Anyone ever thought of this swap and what engine would you use? I was just thinking of this last night and thought I would get some opinions on it.

 

It is supposed to be a factory option in '08 to '09.

I would just wait for Ford to put it out vs. trying to fab one up.

 

good point but I have an 88 F150 with a 300-6 in it and was thinking why not.

Thats all just a project maby.

 

Get your tape measure out and start looking at diesels. You are probably talking about a Cummins 4 cylinder - bread van type motor. The 6s out of 3/4 and 1-tons will be too long (I think). Lot's of them around, but they command good money ($2,000+ with high miles). Lots of fab and wiring issues. You'll need to beef up the front end (heavier than stock motor).

 

deffinately will need to use the 4cylinder, you will also need to add heavier front springs, new fuel system, brake system, and probably the trans as well as trying to mate the cummins to the ford bellhousing might not be too easy and the factory tranny more than likely will not be able to handle the torque the diesel will produce.

Get out you pocket book!!!

 

[QUOTE=STOCKEXPY]good point but I have an 88 F150 with a 300-6 in it and was thinking why not.

I had a 90 F250 Diesel (7.3) and I believe the bodies are interchangable between the 3 weight classes.

Frames are the million dollar question? Lighter frame means lighter suspension. Do you have any Idea of how much weight is in a 7.3. I would guess a running '90 7.3 to weigh in the neighborhood of 2200 lbs. Brakes on an F150 will never keep up with a 7.3 transplant. I would even suspect that a 4 cyl diesel will weigh twice that of your I-6. Personally the 6 is an excellent motor. Hot rod it. Clifford research has intake and headers for that motor. Plus you will never find a smother running engine. 360 degrees/6 opposed to 360/4 for a V8.

David

 

[QUOTE=Chassismaster]Its has a 5 speed. What kind of fuel milage will the 6 get? It runs smooth just pondering.

 

I have seen posts on other forums about the 4 cyl Cummins going into an Explorer, so I don't think a F-150 would have many issues. Their biggest problem with the height of the motor, they had to remake the engine crossemember so the hood would shut.

I would love to put a 354 Perkins in a 80's F-350. Dependable, effieciant and cheap. They put them in a bunch of Massey combines back in the 60's-70's which are now going pretty cheap and they usually have low hours on them. They are only a couple hundred pounds heavier than a 460 so it isn't that big of a deal.

300's are a tough reliable engine, but I have never heard too much more than 15 mpg being very common.

 

You can come across Cummin 4BTs pretty easily. Just be ready to spend some money for it. They are valuable little items. If you find one out of a Frito/Lays truck, it will have a TH400 automatic bolted to it already. I know it's a '88 Ford truck, but you'd have to find different bellhousing and such to bolt a Ford trans to it. Not a complicated task, just depends what your looking for. An NV4500 would be a very sweet bolt action trans to mate to a 4BT.

The 4BT is rated at 130 or so HP, but can be greatly increased by turning up the injector pump and even more so doing some other modifications. There's a 4BT around that is putting out 400 HP!!!!!!

 

Definitely go with the 7.3, keep it Ford, maybe even add a turbo! Upgrade tranny, brakes and suspension, change your wiring harness and then you'll be mostly done with it...

 

Where would I find one of those Cummins 4cyl engines? I wuld love to put in a 7.3 Turbo PS. But I dont think Its gonna happen.

 

I had a friend that did this in a van. It ended up costing him about 5 grand. There is a conversion kit made for such a deal.

It will work, it just takes patients.

 

Why would you ruin a perfectly good truck with a diseasel?????? noisy,dirty smelly,slow..........did I leave anything out? Oh yeah...Heir Diesel was a fruitcake.

 

Slow???? You dont get out much do you?

 

Maybe back in the 70s but diesels have come a long way since then.