UPDATE: Frankenford slated to receive supercharged 454 engine and 4 speed manual tranny this April. All parts are purchased and engine should be back from the machine shop by the end of March. This will use computer control TBI and a B&M supercharger.

FrankenFord F350 Crew Cab Dually 1 Ton Truck

I never take the easy path and I am always looking for the opportunity to save big bucks.  So I bought a 1985 F350 truck with a blown up diesel engine.  I pulled the engine and started putting a chevy engine back in its place.  I know this upsets some people, but it is logical to me because I already had the chevy engine and transmission so it makes for a real cost effective truck.  I just like to do these simpler swaps like this to make sure I know how to fabricate mounts and phase driveshafts.  Just good practice for the higher hp cars I work on.

Pulling the Diesel engine and putting it where it belongs, in the junk pile.  The original 6.9l ford diesel was a real wussy engine making only 170hp and 300ft/lbs torque.

Fabricated motor and transmission mounts for the small block chevy.

First try at fitting the engine in with the mounts.

Everything reassembled, engine looks like it is at home.

The truck runs really good, no driveline vibration.  I am really happy with the conversion.  In case anyone else wants to try this, here is a list of what I had to do:

Fab engine and tranny mounts

Install Chevy radiator and fan shroud

Fab radiator mounting brackets

Shorten the Ford driveshaft

Set up driveline angles to avoid vibration

Offset chevy engine 1.75 inches to the passenger side of the truck

Fab my own exhaust system

Fab my own throttle linkage plates

Fab my own shifter housing and shifter cable brackets

Wire up chevy engine and charging system

Special speedo cable

Use Ford oil pressure and water temp senders on chevy engine

Fab power steering brackets

And 50 other small things that go wrong with all conversions