I have $8,000 to use for a 1991 F-350 Super Duty dually 4x4 with a 7.5L 460 Automatic Transmission. I will be doing lots of heavy duty towing and would like ideas for performance parts that will give me the most torque, towing capability, and fuel economy for my $$$. And no I will not be buying something else because I just want to work with what I got and I really like this generation of F-350 anyways.

Already in consideration
-Banks Power Pack
-Under/Overdrive

Thanks

 

FOUR WHEELER Magazine's Project M.P.G.

Look here for a good list of bolt on performance stuff. Not sure what the total would come to today, but shouldn't be near $8,000.

If you're planning on any significant upgrades to the motor, I'd look into a MAF conversion.

 

If you want power and fuel economy, drop a diesel in it. The 8k would cover all of that and have some left over.

 

Is it a superduty or f350. there is a big difference, cant be both

 

it is a superduty...and a 7.3 IDI even with a turbo would be noncomparable to the 460 with the aftermarket parts I've looked at...only a Powerstroke would do, but that cost I see being greater than 8,000 as I would have to swap out most everything in it for the diesel counterparts.

 

Well, I think maybe you looked at the wrong diesel swap.......... How about a P7100 12 Valve cummins turbo diesel with some mods and an NV 4500. Less than 8K all day long, Like 400 RWHP and 800 LBFT with an obtainable 20 miles to the gallan Check out FordCummins.com. I am doing that swap into my 1 ton Chevy. Who doesnt like to roll a little coal?!!!!!

 

just checked the site...good idea, but the only cummins that will produce enough torque for it to be beneficial (stock) are the 2003 or earlier models which are running $7000-$9000 for a rebuild plus parts that still need to be transfered into the Ford which would be at least another $1000...I guess it help if I told you I was looking for 520-600 ft torque. HP I could really care less about...to an extent

 

Thats the beauty of the 12 Valve Cummins, Sure in stock form the 97-98 Cummins put out 215 HP and 440 lbft, but with very minor mods, and I really mean minor, you can put out more than the 500-600 lbft that you are after. Those engines are so easy to squeeze power and especially torque out of, thats why they are so popular. Let me try to convert you here for one second. You can literally bolt bigger Injectors and a turbo on these motors along with some monitoring gauges, and a clutch and have a 400hp 800 lbft combination for maybe $2000 in mods.

Used 12 Valve $1500
NV 4500 $1000
Engine mods $2000
Clutch $800
Misc Items $1000 maybe a T case or adapters
Total $6300 give or take some.

Anyway, maybe you know all this and I am just like one of those people that knock on your door on sunday afternoon trying to spread my beliefs. Either way, I hope that whatever you decide to do, you have fun with it.

 

I'd do the diesel simply because you're not going to match the performance with your 460 with any sort of fuel economy or reliability. It's up to you though. I'm just some guy on the interwebs.

 

well you do make a good point about that, but swapping to a diesel I think will have to be a summer project unfortunately. But in the long run it would be the better choice for sure. And the power I need for sure. I guess I'll have to hold on to my ***** and $$$ and...wait which is always my problem .

 

well dammit it's been decided...Cummins it is ...unless somebody knows a site that sell's conversion kits for a 91 460 to a 94-97 powerstroke???

 

IMO you're better off with a 12v than the Powerstroke anyways. That's the plan for mine once the 460 goes. It's only got around 40k on the engine and trans so I've got plenty of time to wait and save though

 

Where the hell are you finding those kind of prices? I've never seen a decent 12 valve or NV 4500 go for what you quoted!

 

Well...... I guess just based on what I have seen stuff sell for and what I would pay for it. It does depend on someones definition of "decent" A cummins with 150,000 miles on it to me is still very decent, provided it didnt spend half its life running down the dragstrip or any other abuse. You know the longevity of those motors, especially the ones that stayed stock their whole lives. Anyway, with that being said, a second gen 12valve sold on craigslist near me a few weeks ago for 1600 bucks, it had 165,000 on the clock. I have not seen a used GM or Dodge NV4500 go for more than $1000 bucks unless it was from somewhere like NV4500.com, which they are 1600 brand new, of the owner had just rebuilt it and fixed the 5th gear nut. Anyway, a used NV4500 should be 1000 or less, I think

The transfer case and or adaptor issue. Well we could back up and he could go with a ZF tranny but I think the adapter for about 700 plus a modded dodge flywheel for I dont know how much. Or he could go with the 94 newer dodge t case, driverside drop which I dont see why that would be worth more than $1000.

Maybe I am on crack, or maybe I just buy junk..... but I hope that I havent mislead anyone into thinking its cheaper than it is. I read an entire 12 valve swap thread into an 86 Chevy and it cose the kid $9000, but he bought some things that I would have built instead, like crossmembers and such. Anyway, I know that you could spend as much on a swap as you wanted or try and be a little more conservative. I am cheap. One good idea would be to find a donor truck that has everything already, may be cheaper. Thats what I did for my ZF 5 swap... One wrecked 1989 F250 5 speed, $350. The ZF 5 and all the swap parts are worth a whole lot more together.

One more thing, he could go with an intercooled 1st gen cummins which are cheaper and still get good torque out of it.......

 

Just so you know. Ford never made a 4wd f-superduty. A company converted a handfull of them but finding one is worse than a needle in a hay stack.So i would say you have a 4wd 350. And i would rethink not putting a powertsroke or a Turboed idi in the truck. The idi w a turbo can make a honest 250 reliable HP and have gobs of torque. The powerstroke stock makes 225 HP and alot of torque. And both will get 13-15 mpg(empty). Once you toying w the 460 you will get 6-9 mpg and no the amount of torque the diesel put out.