83 6.9 swap into 78 f350 advice or tips?

[Ctl5675]

I am wanting to pull the 460/c6 out of a 78 f350 and put in a 6.9/t19 or zf5, im just curious if anyone on here has previously done this and might have some helpful tips or advice for this venture?

 

[IDIBRONCO]

It's been done. Off the top of my head, someone put an IDI into a 1975. Somebody else put one into a 1968. IDIot put one into his early 60's Ranchero. He built a custom twin turbo set up and calls it the Manchero. If I could find a decently priced Dent side truck, I'd do a IDI swap for sure. It does take some fab work.

 

[Ctl5675]

Manchero i like it, im not looking to do anything too crazy, would like to keep it somewhat simple, a cam and maybe later down the line a turbo, im just trying to make a good work truck, i have a complete donor truck minus the trans (donor is and auto 4x4) was thinking about seeing if i can swap the front crossmember to save the fab work for motor mounts?

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I have no idea on that one. The only diesel swap I did was to turn my old 1986 Bronco into a diesel. I did swap the crossmembers on that one. The Dent Sides are my favorite later model trucks. If I did the swap, I'd have to have an extended cab F250 or bigger. Just to fit my preferences.

 

[Ctl5675]

I would enjoy a bigger cab, but this truck is plenty long lol, takes a football field to turn around it feels, its a retired ambulance but now has a 10ft flatbed

 

[Kevin 007]

I have one in a 69, but I didn't do the swap.

Engine mounts, rad outlet locations are a couple things that come to mind

 

[Scotty4]

Transmission crosmember, tcase, drive shafts as well depending.

Don't forget wire harness and dash.

 

[77 F-250]

I put a 7.3 NA into a 79 F150 frame. Kept the 87 extracab and added NV4500 with divorced NP205. Had to notch out inside of the frame forward of the cross member for the radiator and modified the engine mounts. Used the same transmission cross member. Only one fuel tank, ran fuel line from tank up driver side through front cross member to engine pump.
I Kept the 87 body because it was in better shape and able to reuse wiring harness.
Hopefully you're 78 has a power steering box and not the power assist in the drag link like the 77, that truck was all over the road.
Good luck with swap, it's what I originally wanted to do.

 

[Ctl5675]

77-f250, I have a power steering box, do you possibly have any pics from the fab work you did to the frame? The wiring and fuel lines im not as worried about, as for the frame i was contemplating swapping the front crossmember from the 83 into the 78 to see if it will be any easier than fabbing custom mounts

 

[77 F-250]

Here is a couple of pix before paint with 70's vintage plow frame bolted on.

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The 79 radiator supports sit on the frame where the 87's are wider. The extracab sits higher on the frame because I shortened the wheel base 16". That's why I raised the radiator supports.
If I had to do it again I would plate outside the frame first and then add gussets. But I'm going to plow with it.
If you do any frame fab work measure measure measure. It also helps to level the frame on blocks (minimum/no weight on suspension)
I used the 6.9 radiator but your 460 radiator may be enough, less fab work.