I've jus subscribed to FF. And what i'm looking for is some help with my 83 f-150 4x4. Its currently an in-line 6cyl with a mechanical 4speed tranny. What i want to do is drop a early 90's turbo diesel into it from an f-250. What i'm mainly wanting to know is if i'll have any problems matching up the diesel to the old 4speed tranny. i'm not worried bout the engine mounts and such. mainly worried with the tranny becuz if i have to change the tranny out, then thats means having to run hydro lines n such. so i'm hoping that there won't be a problem with the engine swap. Any advice or help will be wonderfully appreciated.

 

I kinda dought it, since ford changed manaual trannys and changed diesels twice in the time period bettween your tranny and the engine. if However, it if will not fit, pay adavance adapters a visit. good chance that they have the necissary adapters. also, a four speed manuel to five speed manual would not be a big swap, expecally in the context of a inline six to a powerstroke conversion.

 

i understand that.. and thanks for the advice. but then that brings up the next question. did they make a mechanical 5 speed that will match up to the diesel. or will i have to install a hydro system for a 5speed?

 

87 was the last year for 4 speeds and the 6.9 diesel. in 88 they released the 7.3 and the five speed manuals. in 89 they compleatly redesined the 7.3, turboed it and called it the gen one powerstroke. do not get the 88 7.3 liter. there is a reason that they redesined the engine the next year. as to trannys, I do beleve that you could get a diesel and a five speed in 90' however, I would expect this drivetrain to be quite rare. since the engines/ trannys must be cross compatable, i would expect all engines/trannys from that year to be compatable. however, by the time this is all done, it would probably be cheaper and easier to buy a 90' diesel. if that will not work, try to find a diesel/five speed drivetrain that is already together. if that is not avalable, try to get a diesel/auto drivetrain. find one that is still in the truck, and take lots of photos of it before you change anything. then, take everything out and put it back in your truck the same way, with the same adjustments. the next thing would be to find if your tranny or a five speed would work with the new engine. I still say you go and buy a 90 ford with the 7.3 powerstroke.

 

i hear and understand that. the turbo i was looking at is out of i believe to be a 93 or newer f-250 single cab truck since it has the nicely rounded off front fender. but there is not a tranny at all with it. i found it in a yard so i'll take what i can get. i couldn't get the truck as cheap as i believe i'll get the complete engine. the yard i'm goin to last time i checked was willing to sell the engine for less then 300. I'm also pulling a ford factory auto-locker full axle out of the same yard off an 81 bronco for less then 75. i'm looking into a tranny adapter right now in case i can't find a suitable tranny to match. i've gotten onto this idea since i'm working on 3 diesel projects at the moment including this truck.