Hi all, long time reader who finally decided to join.

Here's what I have going on at the moment, I am looking at a 86 F-600 that currently has a bad 370 with the 5 speed, and considering my engine options.
Option 1 I have a good running but wrecked 90 F-350 with a 7.3 and 5 speed. I suspect the 5 speed in the 1 ton is a bit light for the F-600 and I'm not sure what bell housings match up to the 7.3 and the 5 speed in the F-600. Wiring and pluming is not an issue for me at all, just trying to find out what I will need to bolt everything up.

Option 2 Finances being what they are this would have to wait, but if I could find an old school bus with either the 6.9/7.3 or the 5.9 Cummings with a 5 speed and "air brakes" I think I would be much happier and still have a door tag with a GVW under 26k so DPS can scratch their heads.

As for what this truck will be doing, I am looking to replace my over worked pit truck. It all started with a nice little F-350 with a small Lincoln gas welder, gas powered compressor, winch with A frame and sling and some basic tools. Now that poor little 1 ton is over sprung to handle it's base weight of roughly 9300Lbs with just the stuff that resides on the truck. Add a few extra things, a trailer and a car behind it and you get the picture, not enough gear and stopping is,,,,, well lets just call it interesting even with good trailer brakes. I just keep getting better equipment which of course is also heavier. And I know half of you reading this just had your sphincter tighten, the other half are trying to get back up off the floor from laughing so hard saying "yup, done that". LOL

Anyway, I'm open to thoughts and ideas on this engine swap. The budget is pathetically low and while I would prefer to go diesel I haven't completely ruled out gas so long as the mileage is somewhat respectable. 6 mpg is not what I consider acceptable but anything over 12 I could live with.

 

A 460 would bolt right in there. Im sure a machine shop could take the 7.3 bell and mount to the trans in the truck but you would have to deal with the clutch and flywheel. If it were me doing it, especially on a large truck like this, i would find a 6BT out of another heavy truck at the SY and pull the allison with it and drop it all in. The other swap i would consider, which i would prefer but would be more costly is the CAT DT466 swap. They can be had with a 6spd manual or a 5spd auto. See alot of em in roll beds. Not a power house, but would outstrip an old 370 im sure.

 

The bellhousing on the 7.3 zf5spd is not removable.
With a 460 or any gas motor I would expext closer to 4 mpg than 12 in a loaded F600.
dot doesn't care if your liscened for 15 pounds if you have air brakes the rules are different.
I never heard of a cat dt 466, an nternational 466 is a very good engine though.
You can get the international bellhousing that will fit the heavier 5spds and 7.3 out of an international light truck.
&.3 in a F600 loaded with tools and dragging a race car getting 12 mpg is pretty unrealistic.

 

Not long ago I would have agreed, but I know of 2 F-600's (both diesel with 5 speeds, one a 7.3 and the other has the 5.9) doing the exact same job I am setting one up to do that average 13 and 14. I even borrowed one last year to make a run up to Oklahoma, I got right about 13.5 for the trip (yes I was checking it because I thought they were both full of you know what). So if their trucks can do it I can make one do it for me, but I have serious doubts any gas engine will make the cut.

As for adding air brakes, yea the rules change into a gray area and it's best not to get caught. Don't give DOT a reason and they usually don't bother you in a truck that is marked on each side "Not For Hire" with something like "GVW 25,500" under that. The truck I took to Oklahoma had the stock fluid brakes and I guess they were ok, seemed a bit stiff and required more pressure to the pedal which could be as simple as the drums and shoes were glazed a bit. If I can get stock brakes to work the way I think they should I will stick with them, if not, I will convert to air and worry about DOT later.

 

I used to haul can milk for the Amish using a 460 powered cube van. It was fuel injected and had overdrive. Loaded with about 8000 pounds it would get 8 mpg on the route. I figured that was pretty decent.