PSD in an F-150?

[dsljnky]

Originally Posted by CoalRollinRoosterCruiser

Doesn't seem like that would be any different then putting it in a Bronco.

There's a member on here with a powerstroke powered bronco,


And actually there is a guy with an F150 with a 7.3 in it i believe

Ya, i saw a picture of his truck. It is the obs 150. mine is the body style that came out after that. My concern was will it fit in my engine bay.

Originally Posted by bfloyd4445

there is no truck sweeter than an F150 and the 4.6 while not a powerhouse is very dependable and seems to run forever. The front suspension of your truck is not designed for all that weight so it will handle like a tank and no longer be the sweet drivin truck it was with the psd installed. I have hungered for years for a D F150 and everytime i get serious i find it just dosen't make sense.

I do love my truck and i like the 4.6, its just that i have been doing more and more towng here recently and there is no doubt that my truck feels the weight. lol And i was going to put the 3/4 ton springs under ot too. It would turn out being a ext. cab short bed 3/4 ton truck with an F150 body i guess haha

Originally Posted by NCHornet

The 4.6 is worthless for towing, yes I have first hand experience, and the mileage is hardly different then the 5.4, I would always take the 5.4 over the 4.6.
It would take a lot of beefing up the frame, suspension brakes etc to handle just the weight of the 7.3 and then the torgue would probably tear it in half!! LOL!!! Can it be done, sure anything can be done if you have enough money and time.
Like Marty said, maybe for a straight run, but not practical for the street.

NCH

The 4.6 isnt bad, i mean it can do it, but not with the ease of a PSD.

Originally Posted by bfloyd4445

I have sure towed lots with a 4.6 and have come to appreciate its economy hauling heavy loads over the sierra and siskiyou mountains. Yes its a gutless engine but a tough little guy that will get er done even if not at 70mph. I often loaded 8-9,000 pounds of honey on my tractor hauler which weighs almost 3,000 pounds and still get 12mph average on trips that always include several mountain range crossings some as high as 8800 feet. Never been able to do better in a gasser. Have yet to make the trip in my 07 6.0 so can't make that comparison yet.

Now that is impressive. I think you ment 12 mpG though. I get 19 mpg highway if I keep a steady speed. (Unloaded obviously) and around 13-14ish with the trailer and a load. (not as heavy as your loads)

Originally Posted by scagmanf350

just buy a 250

Well thats the plan haha gotta sell my truck first though.

[NCHornet]

Originally Posted by bfloyd4445

I have sure towed lots with a 4.6 and have come to appreciate its economy hauling heavy loads over the sierra and siskiyou mountains. Yes its a gutless engine but a tough little guy that will get er done even if not at 70mph. I often loaded 8-9,000 pounds of honey on my tractor hauler which weighs almost 3,000 pounds and still get 12mph average on trips that always include several mountain range crossings some as high as 8800 feet. Never been able to do better in a gasser. Have yet to make the trip in my 07 6.0 so can't make that comparison yet.

No need to argue about the 4.6 on a PSD forum but I will say that I tried hauling a 7000lb TT with a F150 4.6 3:73 up what I would hardly call a mountain and I was down to 40 mph with my foot buried in the thing!! The trans temp shot up to 230 before I could get pulled over. Never, never again!!! I was a road hazard, thank God I didn't cause a accident!! I am not saying it isn't a good engine, but a towing engine it ain't!! There is no way I would think about putting 8-9K behind one, I don't care what Ferd says!! My budy had a 4.6 Expedition and had the same exact results with a 6,000lb TT, he traded for a 5.4 and I got the truck in my sig!
The bottom line is, if you haven't towed with a 7.3 you are in for a real treat. See how well you think the 4.6 performs after towing the same load with the 7.3!!

[dsljnky]

Originally Posted by NCHornet

No need to argue about the 4.6 on a PSD forum but I will say that I tried hauling a 7000lb TT with a F150 4.6 3:73 up what I would hardly call a mountain and I was down to 40 mph with my foot buried in the thing!! The trans temp shot up to 230 before I could get pulled over. Never, never again!!! I was a road hazard, thank God I didn't cause a accident!! I am not saying it isn't a good engine, but a towing engine it ain't!! There is no way I would think about putting 8-9K behind one, I don't care what Ferd says!! My budy had a 4.6 Expedition and had the same exact results with a 6,000lb TT, he traded for a 5.4 and I got the truck in my sig!
The bottom line is, if you haven't towed with a 7.3 you are in for a real treat. See how well you think the 4.6 performs after towing the same load with the 7.3!!

My dad has a 7.3 with 4.10s. We both love it. The problem is is that it is 2wd. Now im not doggin on 2wds, but if its gonna see any kind of off road like a field or anything might as well have the 4x4 option. Its just too convenient in my opinion not to have. There has been a few times he could have used it and had to get out my 4x4 4.6 in low to pull his *** out.

Back on topic haha The 4.6 does great with a utility trailer and a mower and lawn care equipment on it, does ok with a few 4 wheelers on the trailer, but with a car trailer and a car on it, it grunts. I pulled a trailer with my 34 ford rat rod from here in cincinnati to marietta ohio (about 3.5-4 hours away) on rt 32. There is a hill between jackson and 73 that is long and semi steep. I had to use 3rd gear to the floor to get it up the hill at 50 mph. Did the same hill same trailer same truck on the trailer with my dads 7.3 and i did it at 65 (where i had the cruse set) and didnt even shift out of OD--- I know that wasnt good for it i just wanted to see if it would do it---

I am doing more and more buying and selling of vehicles (just bought 2 '66 International Scouts from WV) had to use dads truck to get em home. So I guess what I am saying is that I think I can justify a diesel (not to mention i just plain out want one.)

I just thought a PSD in my truck with all the 3/4 ton running gear and susp. would be cool. I guess i might as well buy a 2 or 350 and be done with it. Soo, who needs a beautiful '98 F-150?

[bockhold]

Originally Posted by Diesel Monkey

Big difference in the frame and suspension. That 7.3 motor is about 1,100 lbs.

i read somewhere that the 7.3 in the obs is like 900lbs

[thelittle289]

look on youtube there are a quite a few 7.3 conversions, there are a lot of broncos

[JK23112]

It "might" work, but is probably going to be more time, trouble and cost than it is worth.

My first concern is the heavier weight (as already mentioned by someone else). Diesel engines outweigh gassers by a significant margin, and your front suspension might not be up to the job.

Second, would it even fit? Look at the hood on the F-150 and then on the SuperDuty. There is a big difference in the size and shape of it. Doesn't the F-150 hood slope downward a bit much? Look at the front grille also -- will the larger radiator, alternator, turbo hardware and dual batteries fit up in there? Maybe; maybe not!


Finally, what about the suspension, chassis, fuel electrical systems? There are bound to be differences there!

My off-the-cuff recommendation would be to just go out and find a used SuperDuty that already has a diesel engine from the get-go.

[dsljnky]

Originally Posted by JK23112

It "might" work, but is probably going to be more time, trouble and cost than it is worth.

My first concern is the heavier weight (as already mentioned by someone else). Diesel engines outweigh gassers by a significant margin, and your front suspension might not be up to the job.

Second, would it even fit? Look at the hood on the F-150 and then on the SuperDuty. There is a big difference in the size and shape of it. Doesn't the F-150 hood slope downward a bit much? Look at the front grille also -- will the larger radiator, alternator, turbo hardware and dual batteries fit up in there? Maybe; maybe not!


Finally, what about the suspension, chassis, fuel electrical systems? There are bound to be differences there!

My off-the-cuff recommendation would be to just go out and find a used SuperDuty that already has a diesel engine from the get-go.

Haha ya, thats the conclusion we came to. I put in here that it would be pretty much a 3/4 ton with a 1/2 ton body. The plan was to put the complete drive train and suspension under it. I had asked if it would fit in the engine bay and I had planned to use the 94-97 PSD beings that it doesnt have a CAC but had considered putting one on from something else in the future. Pretty much said eff it and find a super duty.

Still need to sell my truck though....

[bfloyd4445]

Originally Posted by scagmanf350

just buy a 250

...thats what i did. I had bought them for work but never owned one myself untill i bought the 07

[GM Duraturd]

smokenhalfton has a 7.3 in a F-150. Its a show/pull truck though.

[dieselcrawler]

The only real reason to do this would be if you just LOVE the body style of the 150, but need/want the PSD and heavy duty drive train... which you would need if you have the motor, the half ton trans (if it would even adapt) and following axles, etc wouldn't hold up for any more than the first time you put yer foot into it! SO....

If you really want that body style, find a wreaked/rolled 250 or 350 super duty, leave the motor/drivetrain/suspention/axles as they are on the SD frame, and just swap the sheet metal body over, then yer just gonna have to make the body mounts and such... leaving the frame/drivetrain in mostly factory relationships... this would be a time consumeing project, and not one you're gonna want to approch if this is your current daily driver, and you really want a project that will take months...

Otherwise, easy way out, as you've said, sell your current truck, find a good used superduty in the cab/bed/x4 combo you want, and be done with it... $15K or less and you'd have a nice ext cab 4x4 PSD with around 150K miles... hook up yer trailer and set the cruise... away you go...

Good luck any way you go...