the easiest way to do this is to find a 88, 89 or 90 diesel van with a good running engine and trans and a bad body, and then swap the drive line. this will ensure you will have everything you will need to get it done properly.

 

See, I am glad someone asked this question! Cause they are not the only one to contemplate this! LOL! I have played around with engine swaps, but usually with I4 engines to V6's. Its been a little bit since I have messed around on the trucks.

I have been considering this option as well but for several strong reasons. I know that a person can go out and buy an F-series desiel equipped model, but I am not interested in truck payments. In my neck of the woods, trucks are gold, and even the crappier ones.

My poor 94 F-350 DRW, is wonderful. I bought it used with 120k on it. Two problems, one I fixed being that it was an XL model (all the goodies are in it now!) and the second, Ford had this brainstorm to put a 5.8 in it

I am sure it was a great idea at the moment, but not what I need. I am seriousely killing my engine with the work I need it for! I have a very large 6-horse gooseneck steel trailer that I tow regularly, and usually load it to the brim with 6 nice good sized mares weighing in at 1100lbs each. Now this doesnt include all the tack, feed and water I have to tote along for shows and events. To give an idea, I have a mini barn I am pulling along. I have to use the interstate often, and traffic is very pleased with me at 40mph in a 75mph zone!

Other tasks, I routinely use my flatbed and have to pick up anywhere between 6-8 round bales every other month. Each of these bales range from 1200lbs to 2400lbs each. Thats some seriouse wieght! Bless this poor truck as it tries and does it slowly!

So I have thought about swapping out my 5.8 for the 7.5 gas engine. I know the classic ol 460 would handle this no problem, but looking at fuel milage would be just as bad! When I am not towing I would like fairly good milage, and knowing that desiels do well at it, while supplying the torque to get the job done has been crossing my mind. Not to mention another huge factor to consider, is engine life! I hear that desiels can rake on the milage! So do I go ahead and do the 7.5 gas engine and in a couple years look at overhauling it again? Daily I put on about 60 miles, so hearing that a desiel can take it has become more appealing.

I know a person will have to swap a ton of things, engine, trans, suspension, supports and mounts, cooling system, ECU and harness, electrical, and so on.. What about steering system?

Thoughts?

 

Midwest dually, you would nd a donor. If you go with a manual trans (zf5speed for the overdrive) and stick with the 6.9 or 7.3 IDI the wiring is easy and the computer stuff non existent. If you went with the same setup but with the E4od the donor would have the ecu for the trans. With a few intake and exhaust mods and a turbo (94 was the first year for the factory IDI turbo till they went to the 7.3 powerstroke). Far as suspension goes you wouls only need to do the front end the gasser will not handle the wieght of the diesel. The cooling system part is to swap out the rad core support and use the giant diesel rad lol. I have done this swap on my 88 Bronco but had to swap all suspension and build my own rad susport and done it all in my driveway so it can be done with simple tools. If you are patient and watch ebay and craigslist you can pick up a rust bucket with everything you need cheap. I did my hole swap for around 3 grand. I do want to do a turbo in the future so that will be another 2 grand? depending on what I find. And don't let anyone fool you, the 6.9 and 7.3 are great engines and can make lots of power and are way cheaper to maintain and simple to work on. If it hadn't been for the EPA I think Ford would have continued with the design over all this useless electronic crap they have now.

 

I really appreciate the inspirational wisdom there! It's good to know that this sounds actually alot more attainable then what I had originally thought! I dealt alot with tuner type vehicles and some of those projects took a ton of computer rewiring, or even worse, using "stand alone FMU" requiring software applications being downloaded and reworking the fuel maps.

So it is reasonable to complete the swap, and having a donor would of course help? A 6.9 or 7.3 would be best, so are the Powerstroke editions beneficial as for long life and reliability?

I think this may be the way to go, as I did catch a lead on wrecked one, but missing the engine. I am sure with enough hunting I can find a suitable engine to drop in.

You know I may have to bug you for specifics, LOL!

 

powerstroke or idi,they are both reliable engines if taken care of.
the good thing about using a 7.3 idi is that it only needs a computer if you are going to use the overdrive trans. if you are going to use the 5 speed manual which i would suggest with the kind of loads you are hauling, no computer is needed.

plus the idi is a lot cheaper to work on, and with a turbo and free flowing exhaust ,they will make just as much power as a stroker will.

 

Alot cheaper to work on lol!! If you need to pm me and i will give you my number and talk more indepth. I personally prefer the 6.9 myself and with a few mods it is better than the 7.3 is.

 

Thank you.. I will drop a PM as this is a very interesting topic, and getting some more specifics would really help me settle my mind, as well as get me going in the right direction. I have been looking for the necessary parts that I am aware of over the past week, and surprisingly enough there are some deals out there that wont punch a hole in my pocket book, while not doing it halfbleeped!