ive been toying with the idea of scrapping the 390/c6 combo from my 73' camper special and going with a diesel engine. ive been leaning towards an 86' or 87' 6.9 IDI engine simply due to my.. err... funds. im 17 so as you can imagine working for minimum wage and paying for gas in my 460 has left me with very little funds. though i do have a couple thousand saved. either way... i was first debating between a 12 valve 5.9 cummins and a 7.3 IDI without a turbo. then i heard about problems with the early 7.3, so i started to lean towards the 6.9 with the thicker cylinder walls. My main question is which engine would be the best as far as price, and the amount of welding and fabrication i have to do? im not concerned about a turbo or an intercooler, or the power ratings just yet. just the price and amount of work. thanks.

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1993 f250 XLT 460/E4OD
1973 f250 Ranger XLT Camper Special - a very tired 390

 

I recommend the 5.9 cummins 12v. Least amount of work involved for the swap, and you're looking at about $1500-$2000 for parts and everything to finish the swap. I'm 18 and going through the same problem: that 460 is a hog. I am considering doing the same swap in my 74 C/S XLT. Hope i helped.

 

ahh thanks for the info. between me and my neighbor (he fabs and welds for a living) i may be able to piece this truck together =). now to go find my werecked 92'..

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1993 f250 XLT 460/E4OD
1973 f250 Ranger XLT Camper Special - a very tired 390

 

hey OZZY1993, I've got a 77' F-350 SC Camper special that im soon swapping in a 7.3l IDIT/ZF-5. If you worried about price of them, it depends on the Donor vehical, which is HIGHLY recomended so you can have all the parts you may need. The 6.9l and the 7.3l are both good motors. Yes, the 7.3l did have a cavitation problem. The solution to that problem is DCA's. Heres a link

Cavitation Article

Ive chosen the 7.3l only beacause 'round here, there easier to find. If i were you, keep yur eye out for an 87' F-250/F-350. The 1987 Ford IDI have the best of both worlds.

As for welding & Fab work, Custom motor mounts will be needed. I have heard of guys using the 6.9l/7.3l mounts, but with modification. in my situation, a new Drive shaft is needed because of the setup im using.

Hope this helped, Keep me posted with your final desicion and build.

PS. I'm 15

 

'Nother idea for you to throw around. Why not put a 24v cummins in from a 2nd gen? If you p-pump it, you won't need to run the ECM, it'll basically be a 12v brain (mechanical) with the 24v performance?

Just a thought. There are quite a few 24v's running around out there. And the p-pump conversion has been done many times. I'd check out cumminsforum.com, they have a whole tech section dedicated to the 24v p-pump conversion