Need help with IDI Diesel Swap

[ProjResponder]

I came to this forum seeking help w/ a diesel swap with the PS 7.3 in mind: http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?p=262240

It seems that the PS swap would be much more of a headache than it's worth and that the IDI would be a good fit and much simpler to accomplish.

I was informed that the basement dwellers around here might be able to offer up some words of advice and know-how.

So here I am... Has anyone here actually swapped a gas motor with an IDI, or know someone that has? I'd really like to have my ducks in a row before I yank the 460.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[hesutton]

Yeah, it's been done a few times. Mel (angem is his handle here) has dropped an IDI in a Broncho. It was done about a year and a half or two years ago. He has photos of the swap in his webshots galleries. I'm sure he'll be along shortly or you can shoot him a PM.

The PSD has a lot of extra electronics to complicate the swap. These IDI's are mechanically injected and pretty simple to work on. Plus, they are good, reliable, motors.

Me.....I've never done the swap from gas to diesel, but it sounds like a cool project.

Heath

 

[Agnem]

Michael, all you need is a few parts and a weekend worth of time. No special tools are required. I can't tell by your photo if you have a F150 or a F250/F350. Either is fine, but the F150 will require just a little more work. Essentially what you need is this...

1) 6.9 or 7.3 IDI Diesel
2) Your choice of mated automatics C6 or E4OD, or manual trans T-19 or ZF-5.
3) Front clip, or radiator and core support from same body style diesel pickup.
4) Front coil springs from F-250/F-350 2WD diesel pickup for your F-150, or Correct front springs for F-250/F350 diesel pickup or optionally, ride-rite air bags could be used for your stock F-250/F-350 springs.
5) Holley Red fuel pump.
6) Motor mounts and motor mount plates from donor F series diesel pickup.
7) Miscelanious hose, fitings and wire.

Naturally if you have a 4X4, you'll need 4X4 versions of those tranny's to mate with your transfer case. It's a simple bolt in swap.

 

[ProjResponder]

Michael, all you need is a few parts and a weekend worth of time. No special tools are required. It's a simple bolt in swap.

I have, what amounts to an F-450 now. The front springs will handle the weight I'm sure. They are 4" Superlift springs and they are stiff as heck. I could use them to be a little softer. I have a 460 with a custom C6. Is there an adapter to mate this tranny to the IDI? Since you've done this before, where are your photos of the project to share?

This is very encouraging. Where did you get your motor mounts and how did you mount your A/C compressor, PS pump and alternator?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[BigRigTech]

If your springs are to stiff now then 400lbs of extra IDI beef will fix that problem. ....The gasser to IDI swap should be straight forward, a rusted or smashed donor truck would be the easiest route.

 

[FordGuy100]

If your springs are to stiff now then 400lbs of extra IDI beef will fix that problem. ....The gasser to IDI swap should be straight forward, a rusted or smashed donor truck would be the easiest route.

Agreed, you can find a running donar truck thats been wrecked or something for real cheap. Then you would have everything to switch over. Russ (typ4) also did a IDI swap. Actually he took out the IDI in the first place for a built 460, then put a turbo IDI back in (cause the only thing it didnt pass was a gas station , thats what he told me ). I think its pretty straight forward.

You really need a tranny from a diesel to make it work. You might be able to use a gasser tranny with an adaptor, but I would doubt that you could find an adaptor. Russ took a gasser ZF and converted it to fit on his IDI, had to drill out the top two bolt holes to make it work. He says it wasnt that bad, though you would need to know what you were doing, or you could run the risk of cracking the housing and what not (in which case your *****'ed)

 

[Ford428CJ]

I did a swap this last fall. I posted it on this forum with pictures and all! But I dumped in a 6.9 with an ATS 088 kit in a 1979 F-250. Look up my Name and do a search on it.

 

[riotwarrior]

I just helped out a swap from a 93 IDI to a 96 PS it is not difficult to move up to PS if you need to.

It does however require a cab swap for the simplest method.

Take a donor cab and clip along with then engine from the PS and then replace the existing cab and clip. That way you have the entire wire harness, and all the computers and related stuff, along with the engine and drivetrain.

An IDI is simpler as there is no computer controll so it's a bolt in with minimal wiriing.

 

[ProjResponder]

It does however require a cab swap for the simplest method.

I think I'll stay with the IDI

This is very cool stuff. I think you guys have convinced me to move forward with this. Now I just need to find and IDI within a reasonable distance for the swap.

I still have some questions though: What about the A/C compressor, P/S pump and Alternator?

 

[69oiler]

just FYI, i dunno how much you know about the IDI, but if you are looking for a used one, you might want to look for an 85-87 6.9. this was the best era for the 6.9, it has the kinks worked out by then. if you get one and rebuild it, ARP makes a good set of head studs for it. 6.9s are known for weak head gaskets, (or should i say head bolts) and studs will take care of that problem, especially if you turbo it.

the 88-94 7.3 is a good motor but it's the luck of the draw whether you end up the cavitation problems because of the thin cylinder walls. if you can get some kind of assurance that the Supplemental Coolant Additive was used in the 7.3 the you should be fine.

as far as the power difference between the 2, on paper there is like 15 HP less for the 6.9 than the 7.3, but in real life i think its a wash. both respond well to turbos. there was a 7.3 IDI turbo out in 93 and 94 that had better rods, if you can find one of those that has a good history for coolant maintenance then that would be a good choice too.

i'd just hate for you to go thru with the swap and have the engine hydrolock on you. others may have more to say on this topic. good luck, looks like a cool truck you have.

 

[Agnem]

Picks of my build up are in the Moosestang album link in my sig (see first post). All the accessories will need to be swapped from the donor, unless they are the same as what your gasser has. I'm sorry to say you will have to ditch your built up C6. Sell it with the gas engine, or gut it and build up the diesel version with the parts if they will interchange. The gear ratios are different for the diesel.

 

[seawalkersee]

Just look at the e-bay posting with the 7.3 IDI for sale in KCMO. Its on the cheep and will have all you need to swap the engine (or your body) across.

Chris

 

[ProjResponder]

Just look at the e-bay posting with the 7.3 IDI for sale in KCMO. Its on the cheep and will have all you need to swap the engine (or your body) across.

Chris

You wouldn't happen to have the auction id handy would you?

 

[Petri317]

Don't know if this has been mentioned, but you should get the diesel radiator support and a diesel radiator in order to adequately cool the beast. If I were you, I'd try to find a 1987 or 1988 4x4 auto truck, as those years they had c6's and the radiator support that matches your body style (unless 83-86 and 87-91 rad. supports interchange??), along with all of the other little stuff needed.

 

[suv7734]

The gear ratios are different for the diesel.

Are you sure Mel? The only ones I've done have the same 'gear ratios'. The valve body, governor, clutch packs, modulator, etc. are different though.