guess.

 

Sounds like a NP205, that's the best. The NP203 is chain drive, cast iron case. They are heavier, slightly weaker but not bad cases actually. The problem is they are full-time 4wd unless altered. If there is a small round plate on the back with three screws holding it on it's an NP 205. It should have a label on it too stating which it is. Also if your '79 has hubs it's probably a 205.
Don't go rolling in the mud lookin' I was just curious.
It kills me when 4 wheelers get into huge arguments about which brand was better in the '70s. In reality they all had the same transfer cases, a lot of the same manual trans. and all of the 3-spd. autos were at least good. The rearends were almost the same and in some cases exactly the same. The only difference was in the bodies and motors.
I would say body wise it goes International, Ford, Dodge, Chevy as far as strength goes. Asthetics are hard to quantify.
You solved the motor debate as far as I'm concerned with your swap. I LOVE Dodge/Chrysler as far as gas motors go especially big blocks but I'd take an IDI instead for a truck anytime. I'm not a big Ford gas motor fan, not because they are bad I've just had better luck with Dodge and GM motor wise. The only CRAP I've had were two Ford and one GM front-wheel-drive cars. Man they SUCKED, I'm soured on all front drivers from those experiences.
I have a thing for CrewCabs so I've always wanted a '77 F-350, 4wd, 4sd/NP435, CC and stuff a 440 in it, the best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned. It wouldn't be as involved as a diesel swap as Dodge and ford both used NP435s. Of course it would get probably half of the fuel mileage of your truck, on a good day.

 

Also if I keep talking about Dodges and Cummins on this post I might get someone from the Powerstroke site to post on your thread and tell me what an idiot I am. You might end up with one of the biggest threads ever!

 

as far as looks go i've always had a liking for the'70s fords and '50s dodges.but i sure wish i had done this swap a long time ago.just for giggles i hooked up to a grain wagon that was full at the neighbors to see how she did,a bit better torque than the 460,and waaay better on fuel.thats another thing,the gas station clerk came running out to tell me i was pumping diesel into my truck an didnt belive i new what i was doing till i popped the hood and showed him the motor,funny huh.

 

those powerstrokers can be a bit testy sometimes.

 

Here in Oregon the "attendant" pumps your fuel, I've gotten free GAS more than once when they pumped it into my '91.5 Dodge with a Cummins in it. I have two tanks so I'd just switch to the one with diesel in it. I'd stop them if I saw them do it but I'm not paying for GAS when I asked for diesel. Plus it's my inconvenience to drain it out and burn it in something else.

 

wow,i havent seen a full service gas station in years here in ohio.and that would be a huge pain in the bahookie.