Through an odd chain of events, I wound up with a good running Detroit 6-71. I would love to drop this into a C600 or an F600 flatbed to make a hauling rig, but I haven't been able to find if something of this size will fit.
Anybody have experience or knowledge on this?

 

The 6 71 is physically too large of an engine to fit into the engine compartment of a C or F 600. The V8 cat diesel was specially designed by cat for use in the smaller Ford C and F series. There have been special order factory installations of the 4 cyl detroits in C and F's though.

 

Probably a 3208 Cat........Of course didnt detroit build a 6V-71 along with the more common inline 6?

 

In a light duty F600 i think you may be right but in a later F700 or F800 like the 1980 and up models I think it would fit. I admit they look heavier that what i though they were.

Weight 2010 lbs
Length 41"
Width 39"
Height 48"
Compression Ratio 18.7:1
Displacement 426 Cu Inches
Bore 4.250 inches
Stroke 5.00 inches
I got that info at this site Detroit Diesel 6V 71 engine specs at Barrington Diesel Club. We provide technical data, specs and bolt torques for the 6V 71 Detroit Diesel engine. At Barrington Diesel Club specs, bolt torques and assembly clearances for many diesel engines may be f

 

I had a GMC 9500 series with the 6-71. The V-engine trucks and the smaller trucks (6500, 7500, etc.) just had shorter cab mounts and different mounts for the hood and bumper. I don't know if you could do this on a 600, but it would sure be cool.

 

I'll bet it would fit in a Louisville!

Sam

 

Go with a 4-71, it is shorter(obviously 2 cylinders shorter!) and with bigger injectors and a turbo it will make more HP than a stock 6-71.

 

I believe the OP was talking about a straight 6.

 

He was. Note the 6 in 6-71. If it was a V motor it would be a 6V-71. Ford-Six, do you already have the F600 or just wanting one?

 

I have the 6-71, and am looking for a good home for it. Ideally I would like a C, but with an extended cab like a fire truck, but a 58-60 or 67-72 F would be pretty sweet. I'm not too interested in an L, if i went that route I'd just run the stock diesel after turning it up a bit.
I have seen references to a 14L Cummins being available in the C, if so then the 6-71 would fit with room to spare.
The 6-71 I have has quite low hours, and while it isn't currently turbocharged that would be changed pretty quickly. As is, it's 215hp and over 600ft/lbs so it should move better than a 391 and get better mileage. It'll sound cooler too

 

If there isn't enough room in an f600, you could always stretch the front sheetmetal. It'd be a project, but it would be one cool truck when all done.

Detroit's do sound cool, someone was running one in my neighborhood a while back and I never did figure out where. I didn't have any trouble hearing it though.

A while back I got to hang around an old time diesel mechanic when he was doing the weekly start and run of a generator powered by a 6-71t. When he fired that thing up you couldn't hear yourself think! It was great!

Sam

 

Howdy,


The 6-71 is not known for getting good mileage in a truck!

There's also the problem of getting the gearing right. Any older C/F-600 is going to have pretty low rear-gears! (my Timken single speed axle is 6.80:1 and my 2 Speed Eaton is 5.83:1 in high range!! (as it is, even with my 0.71:1 OD, I'll STILL do about 2100 RPM @60mph in "top" gear.....but that'll probably still be OK with my Y-block

Even though that 6-71 might have a governed speed of around 2100 RPM, you'd want to run it on the highway (in top gear) at around 1700-1800 MAX. Any higher, and your mileage just goes up the stack!

The best choice in older Ford trucks is the Cummins 6BT 12v because they're plentiful and quite fuel efficient! There's one that hangs out in the older forums with a 1956 F-600 that installed a 12v in it using a DANA 80 rear axle and I think a 13sp RR trans.

If you MUST have a "Jimmy" , The other good choice is a 4-53T (they turn up to 3200rpm in some installations) or even (harder to find & $$) 6V-53T which will fit.

There's people over on "4BT Swaps " in their DD forum that are all over this!!

I seriously considered a 4-53T for my 55 F-600 but settled on the Y-block because there's nothing like the sound of a Y-block with dual exhaust!! (well, maybe a 6V-53T!!!!)


AND the Y-block will look "right" under the hood!!


Regards,


Rick

 

Don't forget the added benefit of automatic rust proofing of the frame with the Detroit. Hah!

These are the humble words of MisterCMK sent on the go...

 

I'm on 4bt under a different screen name, I've posted the engine on there without any interest.
If I do put it in a truck, I'm not expecting stellar economy, but if I can get around 10-12 that would be good. I would gear it to turn around 1500 at 60, with either an Allison or maybe a 9speed.
For right now, though, I'm just trying to figure out if I can do what I would like to do.
Can these trucks even handle a 2000lb engine over the front axle?

 

Young Fire Apparatus of the Buffalo area used 6V71s in the C series chassis in the '70s. But with your inline 6 I think if you moved the cab back a foot or so, you'd build a neat rat rod .

Allison MT 644 or 654 would be the trans to mate up. Or a 9 or 10 speed manual.