I have a 1976 <NOBR id=itxt_nobr_0_0 style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: darkgreen">F-250</NOBR> Highboy (4x4) divorced transfer case, with a tired 390 and four on the floor. I read somewhere that a 6.9 liter IDI (non-turbo) Diesel from a 83-87 truck should work with my current transmission. If it would work, how many other changes would need to be made?

I have my eye on a donor truck, an 83 F-250 <NOBR id=itxt_nobr_1_0 style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: darkgreen">4x4</NOBR> that was rolled. The body is trashed but the engine runs and has fairly low miles as far as diesels go. The bed of my truck is shot but I am planning to put on a flat bed with recessed gooseneck to pull my 28 foot gooseneck cattle trailer.

How do the <NOBR id=itxt_nobr_2_0 style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: darkgreen">horsepower</NOBR> and torque ratings compare between the two engines? I'm not sure how many miles are left on the 390 and the donor truck is $500.

 

I am worried about frame rail spacing as far as motor mounts go, the donor truck also has a 4 speed in it. Not sure if they are the same tranny or not.

 

83 and 4 are the least desirable of the 6.9s the block was upgraded sometime in 85 and I belive the commpression was raised too. 87 is the most desirable of the idis as they had the upgraded rockers and at least some of them had the better glow plug system, both of them is a direct swap on the older ones.
You will be happy with the 6.9 in your 76 with your tranny, you will have to do some fabbing on your frame mounts, and it is probably best to do some clearancing on the crossmember. on mine I did nothing to the crossmember but had only 1/8 inch clearance between the oil pan and the crosmember, so I used (built solid motor mounts) I eventually broke the bellhousing twice (finally beefed it up) and I belive the solid mounts caused this. I had to notch the frame to use the diesel radiator but had no problems here. You will also have to modify (build) clutch linkage to use a hydraulic and if you dont reinforce the cab where the master cylinder bolts up you will have to later after it cracks. I used a 66 brake master cylinder on mine but I'm now going to change the cab and will change to the regular master cylinder. I put nearly 400,000 miles on this setup, with a lot of them under severe use with very little trouble. I liked it well enough I'm going to restore it, and now have most of the parts to do so.
Things I am going to change this go around are.
Motor mounts I am going to dump the solid mounts, but instead of fab work on the crossmember I will try adding a body lift, Just enough to clear the mounts.
I will be using a ZF trany for the overdrive, to make it more highway friendly for todays speeds. When I originally put this together we had nationwide 55 speed limit and it was fine for that.
I will reinforce the cab when I install the cab and cluth linkage, so it won't crack and have to be repaired later.
And the above mentioned clutch master cylinder.
You will love it when done, and none of this is even remotely hard to do. Good luck.

 

The donor truck has differemt gear ratios way higher granny and reverse. I personally like the original tranny way better for my use, and I have both to compare them.
For farm and ranch work I think you will like the gas tranny better.

 

the tranny is diffrent as far as i know use the tranny out of doner truck what state are you from the horse power is not important the 6.9 will give you reliable power and would pull a house down there is a guy with one in a bronco and in an old 70s truck im not sure on mounting but the pros will help with that i would put an idi in any truck they are strong powerful motors sorry missed the part about the manual tranny i think the expert has already helped you good luck
star do you have any pics of that truck

 

im envious -_- thats my dream truck only with a 5.9 cummins ...... lol jk im loyal to the idi

 

I live in southern Minnesota. My donor truck is acutally an 85. So if I am understanding all of this, the 6.9 should be a direct bolt on to my current tranny? I have also considered using the tranny from the other truck, if necessary. Not sure how it would work with my transfer case though. Would the 7.3 non turbo also fit my tranny?

Im 16 and have had a fair amount of engine experience. I'm looking to do this as easily as possible and I don't have a lot of cash to spend. I'm not set on doing this swap but just trying to get some more info before deciding what to do with it. This will be a summer project so I'm not sure if I want to jump into buying anything just yet.

Starmilt- Do you have a Highboy? What year? also what did you pull your diesel out of?

 

84 I will be bringing my (nearly) dream truck home tommorrow and it will turn into my dream truck. A 78 ranger crew crew cab, and yes it WILL be getting an IDI. lol

 

awsome im planning to build a truck with an idi from the frame up i would love a 79 4x4 crew that will be an awsome truck

 

76 highboy the 6.9 is out of an 85 but any 83 to 94 idi will be the install.
For a donor you would need 87 down so you have the bellhousing to fit your 4 speed.

BUT if it was me I would use a ZF5 tranny tranny out of two wheel drive 88 up so you will have overdrive and you will have a very capable rig that will be way more effeciant than your FE engine.

 

Hopefully I will have pictures tommorrow. It will be a couple year project it is 2 wheel drive (first change) and I will at the very least use a ZF5, but I think I will hold out and use a ZF6 in it with a gv for double over.

If the body is as nice as the pictures I will take my time and It will be my last pickup.

 

man all this talk is makin me depressed lol .. I love the 68-78 era of trucks with a diesel engine would just about make it the best.. i kinda like the ol 300 i6 too tho

 

mine will take years to but when its done it will be what i think would be an awsome truck im still new to diesels only had mine for maybe a week but i love it way better then any gas truck i ever had easy to work on simple design parts are really reasonable hey the gv can i use that with my e4od

 

The 73 to 79 are my favorite because of factory air. The 76-7 highboys are my favorite except for the steering, So I have a 79 frame I will use the front of with highboy springs.
I plan on using fords best part parts from various years to make the rig ford never did but should have.

 

The gearvender goes on the Tcase and one member in florida has one behind an E40D. I can't remember his handle though.