24valve in a 76 highboy f250 4x4 ?

[GLockwood]

Hi ,

This is my first post .

I have a 1976 f250 4x4 (highboy).

I also have a 1999 24valve 5. 9 Cummins c/w 6 speed and transfer case .

Has anyone done this repower before .

The pre 77. 5 4x4 has a narrower frame than 2 wheel drives (I think) .



Any thaughts or advice welcome .

Thanks,

Graham. :--)

 

[stacerbob]

Two of these at the same time!? You guys need to talk. Should be plenty of room. If you are gonna run a/c mount it up high. Yes frame is narrower than most other Fords. I am putting a Dana 60 in mine right now. Seems like the frame was 30. 5/ 31" wide+/-. The spring pads on the 60 are c/l 36"! Yes its alot of work to make it fit!! Good luck! & you take pics also! I want to put one in mine someday!!

 

[JPihl]

Graham - Yea, we'll have to compare notes and keep each other motivated. I'm almost ready to dig into the Cummins conversion on my '75 Crew Cab F-250. I'm using a '95 12V Cummins and backing it up with a 47RH auto. Stacerbob is right - the stock A/C compressor location on the cummins will get in the way. I'm going to make some brackets to mount my Sanden 508 up high on the driver side. The Sanden has ears on it that make fabbing brackets for it pretty easy.



The "Highboy" Ford by definition is a pre-1977. 5 F-250 with a divorced t-case and the narrow, flat frame. The narrow frame should not be a concern, but the front crossmember needs to be lowered 1. 5-2" to clear the Cummins oil pan.



Jeff

 

[GMac]

I did a 12 valve with intercooler and a 47re trans in my 79. I was able to keep all the ac components too. Email me or pm me if you have any questions. I also just got done doing one in a 79 chevy 1 ton.

 

[GLockwood]

Hi JPihl ,

Yes , Mine is a highboy with divorced 205 transfer and narrow frame . I didn't think they came in Crewcab's ? I am also looking out for a D60 front if you have a spare 'laying around" .

GMac thanks for the reply too . My frame is 5" narrower then a 1979 so it willl be a bit different .

Thanks,

Graham.

 

[GMac]

I also had a 76 highboy. I know the frame is narrower but it is very similar to the width of the chevy I did. I think you will have plenty of room. The worst thing is the big heater/ac box sticking out from the cab. My turbo and exhaust was really close to that but it did work.

 

[GLockwood]

My truck is right hand drive so I have steering and brake booster to worry about , where you would normally have the heater .

 

[Scot]

I just did a '78 F250 4x4 SC. The frame upfront is the same width as the highboy but the post highboy frame gets wider further back. A D60 front end out of a 78/9 will bolt in without modification.



If you have the factory air, you will have interference problems with the turbo. I am told that others have gotten around this by flipping the manifold. I still do not see that fixing the problem though. A first gen downpipe will buy you some room.



I have a bunch of pictures in my gallery.

 

[Pmaloney]

You guys (especially you Jeff) need to put those coveted Cummins in a real truck... :-laf

 

[JPihl]

For those that didn't look at Maloney's sig, he stuck a 24v Cummins in a *ahem* chevy. (whoda thunk ther'd be a ford vs. chevy discussion on a dodge forum?) Actually, his conversion is 1st class - I hope mine turns out half as nice as his.



Jeff

 

[GLockwood]

Hi Scot ,

If you measure the distance between the front springs it should be 36. 5" centers on a 78/79 . The highboy is 31" centers . If your truck is 31" centers and the D60 bolted right in , you have a rare housing . I want one .

 

[stacerbob]

I agree. I thought the 78/79 was 36. 5" actually all the way up to the pre stuperduty (97) The highboys are 31. 5" I'd be interested to see if that supercab was narrow framed also.

 

[Scot]

Just went out and measured it. Front is 31 1/2" center.



I bought a D44 out of a '79 and put it in a '75 F250 4x4 some years ago to get disk brakes. It bolted in.



I think they went to 36 1/2 at the '80 body change.

 

[JoshJones]

I'm also in the process of putting a cummins in my highboy. I'm putting a 92 motor in it and am still debating on a transmission. I have the auto from the cummins but would much rather have a stick. Probably will put the auto in first and get it going till I find a stick. I'm building mine strictly for pulling. I have the ford all torn apart just getting ready to tackle the dodge but so far its been a good deal. The ford had a lift kit on it and I sold that and the motor. That pretty much paid for the dodge. The dodge had a fire in the cab so i got it pretty cheap from an old guy in town. Hope are swaps all go good and any info I can help with just let me know

 

[Sled Puller]

I would suggest saving yourself the headache of weak VP-44s, cheap electronics, and cracked blocks, and find a 12 valve. It will save you money in the long run.

 

[GLockwood]

Just went out and measured it. Front is 31 1/2" center.



I bought a D44 out of a '79 and put it in a '75 F250 4x4 some years ago to get disk brakes. It bolted in.



I think they went to 36 1/2 at the '80 body change.

I stand corrected . Oo.