Looking for experience info?
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Campton
Looking for experience info?
Well after trying to get a definate answer and turning up with the usual ford sucks answers i will ask the ford community. I need to know which diesel engine will accomidate my 1994 Ford F150 the best. what i mean by that is would a cummins diesel or a psd be the better way to go when changing my truck over to diesel. I want a 20mpg and enough power to get me over the steep hills and offroads that i travel in eastern kentucky. I also want something that will be reliable and durable and allow me to run A/C. I realise that this question may have been asked before but once again i want an honest opinon from the guys that drive trucks just like mine.
thanks.
thanks.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 339
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From: Texas
I'm gonna have to agree with my esteemed colleague Mike, however if you are stuck on your 150 for sentimentality reasons, the 7.3 would be the easiest swap. There are members of FTE who have swapped to diesel from gas engines that can be a little more specific on their experience and can give you a lot more insight into the finer points of it. In fact, I did see a poster here a few days ago that was selling a complete 7.3 for around 2,000 buckaroo's. While the Industrial application Cummins diesel is a decent engine, those which Dodge was sticking in their light duty trucks have never been known for the reliability and power that is the PowerStroke. Hope that helps a little.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,231
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From: Thomasville, GA
The easiest to swap in would be a 6.9 or 7.3 IDI as said earlier, or a Cummins 12v.
The 6.9 and 7.3 won't have a whole lot of power unless you put a turbo on them. The Cummins 12v has good power and is all mechanical so pretty easy to swap. Plus there are a lot parts and kits to swap a cummins in.
The 6.9 and 7.3 won't have a whole lot of power unless you put a turbo on them. The Cummins 12v has good power and is all mechanical so pretty easy to swap. Plus there are a lot parts and kits to swap a cummins in.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Kearney, Nebr
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,231
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From: Thomasville, GA
If you want power to pull hills i would go cummins 12v.
The IDI's are good motors too, but if you don't find one with a turbo kit that's another thing you'll have to buy for it.
The IDI's are good motors too, but if you don't find one with a turbo kit that's another thing you'll have to buy for it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Denver CO
your best bet for a 7.3 IDI turbo would be to find one in a 93 o94 as that was when they were at their most common but even then there were huge amounts of them, and the cummins 4bt 12 valve are becoming more scarce too as people are taking them and swapping the heads and other parts from the them into later 24 valve engines to generate more power.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
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A Cummins 4BT will meet or exceed all of your requirements:
It will last 300,000+ miles.
You should expect 22-25 mpg in an F150.
The 4BT is all mechanical - wire the fuel shut off solenoid and the starter and it will run.
At 800 lbs, its weight is reasonable. Weighs less than a powerstroke and much less than a 5.9 Cummins.
The factory torque specs on my 4BT are 300 ft/lbs at only 1500 rpm, much higher than the 300 6 that it replaced. 200 HP and 400 ft/lbs is easily obtainable by swapping a larger turbo (HE341) and adjusting fuel and timing on the injection pump.
Take a look at my build-up thread of a 4BTA into a 93 F150:
93 F150 with 4BTA
It will last 300,000+ miles.
You should expect 22-25 mpg in an F150.
The 4BT is all mechanical - wire the fuel shut off solenoid and the starter and it will run.
At 800 lbs, its weight is reasonable. Weighs less than a powerstroke and much less than a 5.9 Cummins.
The factory torque specs on my 4BT are 300 ft/lbs at only 1500 rpm, much higher than the 300 6 that it replaced. 200 HP and 400 ft/lbs is easily obtainable by swapping a larger turbo (HE341) and adjusting fuel and timing on the injection pump.
Take a look at my build-up thread of a 4BTA into a 93 F150:
93 F150 with 4BTA
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Elder User
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From: Campton
Thanks all of you for the input. I am very sentimental about my truck and could not sell it. my father in law drove this truck to my wedding with my wife in the passenger seat. she got out of the truck and walked down the isle to me and after that i had to have the truck.