7.3 Powerstroke swap

[calvinlortie]

I want to find a nice long bed truck to do a 7.3 6 speed swap. Has anybody done this before? Just want to know what i would be getting into. I’ve always been curious

 

[CheemsK1500]

I've seen it done to older Fords plenty of times, a square body would likely be pretty straight forward, if you are willing to commit yourself to designing your own engine mounts and transmission cross members. A 6BT Cummins swap would be easier, since many have done it and many vendors sell readily available engine mounts. A 6BT is also mechanically injected, so you can save yourself a lot of wiring headache, by using one over an electronic fuel delivery system like what is found on Powerstrokes.

 

[63wagon]

Do it!!!

I have nothing productive to add other than it would be cool to see a non cummins diesel swap.

 

[RecklessWOT]

So this isn't just some crazy idea you came up with because you happened to have an old truck and a random engine laying around? Like you're gonna go out of your way to find a nice clean squarebody just so you can rip its guts out and swap a furd engine in?


To each their own I suppose, good luck with the build. Lol I'mma stay outta this one

 

[Big Ray]

rather have the 7.3 than my 6.2...

 

[Strick]

rather have the 7.3 than my 6.2...

The Super Duty Ford/International conglomerate certainly left the General in the dust back in the 90s. I love my old Detroits but that 444 will work circles around them; and do it for 300K+ miles if you keep them serviced. Kudos to GM for bringing diesels to SUV's, half tons & up & doing it before the others in the Big 3. IHC beat them all with the diesel Scout (now someone's gonna mention the even sorrier 78-81 5.7 diesel trucks from GM). Happy New Year everone!!!

Strickland

 

[Rusty Nail]

I'm with reckless.

 

[Big Ray]

The Super Duty Ford/International conglomerate certainly left the General in the dust back in the 90s. I love my old Detroits but that 444 will work circles around them; and do it for 300K+ miles if you keep them serviced. Kudos to GM for bringing diesels to SUV's, half tons & up & doing it before the others in the Big 3. IHC beat them all with the diesel Scout (now someone's gonna mention the even sorrier 78-81 5.7 diesel trucks from GM). Happy New Year everone!!!

Strickland

Yeah, you're right.
Shame they quit making the P400. Would have loved to see them cycle through the surplus system. Hell, ol Leroy Diesel put a new one in his rig. He sells stuff for 6.2/6.5l diesels.
They still me new Optimizer 6.5l's, but hell both of my Suburbans aren't worth that kind of money.

My old 6.2l has 385k on the clock, so I won't complain too much lol

 

[Strick]

Yeah, you're right.
Shame they quit making the P400. Would have loved to see them cycle through the surplus system. Hell, ol Leroy Diesel put a new one in his rig. He sells stuff for 6.2/6.5l diesels.
They still me new Optimizer 6.5l's, but hell both of my Suburbans aren't worth that kind of money.

My old 6.2l has 385k on the clock, so I won't complain too much lol

I just got an 82 K10 & am putting a runner 6.2 in it. The one in it has an extra hole in piston #6...

Strickland

 

[Turbo4whl]

Yes the International 7.3 is/was a good engine. To dirty to pass any smog laws. Most important, the 7.3 weighs 300+ lbs more than a cast head, cast intake manifold 454. Better look for a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup.

 

[CheemsK1500]

If I were to go the Navistar route for a swap, I'd go for a DT360, a 6.9 IDI or a 7.3 IDI, since they're all mechanically injected and electronically straight forward. The DT360 is an underated powerhouse rivaled only by a 6BT Cummins. The IDI engines are weak in stock form, but can toyed with to produce some decent power.

 

[CheemsK1500]

GM seemed to like to put Caterpillar diesels in medium duty trucks like the Kodiak and Topkick. I'm surprised they never tried to put one in a light truck. That would make for an interesting swap if someone tried it.

 

[Big Ray]

I picked up a L29 big block with a mess of new parts still in the box. Just in case my 6.2 is really dead lol.
I suspect its the fuel system. I have a reman i.p., reman injectors, new timing chain, damper, electric lift pump & harness and various other parts.
Just hadn't bothered messing with it yet. Loving the K5 too much.

 

[Turbo4whl]

GM seemed to like to put Caterpillar diesels in medium duty trucks like the Kodiak and Topkick. I'm surprised they never tried to put one in a light truck. That would make for an interesting swap if someone tried it.

Caterpillar stopped building engines for medium duty road trucks. The HEUI engine was great until they had to add the cow piss injection (DEF to clean the SCR convertor). Many issues then.

All the Internations have the MaxForce (revamped DT466) and the Fords and others have Cummins. I have not seen one of the new Chevy medium duty trucks on the road yet. We have none in the fleet.

 

[bucket]

Caterpillar stopped building engines for medium duty road trucks. The HEUI engine was great until they had to add the cow piss injection (DEF to clean the SCR convertor). Many issues then.

All the Internations have the MaxForce (revamped DT466) and the Fords and others have Cummins. I have not seen one of the new Chevy medium duty trucks on the road yet. We have none in the fleet.

The new Chevy 6500 medium duty trucks are most comparable to the '03-'09 4500's and 5500's. 19.5's and 6.6L Duramax only. The current 6500 cannot be ordered with similar capacities and durability as the old models.