How much work is needed to convert a truck to a diesel?
I've thought a little about it and I speculated you'd need ofcourse the motor, probably a turbo, retrofitted tanks and fuel lines, maybe a tranny?

I could think of hundreds of things to make a normal truck into a badass diesel, but whats the real process?

 

You've got most of it. It also depends on how old a truck it is. Pre-obd and electronic control vehicles are going to be much easier.

Another factor is the weight of the engine compared to what you are replacing, and how good the suspension was in the first place.

 

Oooh Didn't even think about that! Do newer Crate Diesels or just new engines in general burn cleaner than oh say an 80's detroit or diesel? or is it the electronic systems or what? I've been talkin to my step dad about throwing something along the lines of a 7.2L in a 77 or 79 f250, throwin some serious lift on it, and creatin a party truck?
Also, this is going to sound like a very stupid question, considering the variability in the answer, but are there easy bolt on kits for things like this? I'm not exactly a certified Mechanic yet, but I can figure my way in and out of an engine either way...

 

Newer engines run cleaner due mostly to electronically controlled fuel injection.

7.2? 7.3 you mean.

Why not just buy an old oil burner, freshen it, add your do-dads, lift, fuzzy dice, 8" stacks, and drive with pride?

Bolt on kits? No.

 

Converting to an IDI diesel is a rather easy cause they have nothing electronic on them, if you want a PSD then things can get real interesting. In either case you will need the engine and transmission, radiator, core support, PCM (for the PSD), fuel tanks with return line provisions, random harnesses...