Okay Im in a dilemna. Ive got a 79 Ford f-150 4wd with a 400 and a 4speed manual. Ive got a rattle can camo paint job on it, 36" military tires, and a total of $600 in the truck. Im wanting to put a different engine in it, Im not a big carb. engine fan. Im thinking either a fuel injected 460 or a Cummins. I really want the diesel, and I dont use it very often if at all for hunting.

I could sell this truck for $1500, and Im thinking about it cause i found tihs. a 79 Chevrolet 3/4 ton 4wd auto...a perfect candidate for a 4bt, as its got a th400 in it. I can get it for $1300, and it already has the axles/suspension for a diesel.

What should I do? Thanks for the help.

 

Do the Ford. You've already got the truck, I think a 4BT would be better suited to a half ton, would probably be easy to adapt to a manual transmission, and I personally think that Fords of that vintage were a lot nicer than the Chevs.

 

If you don't use the truck much, I'd put a 300 inline 6 in it. Leaving a diesel sitting for a long period of time has never played well with me. A 70s model 300 with a carter one barrel would be very cheap to find, they'll pull themselves in low gear, get a lot better mileage than the 400 or 460 ever thought about, and it wouldn't cost you much at all to put one in there. They run very well in off camber situations. You could do the swap for around $500 no problem if you're good at finding the right parts.

If you're stuck on the diesel, I'd sell the ford and go with the chevy.

 

Mileage is def not an issue. This truck is offroad only and will never be street legal. And I want lots of power. And I forgot to mention...this truck isnt that nice. But it is a good beater. Ill probly keep it though.

 

Keep the axles in mind also. The D44 in the Ford and the D44/10 bolt in the Chevy wont hold up to the power of a big block or diesel especially running larger tires offroad.

 

Yes that I realize. Would the 3/4 cehvy have a 10 bolt rear? I figured itd be a D44/14bolt.

I found the PERFECT donor, but its in Ohio. Its a 4wd 92 dodge diesel thats been wrecked. Good D70/80/NP205/A518/IC6BT combo for a whopping 2500. Swap my body on there and Id be set. But the distance kills me. Im thinking a 4bt minorly tweaked will be my choice or some sort of fuel injected Ford with low end power.

 

Heres the Chevy
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/481657362.html
And the Ford. I forgot to mention that whatever I go with it will often sit for a while, so I want something easy to start cause when I do need it, I need it then. I know, start it weekly, but I cant always remember to do that. Right now, the power steering pump is out and I cant get it to start for anything so that I can get it to the shop to fix everything else.

 

cummins 4BT!! In the ford.

 

The chevy could be several different combos. I've seen 10 bolts, 44s and 60s in the front, with 14 bolt semi or full floaters, 60s, 70s, 70 HDs.

 

What Mud Ready meant by dana 44/10 bolt is that they are basically one and the same as a front axle. There's a small difference but I can't remember it. 44s were used in the 70s, in the late 70s they changed to the 10 bolt and it ran up unto the point that IFS was introduced.