Parts fitting both is another well thought out bit of engineering.
I plan on using a 24 valve isb in an R series, but I am going into this with my eyes wallet wide open. Whist the engine will fit and work really well, it is the weight that will add considerable expense, because it cannot be ignored. I have owned this 24 valve for more than a decade and while the buy price was a little high, at $4700, the engine has only a few thousand kilometers on it. I had to buy the NP4500 five speed and NP241dld transfercase separately, they were $1500 each also nearly new, from rolled trucks.
This time I will not be using a DANA 44. While it was a really good axle choice, I am thinking that it might have been just a little light for the job and I found it necessary to replace bearings and ball-joints about every 100,000 miles.
This time, I decided to leave my name and request list at a major FORD RECYCLER. I wanted a 1997 F350 DANA 60 high pinion left side drop and an 350 ECONOLINE DANA 60 rear with disc brakes.
The rear 60 showed up first and it was out of a roll-over that was only 3 kilometers from the selling dealer. The lot boy was gong way to fast in a cloverleaf and lost "IT" Only days later, the front 60 arrived under a "97 F350 that came from the recycler's auction. The FORD recycler may not have bought the truck if did not have an immediate sale for a major part. The retail was $2700, for the pair, delivered. I like to reduce my stress and have as many components as I can in storage before a project starts.
After allowing my ego to push me into putting a way too big 6.9 into my "R" and looking back, I was an idiot. Yes, the cab had to be cut back 8 inches and the set-back was 38 inches wide (IIRC). I mounted the radiator where it had to be then mounted the 6.9 to fit as close as was possible to the radiator. Once the engine was set in place and clearing the DANA 44 axle I made the engine mounts and the transmission mount/cross-member. This is when the cab was set on the frame and slid forward as far as it could go and up against the FFORD C6 automatic housing. I leveled the cab and then used a four foot long carpenter's level and whilst keeping it level I marked the outline of the engine across the firewall with a felt tipped marker that I had taped to the level underside. This is where commitment to the project happened and I cut out the outline with a plasma cutter.
This is where the cab was slid forward on the frame rails and the fit was very good but there was this rather large hole in the firewall. I was able to limit the cut out to the setback in the firewall.
Many of the other details escape me right now, but if anyone wants a picture, and I don't have any, Mike at
magihc1@telus.net owns the R now and he may be able to supply pictures.
I have the sheetmetal tools and experience so building a "dog-house" to accommodate the 6.9 was under $100. Then the big changes started to add up in cubic bucks.
I would never tell anyone what to do, with their truck project, less is best and an engine that is so close to the original and it fits really well is my first choice, now. That would be a Cummins 4bta.
Watch CRAIGSLIST and your local wrecking yards for the engine you would like to have. Leave your name and contact information. This has worked for me on many occasions. It shows that you might be serious and it has been my experience that the recyclers will get on side and may become one of your best assets. Now, I an able to call and the parts get delivered ASAP because many of the guys want to see what the Crazy Binder Guy is doing now.
Yes, I tend to use more FORD components than others, but they work with less fuss, for me. EXAMPLE; The FORD C4 automatic transmissions,. in two styles, have a removable torque-converter housings that allows the C4 to be adapted to more than a few other applications. I have a C4 adapted to a supercharged and fuel injected 1947 Ford Flathead V8.
Try to remember to not rush, do the research and enjoy the build. You might as well have some enjoyment out of it, now, because you cannot go back. I am nearing 70 and the time has gone very quickly and I cannot bring any of it back. On average, the stats suggest that I have about 10+ years if I live in CANADA and just a little more here in BC, making us 11th in the world. Sadly the average age in the USA is 77 and that makes AMERICANS 40th in the world. Our health system makes the difference. I went through 4-5 years of cancer treatment and after having $2.5 million dollars of treatment and medication, I was only out of pocket for the parking charges, ONLY. The parking charges were about $1800 for more than a hundred visits. BTW, I am cancer free for almost five years, now.