7.3 PS Swap

[Diesel YJ]

I have had an itch to build recently and I think with my 83 Limited I want to turn into a very capable all around rig but not destroy it off road. My idea which I am sure is nothing new but I have found a couple powerstroke 250/350's and I want to put the Wagoneer body on the truck frame and shorten it to match. Can anyone think of any real cons to a setup like this? I want to have a capable family off road rig. There are many other details to this plan but just want to look at the overall concept right now.

I also have a 6BT motor and wiring harness with the getrag 5sp 2wd trans but I have not done anything with it since I picked it up. I will be home in late August and would like to work on it this winter if I can. We all know plans are great but life gets in the way.

[jaber]

Just my experience, but I have not seen the fuel economy in the PS that all the other diesels have. I drove a 2000 F250 with the turbo 7.3 and the best mileage I ever saw was 12MPG. It ran good, but my 360 did better on fuel.

[Diesel YJ]

12mpg? something must have been out of tune two of my friends have 7.3's and average 18 or mid twenties depending on how much they play with the skinny pedal.

[joe]

Sounds like a reasonable plan. Don't know why Jaber got such poor mpg's with his but doubt that's normal for a 7.3 unless it's geared super low. My old 86 4WD F-250 w/NA 6.9 and 3.55 gears gets 16/17 local and if I keep it at 60-65 mph gets 22-24 on the hwy. At 70+ mph it drops down into the high teens. Never owned a 7.3 but my neighbors that run them love'm. I'm guessing if they were only getting 12 mpgs I would have heard some complaints by now. It'd take some skill to do a nice job putting a wag body on a shortened truck frame but would think that's a better plan than putting the Ford running gear in a wag frame. On a side note: If you plan any heavy towing look for a donor truck w/4.10 gears(real common). 3.55 gears suck big time for heavy towing.
Take lotsa pics and keep good notes to share. Most of all have fun!

[Mr. Goatman]

I have an F-350 PSD 4x4 I bought new in 99. I have managed it get it up to about 14.5 if I'm real careful on the right pedal. I have put a DP tuner, 5" exhaust, Huge air intake and everything else I can think of to improve the mileage. It is my understanding that the 2wd gets better mileage. The only things that I can think of as a drawback is the turning radius and the weight. The turning radius is terrible and the weight might sink you. Sounds like a fun project!

[Mr. Goatman]

After all I said above....just want to say I love my PSD! I can out pull all other diesel pickups from the era.

[Stuka]

The mileage really depends on what trans you have also. If you have the 6sp manual, you can get 18 pretty easily. The autos get quite a bit worse as at that time only 4sp autos were used. Not like the newer trucks with 6sp's which get much better economy.

[Mr. Goatman]

Yep, 4R100- 4 speed auto.

[ross80truck]

I have a 99 F350 Power stroke with all the goodies, ball bearing turbo, big exhaust, big intake, programmer, and the best I have ever gotten is 17 MPG @ 65MPH. Now, mine is dually, 4 door, 4x4 with an auto and with 4.10 gears a 2" lift and big bumpers. It will pull anything I put behind it and I would not trade it for anything, but the fuel mileage is not its strong point. If I run anything over 65, my mileage drops to 13 MPG.

Also, I am working on putting a 6bt in a Waggy, and it is a heavy motor, but the 7.3 is an even heavier motor. Also, the power stroke has a lot of electronic crap that goes with it that you are going to have to deal with. If you have an old 12V cummins, they only require power to the solenoid on the pump to run.

Again, I agree with everyone above, I love my power stroke and will drive it forever if I can, but I personally would not put one in a Wagoneer.

[831wagger]

I have a 7.3 ford/ navistar idi in my 66 waggy not driving yet but it fit

[Diesel YJ]

Sorry guys still busy kicking around sand but just now reading the responses and catching up. I am putting in a offer on a house but of course this addiction runs deep so its hard not to kick around ideas. I know the 7.3 PS is heavy for sure but with shortening the frame and the lighter Waggy body over much longer truck body I would think the mileage would improve. The 4.10's would be a must, as I would do some towing with it. The truck that is available now has a plow so I would keep that feature in the Waggy form.

The 7.3 PS does have a lot of electronics but its has proven to be a very reliable platform with many trucks over a million miles and worked hard that if there was a problem with the electronics it is not common. I do have a 6BT and I agree that it has plenty of power, reliability and being a mechanical operated motor would be the best option all around.

I am not home yet so nothing is going to happen for awhile but I think for my 83 Limited its going to be a heavy duty capable rig but an all around work horse too. I don't want it to really be a rock crawler but certainly it will get the job done.

[j10Nut]

I have a 95 ps and get 18. I am no expert on these, but what I have been told is that if you want mpg, get 95-97, 97 being best (little more power than 95-96). A buddy of mine has 99, power is better, but emmision standards destroyed mpg. He claims 14, empty, loaded, fast, slow. Said it doesn't seem to flucuate regardless of what he's doing with it. By the way, I used mine to tow a 36' 5th wheel camper with 3.55s. Really isn't that bad. A little slow on take offs, but I haven't been t-boned yet. Its not like a 6.2. With the power gassers & diesels are capable of these days, I sometimes question the need for 4.10s in most applications.

[The PIG Smith]

Originally Posted by 831wagger

I have a 7.3 ford/ navistar idi in my 66 waggy not driving yet but it fit

You need to tell us more about your project!

...and you should know by now...