I've got a 2wd C6 behind my 6.9 diesel. I am looking to convert to a 4wd and it looks like most of the donor trucks out there are running a 7.3. First question, does the 7.3 typically have a C6 behind it and will it bolt to my 6.9? What other auto tranny options are out there for me that will bolt up? Truck is going to be used regularly for towing a bobcat around so it no slushboxes please. Manual tranny is not an option so lets not recommend any of those. Thanks guys.

 

My 89 4x4 had a c6 behind it, I just took it out(too bad you live so far away). But that was the year they also started using the E4OD, which is a electronic overdrive automatic. You will find the E4OD more often after 89

I thought all automatics were considered "slush boxes"? unless I am mistaken.

 

True, true. Just don't want to end up with an AOD or something as those are crap, at least in this application it would be.

My truck is an 86 so I guess I should probably be looking in that area.

 

What he says but if you do find a 7.3 with a C6 it will bolt right up.

 

I happen to like the AOD, but it wouldn't fit a diesel anyway (nor should it be adapted in stock form). AOD and E4OD are completely different transmissions.

1989 is when the E4OD officially replaced the C6, but the C6 was still optional for a few years after that. They get very rare the further you get from 1988 however.

Your ideal search years are 1983-1988. There is no difference if it came behind a 7.3 or 6.9, they will both fit.

 

Thanks guys, that's what I was looking for.

 

I've been wanting to the same thing to my 84 F-250 6.9L, but I'm looking for a manual transmission.
So, far I've been looking at the Ford T-18/T-19s, but I don't know if another one is better?





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1984 F-250XLT 6.9L IDI Diesel 2wd
Stake Bed Configuration

 

Ask joe f350 about the T18/T19 he has one. You would need to find a bellhousing for a diesel for it. Or you could look for a diesel ZF5 and have a 5 speed.

 

if you do a few internal things to an e4od they are great trannys.im going to be putting a shift kit in mine soon.thats the best thing you can do to them in my opinion.and the e40d will get you that extra gear for fuel economy,and let me tell you it makes a huge difference

 

Welcome to the forum.

The T19 is the diesel tranny (close ratio), and the T18 is the gasser with wide ratio and granny 1st gear. However the bell housing is not cast into the main transmission case and you can bolt a T18 to a diesel if you can find a diesel bell housing off a T19. In terms of durability, I am not aware of any differnce between the T18 and T19, they are both nuke proof. Only problem you might have is the wide jump between 1st and 2nd gear with the T18.

 

T-19 you say? Well I'll definantly go with that since it'll be the easier of the two to bolt up to the engine.

Now next question is since I'm wanting to convert my 2wd to a 4wd what would be a good transfer case to go with the T-19?
I was thinking of the BW1345, but I don't know. Any suggestions?

 

If your already transplanting a trans, and converting to 4x4, you might as well use a t19/BW1356 combo. The BW1356 is considered a stronger t-case because it has a magnesium case instead of aluminum.

whatever vehicle you get as a donor, get the whole truck. Your gonna need a lot of parts to make the swap.

 

1345 and 1356 will bolt up whichever you decide. The 1356 might even be easier to find since there are not as old. Just make sure you get a 4wd transmission because converting 2wd transmissions usually are not worth the time or money in parts.

I have the 1356 in my truck and it came out of a bush truck. Its in rough shape with some of the external ripping chipped off, so those were hard miles. Works perfectly though.

 

IIRC, if you get a manual 1356 out of a 88-92 bronco, they do not have a separate tail housing and bolt up in our truck with no modifications to driveshafts.

Just a thought.

 

Jon250,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.

If I were converting a two wheel drive truck to 4x4 with what I know today, here is how I would go about it.

First find an F350 4x4 diesel with the manual tranny you are looking for and prefferably the same wheel base as your truck.

Diesel 250 and 350 frames are the same, but the 2 wheel and four wheel frames are a little different.
So next, pick the frame that is in the best shape to build on.

2 wheel drive coil front springs and 4x4 leaf front springs will be the next issue.

The next upgrade I want for my truck is a solid mount at the front of the front springs with the front shackle at the back of the springs.

Since that would take a custom mount for both ends of the springs, during the conversion would be a great time to kill two birds with one stone.

Once you have the front axle mounted, swapping the bell housing, tranny, transfer case and drive shafts would be a simple bolt in swap.

And if your truck is an automatic, you will also need the pedals, brackets and clutch master cylinder which would be in the donor truck.

Also if your cab and bed are in better shape, but the other frame is in better shape, swap your cab to that frame.
Complete donor truck is the cheaper way to go, and it gives you more options.