Blue Oxx

Frame swap from the original 72 2x4 to a 78 4x4. The newer frame had a 400 and I still wanted to run the 360 so mounts had to be modified as well and converting the transmission from two wheel drive to four wheel drive. After a few years like that decided to swap a 6.9 idi into it. New engine mounts and some frame notching were needed for that as well as modifications to the shift linkage

I first go the pickup when I was just out of highschool and I'm the first semester of college. It was a completely stock 72 f100 two wheel drive. I didn't have any plans for it right away but I'm a fan of old fords so I picked it up. Took it home and used it as is for a year. In college I made a friend who had a rolled 78 f250 4x4. So the thought came to me that I could put the two together and at least get a four wheel drive. I did the body swap my first summer out of college, working weekends and evenings. I had to change the output shaft on the transmission so it would now connect to the transfer case. I had to make new bed mounts because of the difference in frame rails but mostly that was an easy project. I left it that way for about 5 years adding things here and there like the side pipes. I picked them up from my job as a John Deere mechanic. They are from 7800 tractors. Then the idea of swapping in a diesel started to cross my mind as I had collected more vehicles by this time and wanted something different. I happened upon a 86 f250 with a 6.9 in an old farm yard that had been parked for about 20 years. I picked it up and started the swap that winter. It went pretty straight forward. I left the transfer case where it was, mostly so I wouldn't have to modify my driveshafts again. Removed the 360 and transmission from the original pickup and put in the diesel and it's transmission up to the transfer case. Found I had to notch the front cross member and passenger side frame rail. After I had all the clearance I needed I went to fabrication new engine mounts. I made them bolt into the original locations on the frame and engine so they can be removed if I change my mind again in the future. There was a bit of wiring involved because I wanted the glow plug controler, timing advance and everything else with the Diesel to work as it had originally. I made a small control panel for the glow plug alarm and wait to start light, and also a high idel switch I wired in. The engine fan did not line up well enough with the stock radiator from the 72 so I got an aftermarket radiator with electric fans built in. It has been working well and very reliably since.