FORD DIESEL CONVERSION
Hello Diesel World,
I recently inherited a 1993 Ford F350 4x4 crew cab pickup powered by the original, nearly wornout 460ci gasoline motor. My granddad, who worked for an implement dealer, bought the truck new to haul farm equipment. The truck appears to be in good shape, with no rust or sheet metal damage, so I thought about updating the drivetrain and doing some cosmetic improvements in honor of my granddad. I want to use the truck to occasionally tow a fairly new RV travel trailer, so it has to be dependable and safe, which brings me to point of this message. I'm looking for a diesel conversion for this truck. What recommendations would you suggest for the engine, transmission, etc. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Wayne Coolidge Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hi Wayne,
The easiest and perhaps best diesel conversion for your truck would be a late-‘80s- to-early-‘90s 7.3L IDI Navistar V-8 diesel engine fitted with an aftermarket turbocharger. This is a non-electronic and mechanically injected diesel
engine that should adapt easily to your 1993 Ford truck. Banks ( www.bankspower.com) produces an excellent turbocharger kit for the non-turbo 7.3L diesel, which would give you the power you need for your towing requirements.
If you’re a fabricator and don’t mind more of an installation challenge, the 5.9L Cummins might be worth considering. Used engines are relatively inexpensive and plentiful. You can visit www.destroked.com for a website that specializes in this sort of swap.
You’ll need an overdrive transmission no matter which diesel engine you decide to use, whether it’s a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Diesel engines operate in a lower RPM range than a gas engine, so to avoid the noise and to help you achieve the fuel economy inherent in a diesel, a swap will require an overdrive transmission. Ford installed their excellent 4R100 4-speed auto behind the Power Stroke diesels, which would bolt up to the early 7.3L Navistar. This is a computer-controlled auto, but there are several aftermarket transmission computer manufacturers that will solve the interface problems. Powertrain Control Solutions (www. powertraincontrolsolutions.com) offers a standalone computer for most popular computercontrolled automatics.
Of course, there are other alternative diesel engine options, depending on your technical skill and budget. Any of the current electronic diesel engines used in the newer Ford/dodge/ GM diesel HD pickups could be adapted to an early 1990s Ford truck. The advantages here are performance, quietness, and programmability. The downsides are the cost of acquiring all of the necessary bits and the technical savvy required to make it all work together. Fortunately, there are websites like those listed above to help you overcome these challenges. Good luck with whatever choice you make.