7.3 liter diesel swap tranny options

[averagef250]

By "Binder", are you referring to International?

Yes Binder= International Harvester= Navistar you know, those red things farmers use.

[TX69F100]

That's funny...my international/navistar engine wasn't red at all.

[heviarti]

I'll probably be pulling Cabbage tomorrow. Judging by the way the truck has behaved the last two trips it's going to want to heat, I need to see about one of those aftermarket radiators that a post was made about. Can't remember the brand name.

I doubt I can cram a DT466 into the 550 chassis and 600 body, let alone the stock 550. The S series Internationals they are native to have considerably more room.

I've been told there is an outfit in or near Bend Oregon that installs 5.9 (and possibly 6.3) Cummins into things other than Dodge. I've been involved in putting a John Deere 329 in a ton chevy, But there were no ECMs or Electronic gauge clusters to fool with. It's in front of an NP540 straight box out of a Freeman stacker.

If I thought it would fit I'd consider a turbo 404 out of a 4320 or a combine 404 turbo with the late injection.

We'll see if I blow an engine or a gearbox tmw.

[TX69F100]

This website has info on swapping Cummins (mostly the 5.9) into Ford trucks:

http://www.fordcummins.com/

[FreakysFords]

Actually I love the 7.3 ps, idi AND the 6.9

The 7.3 ps IS capable of great power and reliability, but a slap together build will NOT provide such. This is a blueprint or walk away engine in my book.

As to your transmission question, options are limitless. Yes, there are eaton 8's behind these engines in several cases.

[heviarti]

I can't Imagine an Eaton gearbox being lesser than the ZF. Any idea what box I'm seeking? Seems I'd best do some research.

In other news I didn't make it to Cabbage. I left Stanfield and started heating about as soon as I got on the interstate. I limped it to Woodpecker Truck and there she sits. I'm going to try installing a fanclutch in the morning. See if that does it.

[gregamorton]

i have enjoyed reading all this post. There seems to be a lot of smart ideas or knowledge with some of the members. I have to say from what I have read here that you have to know the limits of the truck and not push it past them by much. I am a big fan of all the newer production diesels but non have the power like the cummins(reliable). We use cummins and powerstrokes at work with autos and standards. I like the powerstroke only with the standard. Our 05 6.0 f550 4.88gears auto just screams 2500-3800rpm all day and pulls about like our 2000 dodge. The ford gets 5.9mpg and the dodge gets 9-10mpg pulling 10000-20000 every day but the dodge pulls it at 2300rpm and never slows on the hills. I think the ford has great payload and safer feel than the dodge but not at the loss of that much mileage. From the picture of the truck and trailer with tires on it I would say you need a larger platform truck. We have two dt466 trucks at work and one is a 31000lb pounder and it gets 2-3 mpg better than out f550. The truck with the most reliable big power will always get better mileage also. Any way could not sleep from kidney stones bothering me so I put my 2cents in.

[heviarti]

Yeah, I found a Kenworth with a B model cat in it for $6000. The fellow I haul for isn't interested in a bigger truck, unfortunately.

I'll take a pic of the truck in the morning actually loaded.

Turns out it's had a blown headgasket for a while I didn't notice it in Eastern Idaho, but it started heating - soon as I got out of Stanfield. So, the outfit told me to limp it home. I got it home allright, now they want me to limp it back to Hermiston and pick up another sixty axles. I explained that a blown head gasket doesn't stay static... it gets worse.

I crawled up Cabbage (and about every other slope) at 25 MPH at 2350 in third (which is marked as second...)

If I'm lucky I'll blow the engine straight to heck, and can convince him to upgrade to a cummins... preferably chipped and installed with a jake.. Wish Railerbed was still around and I could get one of their axle kits (Tandem would be nice) If all these things are seen to work better on the primary truck, they'll go into the project truck... which will take it's place when finished.

The Project is mainly intended to eliminate the major flaws of the 550, which Is why a bump body was chosen. The headlight switch isn't dookie, the lights actually light up the night, The cab is roomier and there are vents. I suggested a '62-'65 Dodge D-500 cab, but he thought it was too klunky. I thought the dual high beams would make it a better choice. Either way, there's a provision for adding to a metal cab, while the plastic superduty cab is kind of already all it's ever gonna be.

[Dirty Offio]

Heviarti, a couple of things for you to look into.

You obviously get over into eastern Idaho. Next time you get into the Idaho Falls area, drop over to Holst truck wrecking in Iona. They might be able to set you up with a brownie. As for the main box transmission, I would stick with the NP 435. They ran the 435 in some F700's and larger, so I see no reason it will not do the trick. Drop a post back (or an IM even better!) if they set you up, I would like to know the price.

Here is a thing of 2 for the folks that are venting their spleen on this idea.

1, if you blow a cooler line or a slave cylinder on a new model transmission, you are done, there you will sit and wait for the tow truck. With an older twin stick set up...not so much. You can break a shift rod on the brownie...no big deal, put it in direct from underneath the truck and drive it like a 4 speed until you get to somewhere you can get it welded up. Clutch out of adjustment? Crawl under and adjust it.

Second, while a 9, 10, 13, 15, or 18 speed transmission would be awesome, there are problems with that. I did not see where this project truck of theirs is going to have air brakes. (Correct me if I am wrong.) Most of those transmissions will not work without air. Those transmissions are also alot more $$$$ than a NP 435 and a 3 or 4 speed brownie.

Yes, twin sticks are harder to shift, but it is doable, and it helps ALOT with a heavy load or an underpowered engine. I have hauled 53,000 LBS up several long grades with a big International gasser and a 5/4. Gotta love grain harvest. (Oh, I was doing this when I was 15 and 16 years old by the way.)

I have driven the newer medium duty trucks with the 6 speeds and power strokes as well. I was also not impressed with the setup. I did not go to the effort of finding out what the transmission model was, so I will not swear it is the same critter, but it sure sounds like it. Maybe it is a truck driver thing...

Now, just to put this in perspective, the outfit I currently work for runs a Medium duty International 4700 with a DT 466 and an automatic. Nice truck, I drive it every once in a great while. We also run a Freightliner FLD single axle with a 50 series and a 9 speed. Also a nice truck, and my usual buggy. I just came off the road last month, I was running long haul/heavy haul. (Super B trailers, 53' 4 axles, etc.) I was running a Freightliner Century class with a 60 series and a super 10, pulling 105,000 lbs. (yes, that is legal in the Northwest and Canada.) I have been driving trucks heavier than a pickup on road for 22 years, and you can add another 6 years just running around the farm before I got my license.

Frankly, I agree with Heviarti, give me a 435 and a 3 or 4 speed brownie if I can't have a 13 speed. And if I am bankrolling the job, I can afford a brownie, a 13 speed is pretty pricy, and without air for the shifter, alot of them will not work anyway.

Git 'r Done! Love to see a couple pics when you are done, even if it is a dent!

Offio

[averagef250]

I disagree with almost everything above. An Np435 is a total POS compared to a ZF S6-650. To say otherwise is idiocy.

The idea of a 3/4 or 4/3 or 5/4 or similiar setup being an upgrade from any other modern transmission setup is a new one to me. There's a reason you don't see brownies on the roads anymore.

[Dirty Offio]

I disagree with almost everything above. An Np435 is a total POS compared to a ZF S6-650. To say otherwise is idiocy.

The idea of a 3/4 or 4/3 or 5/4 or similiar setup being an upgrade from any other modern transmission setup is a new one to me. There's a reason you don't see brownies on the roads anymore.

Yep, cuz folks don't know how to shift them.

You got your opinion, I got mine. I have the time under the wheel to back mine, and until I see proof to the contrary, it is all just noise.

Cheers!