On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:11:12 -0600, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:

...
for a helluva truck though. 18+mpg empty and power up the wazoo. I'm
sure you wouldn't have NEARLY as much difficulty installing a PowerStroke.
...

I'm not brave enough to mix and match car companies. First choice at this
point is the 7.3 turbo powerstroke. I'm thinking buy the whole damn
wrecked truck. Then I know I'll have all the parts. Key question at this
point, does the powerstroke 7.3 have the same bell housing bolt pattern as
the 460 gas?


Probably a match, since auto companies like to have everything
mix-and-match in the parts bins, but I dunno. Ask your local wrecking
yard, they have the Englander Manuals that say what swaps where.

The "buy a complete donor vehicle with all the pieces you will need"
route is the only way to go, because almost every stupid system in a
diesel car is different. And don't buy the donor unless it's a pretty
close match - a F-350 in the same or newer model year of the same
body-style version (so you can swap body harnesses and instrument
clusters), and a similar GVWR.

Brakes are hydroboost not vacuum, fuel tanks and fuel piping system
has several significant differences, exhaust is all different, body
electrical is all different, etc.

Find out what you need to do from the state before you do the swap
regarding registration and tags. If you swap the odometer you need to
file a statement of incorrect mileage, and the engine size and type
records will need to be changed on the title. If you don't correct
the title and a cop pulls you over, and the title says Gas and the
truck is Diesel the first thing he's going to think is "Stolen Vehicle
- Swapped VINs" until you prove differently.

And even with all the pieces you need readily at hand, figure this
is still going to be an "All-Winter" project - you will hit snags
where you have to fab a bracket from scratch, or figure out the part
number and buy it at the dealer, and work will creep along. Clear out
a bunch of space in the back of the barn, you don't want to block
anything important in with a truck that can't move.

-- Bruce --