Lookin to swap for 7.3

[Stickman084]

Hey guys, i got an 85 f250 with a 6.9 in it. and its really low on power. But i found a 97 7.3 that comes with tranny, transfer case and everything i need. Just wondering if its a relatively easy swap out or if its going to be a hastle. I know the wiring is gonna be where all the work is at but i'm just looking for something a little bit more up to date, keeping the older style look of the fords i like. So if anyone has heard anything about these swaps that would be really cool.

 

[apextrans]

I think in the past, the general opinion is that it would be alot less hassle to switch the sheetmetal over to the newer truck to keep the classic look you like.

 

[bigrandy]

I just finished a swap exactly like this and if you dont have the whole truck it is a serious pain.We started with just the engine,tranny and tranfercase and we ended up getting a whole wrecked truck to get all of the wiring and what not.There are a lot of little things that you need and would have taken us way too many trips to the junkyard to get.It wasnt that bad once we got the parts truck.Also when we did the swap we installed the whole dash and interior of the 96 and it made for a nice upgrade.AC was a nice bonus.

 

[Stickman084]

That's what i was planning on doing was just getting a junker truck with everything i can use in it. Did you have to do any modification to the older ford at all, like to the firewall or underbelly or engine mounts to fit the tranny and engine in it?

 

[bigrandy]

No not really.It was pretty much straight forward.The engine mounts were different and the crossmember was different,but they bolted in with I think only a few little changes.I think a couple holes had to be drilled,but there was no firewall mods at all.

 

[94f450sd]

easiest way is to swap the sheet metal like was said but the radiator support is gonna be completely different between the 2 trucks.other than that you will need a complete parts truck cuz you will need to swap every wiring harness in it including the headlight harness.if i remember correctly the plugs that go through the firewall may be a different shape(not positive).and i think for an 85 you need to cut a rectangle hole in the firewall for the ECM.cut and splice plugs for the lights.

if you have the money youd be better off dumping the 85 and buying another truck or drop a 7.3IDI in it,be a direct bolt in.

 

[Diesel_brad]

I am going to be doing the exact swap the OP asked about. I have a rusted out 95 F350 powerstoke Zf5 truck that is donating the engine,trans and computer to go into my 86 6.9 4spd truck. It is going to be one hell of a sleeper