Diesel swap help/advice
 

So long story short Ive been working on the '77 f150 that i picked up in June and am getting ready to start putting it back together. I'm going to go with a diesel engine in place of the gasser, but have run into a few snags. I want to go with a 4bt but my search is not going well, so I may have to go with a 6.9 or 7.3 IDI. Ive already searched and know alot of the issues that come up, mainly engine weight, but one thing I cant get a straight answer on is the trans. I have a C6 now that was recently rebuilt, and have read that some (6.9's specifically) came with a C6. Are they a different bolt pattern than mine? If somone could clear up my options for the diesel tranny I'd appreciate it.

I'd go with the 4BT, you won't regret it if you do.

Thats what I want to go with, just the search for one is not going well, combined with the fact that the IDI motors are much much cheaper kinda pushes me in that direction

There is a different bolt pattern for the idi c6. I searched long and hard can tell you for certain they are different.

Not to be a jerk but have you looked into buying a bread van or such with a 4bt in it? When I bought my 5.9 cummins I bought the whole truck, pulled the motor, trans and a bunch of miscellaneous parts. Then parted everything I could and scrapped the carcass. I have right around $1000 into my 5.9, nv4500 trans and dana 80 axle after selling everthing.

Also the isuzu npr trucks have a great 3.9l 4cylinder diesel in them as well. Just something to think about in your search.

The nice part about useing a 6.9 or 7.3 is if You use the C6 and the truck had a C6 all You have to make is the front motor mounts. If You were close I'd swap all the parts from Your good C6 into the diesel C6 for a case of beer LOL then everything just hooks back up the way it was.

Well if it helps I am putting a 7.3 Powerstroke in a 1975 Ford F250 4X4. Slow but its getting there. As for a IDI, if its a 7.3 I can probably help you out about getting it in there.

i went with a 4 speed when i did mine, actually it was the original 75 4 speed with the 6.9 diesel bell housing, all bolted up good, just welded in the crossmember from the 84 6.9

The 7.3 and 6.9 are the same as far as mounting goes, as well as how accessories tend to bolt up.

Yeah, they are.

The 6.9 and 7.3 IDI diesels are the same unique bellhousing bolt pattern and were both fitted with the C6 trans as stock up to `941/2. So you would need a C6 from any diesel (4x2 or 4x4 depending on what you need).

Also a new 7.3 tranny will fit a old 7.3

Thanks for all the help and info guys. Ive never heard of those isuzu motors before, but they are interesting. Ive wanted to find a bread van and scrap what I dont use, but the search just isnt going well. There is an '88 f350 near me with a 7.3 and an auto trans( all i know about it), would this be a good canidate for a complete swap, motor, tranny and possibly rear end? Again thanks guys

bump.........

Keep searching craigslist and every add you can find.

The 4BT seem to be quite pricey generally. I have been told by someone that works on them a lot that they have vibration issues if you try to rev them much. There are two versions, one with balance shafts, and one without. I currently forget why he said the balance shaft version had issues, but the unbalanced will vibrate like crazy with much for rpms. I also had been looking into putting a 4BT into a 78 shortbed, not sure if I want to keep on it. They show up on ebay every so often.