f-350 conversion

[Copterdoc]

update on f-350 conversion

Allright i'm going to do it I found a 1993 f-350 ext cab dually in great shape. It's about to get a real motor. I have almost everything worked out in my head. ( yea i've heard that before) The only thing i'm still working on is the ford has a stick and I'm going with the dodge auto. Does anyone know of an afrermarket shifter for the 4-speed dodge?. This is my plan:

1. marine the motor. (no computer)

2. add a alt with a built in voltage reg (marine apps)

3. keep the intercooler and dodge rad setup.

4. get my engine mounts from randy at reliable diesel

5. anybody need any parts. 93 d250 ext cab power every thing. spicer/dana 70 rear w/3. 54s

6. I'm also doing a 3 inch body lift on the ford for bigger tires. more room for the motor and transmission is an added bonus

copterdoc

 

[backroad]

Everything worked out huh?

Well, between you and I, I believe that daysure is just sitting back laughing at what we are getting ready to put ourselves through. The only difference is that my F350 is a 1987 crewcab 4WD dually.



On your OD Automatic, the shifter on the column needs only to be for the straight 3 speed. The Ford column will work. The Overdrive portion of the Dodge transmission (518) is electronic and does not require a shifter. It does however, in the Dodge, go through a bunch of stuff, including part of the injection pump and a small accessory type computer under the dash(if i'm not mistaken)... I'm told that the easy and most dependable method is to simply have a switch on the dash that operates a solenoid to the transmission Overdrive.



I believe that you're going to run into some headaches in the bigger tire department, that is if you plan to run anything larger that a 235/85-16 on the rear duals. The problem is that the tires will rub together. This is a definate no-no. On my 4WD i've added (stacked) two quarter inch spacers between the duals. I'm running a 255/85-16. They are just fine until I put a load on the truck, then they run. There are also some adapter/spacers available that are custom machined. They come in various widths and have a set of holes to bolt to the hub studs and another set of stude in the adapter to bolt on the outside tire. They do work great (about $500 per pair) except that most large tire shops won't work on dual wheels with any kind of spacers between them.



Daysure tells me that you can also use the Dodge alternator with the Ford regulator.



Good luck with your project. I'll be looking forward to your input as I'm planning and doing mine (& kicking a few parts around the shop).



Dennis... ...

 

[Copterdoc]

BELOW IS A PICK OF THE TRUCK. I still need to figure out If any one makes an aftermarket shifter. The ford has a manual transmission.

copterdoc

 

[backroad]

Auto Shifter

I believe that either B&M or Hurst would have a shifter (floor type) for your repower application. I would suggest just getting the one to fit a Dodge 727 trans, as I believe that it is the same basic transmission as is the 518 (overdrive added to tailhousing). Somebody please step in and correct me if I'm wrong.



Did my information on the requirements for modifying your Ford to enable you to run larger tires help any?



Dennis... ... .

 

[dasyure]

Laughing ? at what IMO just because its what I was raise with and know inside out ford was my only choice I hate gas engines fords diesels suck big time (15 years experiance) so I had to put a cummins in it and of the total project the engine was very easy the aditional work of the cummins vs puting a 6. 9 back in was only 4 to 5 hours

The hard part comes from Imade a 2 wheel drive 4 wheel that took some work, had to have rear 3. 54s and locking rear end = rebuild rear end hx40 to start with = build 4" exhaust from scrap well you get the idea it was all the extra stuf that made the project last so long

if I needed to do it again just switching a cummins for a ford diesel I could do it in two 8 hour days no problem

Sean

 

[Copterdoc]

f-350 update

here is an update on the project

 

[Copterdoc]

another pic

waiting for a heart transplant

 

[Copterdoc]

another pic

last one

 

[drives mopars]

my friend too

my friend has a 1970 ford 1 ton flat bed



with a np 435 4 spd



guess what going in that . 5. 9 ctd

 

[Copterdoc]

exhaust ?

I have shifter, b&m hammer. what size exhaust does everyone run? thanks copterdoc

 

[CPFF]

EX.

3. 5" S. S.

 

[mike r]

Copterdoc, that last picture looks like it regerjatated all the ford parts it didn't like about itself

 

[Copterdoc]

progress

I didn't think of it that way before but I think you have a point. I should have pics of the finished project in the next couple of days. spent today on the finishing touches like hoses,driveshast etc. The motor mounts that I got from randy at relieable diesel are true bolt in pieces. they fit great and the motor is lined up perfect. They took a little while to get but they were worth the wait. copterdoc

 

[Copterdoc]

finished (almost)

pics

 

[Copterdoc]

pics

pics

 

[Copterdoc]

pics

pics

 

[CJ Johansson]

How about an F250 HD?

Hey, that conversion looks *GREAT*, almost exactly what I've been wanting to do for years with my wife's '89 F250, maybe not until the 460 dies, unfortunately due to lack of $$. It always looked like the Cummins would fit.



What I'm wondering is whether the front suspension with the independent axle on the F250 will handle the weight (sure wish I had the F350 solid axle). This F250 is the "Heavy Duty" 250, with full floating rear axles, but I'm not sure what that means with regard to the front end.



So, when it's all finished, how about a rundown on the cost of the conversion and time, etc. ?



-cj

 

[Copterdoc]

more pics

pics

 

[Copterdoc]

more pics

I'll sit down and write up a complete rundown of costs and post later. I have about 2500 bucks in the truck as of right now. If i can sell the donor vehicle for 500 that will pay for the paint and finishing touches.

 

[backroad]

I am really a bit jealous that you are getting to do the final touches on your real 4X4 Big Cab (FORD). The pictures look great. Looking forward to some more details, especially with respect to what you did for the air filter system.



Randy @ Reliable convinced me to go with the '93 Dodge radiator instead of using the old one from the 460. He's also convinced me to upgrade the '93 automatic to the Lock up convertor and the HD style valve body. It probably helps that he shares a very large building (about 8 huge bays) with a very competent transmission shop(Little Transmissions). With the bombing that I'm working on for the Cummins, I just hope that it will stay reasonably cool. He also talked me into going to the 14cm turbine housing instead of the 16cm one. Your future input as well as Daysure's will surely help me out. I don't plan on starting my project till after most of the Dune season is over, sometime after the first of the year.



Again, looking forward to your critique of your repower project.



Backroad