78 f250 cummins build

[zkdiesel]

building a summer truck for my pretty wife this winter, acquired truck and parts now though
78 f250 out of vegas. has a great running 460 4 speed setup, with dana 60s front and back
working on knocking off the ugly this summer, and getting it back to former glory oaints kinda fubar, but no rust anywhere
"acquired" my 94ish p pump cummins out of a f800 for its mill, stamped ford on valve cover and timing cover.
shipped on a car hauler from vegas to work then dragged home

Friday night engine removal the easy way. torch and yank

the 6 speed eatons kinda useless as its a non od unit and will never clear the floor so I havea zf5 to go in it with the np205 to hang on the back of it
big power in my chevy from for ride from dads to my shop

truck in my shop corner getting ugly knocked off

hanging from my shop crane as I rig it up to my engine stand. this stand holds a powerstroke 7.3 no isses byt a tad scared with this one so I side mounted it, don't need to rotate it, just hold it well while I convert it to be more pickup truck friendly

 

[emeraldcoupe]

cool build, i'd love to do a cummins swap in my 71

 

[brewchief]

Nice, the wheels already make it look better, that style wheel looks good on the dentside trucks, a set of slots would be even better in my opinion but anything is far better then what it had on it in the first pics.

 

[willymakeit]

You've got my attention. Have a 77 250 ,4wheel I'd like to do.

 

[willymakeit]

I have a 77, f250 I'd like to do the same to. Looks like a fun ride.

 

[HOTFR8]

Now this will be one I will follow. Off to a great start.

 

[Mr onetwo]

I'm not a Ford guy, but this will be a cool build!Nothing like getting a rust free vehicle from the desert!

 

[MagKarl]

I can't recommend the ZF5, I have one in my '95. I hate not having a granny gear. I'd look for a ZF6 or NV5600.

 

[zkdiesel]

I can't recommend the ZF5, I have one in my '95. I hate not having a granny gear. I'd look for a ZF6 or NV5600.

It will do, want this truck to appear stockish I can, gonna be enough fab work already. Those two trans will require redoing all the floor for clearence or body lift(yuck). The zf5 will fit nicely and look stockish.
First gears low enough for what will be done with truck. For manuevering with a large trailer it can always be shoved into 2:1 at the t case without front hubs locked....

 

[ADSR]

sub'd

 

[aar_man]

Guy I work with just did this conversion on a 78.
He lifted the drivetrain from a 95 or 96 12V Ram pu. He used the NV4500 (5spd) that was already behind the motor.

Was able to install the motor without cutting into the front crossmember. The motor performed better when he installed an intercooler from a 6.0. Didn't have to do crazy fab work on the stock rad support to get it to fit behind the stock grill.

By the way, nice score on the truck. Camper mirrors, Dana 60 front and a no rust body. On the east coast we have a torch in one hand and a bottle of PB Blaster in the other.

 

[ADSR]

If that industrial rear dump exhaust manifold doesn't work out, I can always trade you for a 2nd dodge middle dump.

 

[oilslick]

Cool truck, should be a awesome cruiser,can't beat the mpg on those 12v. I put a ve pumped 12v in my cucv chevy k30. It was my main transportation and I just couldn't stand the leaf sprung suspension around town (brick streets ). It always turned heads!

 

[bp460]

Congrats on the awesome rust free score and thanks for sharing your project here. It is an absolute sin to paint the grill shell on the 73-79's... well at least it is black and not body color.

Were you happy with the shipper?

Cheers,

Brad

 

[LXCam]

This is going to be a very cool project to watch. I wish I lived in a state you could do stuff like this, but everyone knows out here the tree hugger nazi's would have ya strung up before first light



Keep the pic's flowing and good luck.

 

[RivennHewn]

Following, with interest.

Looking forward to see your choices/ details.

 

[zkdiesel]

Congrats on the awesome rust free score and thanks for sharing your project here. It is an absolute sin to paint the grill shell on the 73-79's... well at least it is black and not body color.

Were you happy with the shipper?

Cheers,

Brad

Yep, like. I said lots of ugly needs be knocked off, have a good front grill setup lined up to put back to stock.
Shipper.... Well it got here, had a major altercation over phone on when he showed up and it was so "oversize". Trucks 6'6"tall but they kept claiming it was to long, even though it's the shortest f250 made!
He took it after rearranging his load. Cost me extra $200 cash to take delivery of it but got that back from his company after the fact

 

[zkdiesel]

If that industrial rear dump exhaust manifold doesn't work out, I can always trade you for a 2nd dodge middle dump.

I'm hoping it will work out nicely in the ford engine bay but won't know till I go to install it. The wastegate situation on the hx35 might need some customization though for block clearence
Can't wait to rip the engine out of this truck and get started but that's gonna have to wait a while as my wife wants to drive it around some this summer/fall as a big block truck

 

[zkdiesel]

still acquiring parts and shes driving it some now before I take it apart once summers over
this job gonna pay most of bills on it atleast for this conversion

since I remove cabs near daily what are thoughts for cab removal/body mount replacing for cummins install? would sure make it set in easier
got some rubber on it now thats appropriate

wifes polishing wheels and new grill shell all up for it

bought a complete cummins from a 95 pickup to rob oil pan, sump, turbo, fan and fan drive, crank pulley, vac pump, ps pump and some other misc bs off of.
bought as is, got it running on shop floor, took video then sold it for more than I paid as a long block in a day on facebook

when I catch my wife using a 30" snap on pry bar to install a steering wheel cover onto her daily driver f350 thast ive redone so much its ridiculous as it turned over the 350k mark this week as she did its oil change, fuel filter, air filter service
a superduty at 350k needs about everything replaced at that mileage as its all just plain wore out

 

[Jazz]

I own an F100 and considered doing something similar. Will definitely keep an eye on this.

Currently a work for a Cummins supplier (fuel lines).

 

[zkdiesel]

Trucks on road in current shape. Been readying my engine, added a fuel plate, put a tad of timing in it and added governor springs
Adjusted the valves and resealed the whole engine. Now pickup ready with vac pump, proper oil pan/sump , Saginaw ps pump, and correct fan and crank pulleys and a one wire alternator setup Waiting on turbo to show up yet, but trans adaptor and clutch all here as well as trans

 

[C_F]

Nice project you have there. I had to laugh about the pry bar to install a steering wheel cover, she obviously wanted that thing ON there!

 

[zkdiesel]

Waiting on turbo to show then engines complete. Custom belt should be here
Monday. Converted To hd case one wire truck alternator off a similar application as original instead of the ford style it had to make wiring it easier. Power and ground and it's done, self energized

 

[pamike]

Where did you get the adapter plate? I assume all these diesel swaps the guys are doing anymore into older trucks utilize aftermarket conversion parts....??

 

[zkdiesel]

Where did you get the adapter plate? I assume all these diesel swaps the guys are doing anymore into older trucks utilize aftermarket conversion parts....??

Wouldn't have needed it to run a dodge trans, but I'm choosing a more modern ford overdrive stick so it was required.
Keeping drivetrain in this truck all ford.

 

[zkdiesel]

Put new synchros in the trans and cleaned, painted, redid the shifter wear parts, new quill and clutch fork

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Have you considered some 99-04 Superduty leafs in the front? Installed a set in my 79 years back, and they made it ride like a new truck. Stock or low lift packs can be had for cheap used from custom truck shops, they're bolt in with maybe a little reaming in the bushing for the SAE hardware, and they can definitely hold up a diesel. I put a set of 4" leafs on mine, and it got maybe 1" taller than a stock 68-77 pickup with the stock gas engine. No driveline mods, just a drop pitman.

 

[zkdiesel]

Have you considered some 99-04 Superduty leafs in the front? Installed a set in my 79 years back, and they made it ride like a new truck. Stock or low lift packs can be had for cheap used from custom truck shops, they're bolt in with maybe a little reaming in the bushing for the SAE hardware, and they can definitely hold up a diesel. I put a set of 4" leafs on mine, and it got maybe 1" taller than a stock 68-77 pickup with the stock gas engine. No driveline mods, just a drop pitman.

Don't know plan yet, think I have a set of stock superduty springs laying around though

 

[vavet]

Your wife, who is beautiful, wants to drive that super cool truck, and does her own maintenance?

You sir, have won the internet.

 

[zkdiesel]

Your wife, who is beautiful, wants to drive that super cool truck, and does her own maintenance?

You sir, have won the internet.

Thanks! That makes us both feel good! She is a winner, a babe and a good wife

She's a snow plow operator in a skids steer for a friend of mine in winter, drive as 400 horse articulating tractor for my dad all fall, and does her own tires on our tire machine even for her flatbed truck that she pulls her gooseneck with.

 

[C_F]

Thanks! That makes us both feel good! She is a winner, a babe and a good wife

She's a snow plow operator in a skids steer for a friend of mine in winter, drive as 400 horse articulating tractor for my dad all fall, and does her own tires on our tire machine even for her flatbed truck that she pulls her gooseneck with.

Damn, you won the lottery right there, with her!

I always love it when I see cute ladies driving big trucks, but your cute lady also drives that big honkin' tractor? WOW!

 

[zkdiesel]

Damn, you won the lottery right there, with her!

I always love it when I see cute ladies driving big trucks, but your cute lady also drives that big honkin' tractor? WOW!

. Yep, she's a winner. She's practicing driving dads t800 kenworth for fall grain hauling, hoping to get her Cdl by next season, She does get overwhelmed with all the shifting and turning st once when things get kinda crazy so hoping the 5 speed in this 78 hooked to her gooseneck will give her some more expirience

 

[pamike]

A horse girl???? You must have found a rare one!!! Good job...Around here the horse women are the highest maintenance PIA you will ever meet....Been selling them hay for 15 years, and its about 15 years too many...

 

[kbs2244]

"And her favorite dress is her faded blue jeans"

Congratulations

 

[zkdiesel]

Turbos here, mounted and plumbed. Guess I can't do any more till engine till it's in chassis

 

[C_F]

I really didn't clue into your trans mount plate (between the block & flywheel) before this latest photo, that thing looks stout!

 

[kbs2244]

No experience here.
But that starter sure looks small.

 

[zkdiesel]

No experience here.
But that starter sure looks small.

THAT starter won't have an issue, it will spin over a ford 6.4 diesel at 250 cranking rpm, and it's a brand new oem ford.

 

[jd_1138]

Nice project - same color as Bigfoot. Beautiful wife and pups.

 

[zkdiesel]

With its facelift truck was out all Sunday with a set of tools and a cutting torch in the back working on two pieces of equipment it's own vintage, then retinning two sides of one of dads buildings that's WAY older then it due to sun fade out
So much better with this front end!