81 E100 IDI swap? - Diesel Forum

v8volvo · 10-23-2003, 02:41 AM

Hey all,
I'm new to this site, but I'll give it a try. Some friends and I have a 1981 Econoline 100 with a 300cid gas six-cylinder and a 4-speed floor shift OD manual trans. We got it for $100 (!) and it had been sitting a couple years, so the steering and brakes are shot. So is the engine--emissions went off the charts, no power, about 3 mpg, etc. Needs a carb, and probably rings and valve guides and bearings too. Too much to rebuild such a piece of junk, so we want to drop a 6.9 from a mid-80s truck or van into it, and were looking for some input from you guys. I assume it will probably bolt right into there, with only a bunch of plumbing and wiring to deal with, but maybe not. Did E100s have a different arrangement in front with the crossmember or anything? And will the bellhousing off the old engine bolt up to the 6.9? If not, is there a bellhousing I can buy that will adapt it? Any ideas on whether the trans will hold up? (It feels and looks pretty beefy, but the ratios are REALLY tall--way too tall for the 300--tho that might be the rearend.) I assume motor mounts that will adapt the engine to the van can be easily purchased, but does the trans sit in the same place with a diesel?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

v8volvo · 10-24-2003, 10:48 PM

anyone??? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

DieselDeaf · 10-25-2003, 12:06 AM

Sounds like you may have given a $100 too much for this POS. Maybe your buddy will go in halves on the loss. Save yourself some grief and cut this junker loose while you still can.

Got a title for it? Most salvage yards will require one!!

v8volvo · 10-25-2003, 12:35 AM

c'mon--it's better than that. We'll install power steering and get everything else at least to where it's safe. It is all set up for living in, which is a plus. Got a bed, bookshelves, insulation, screened windows, curtains, the whole kaboodle. It's a keeper. The main question is whether the bellhousing will match up with the back of the 6.9 diesel. Does anyone know if bolt patterns between a gas 6-cyl and an IDI 6.9 are interchangeable? if not, are there bellhousings available that can adapt the two?

HeyBob · 10-25-2003, 02:10 AM

I doubt they are interchangable. This is a 1981 E-100? I doubt the frame and suspension will carry the added weight of the diesel. The money, effort and time involved would not be worth it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

DieselDeaf · 10-25-2003, 12:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
and It is all set up for living in, which is a plus. Got a bed, bookshelves, insulation, screened windows, curtains, the whole kaboodle. It's a keeper.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe you could do a Chris Farley with it and just park it "down by the river" [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

v8volvo · 10-26-2003, 03:23 AM

We already take a lot of crap for having what might otherwise be known as a "rapist van". Seriously though, we want to take it cross-country on SVO or Biodiesel, so the diesel is a must. Anyone know if a bellhousing off a manual-trans 6.9 would bolt up to the Ford tranny? Or maybe do you guys know what manual trannies Ford used behind the 6.9 in F-series? I'll check in the pickup forums too, but I know there must be some way. I managed to stuff a Ford 5.0 HO EFI V8 into my Volvo wagon, so I thought this one would be a piece of cake! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

HeyBob · 10-26-2003, 07:25 PM

That 4 speed trans in that van is pretty weak. I had several of those and if you even towed in 4th it would whack out the bearings on them.

Good luck...for what you are going to spend you might be better off buying used instead.

6.0f250 · 01-06-2009, 03:05 PM

You need to find a T19 4 Speed transmission to go behing the diesel, or a ZF5, if you get the T19 make sure it has the right bellhousing and if you get a ZF5 make sure it is for a diesel and not a gasoline, the bellhousing are different and you need to have one intended for a diesel. As far as the transmission sitting in the same place, I just put a diesel in an F250 that used to have a 351w and the transmission set about 2 inches closer to the front, it might also do this with the van. You are going to have to beef up the front suspension, I always heard that e100's and f100's had a suspension similar to a station wagon and a 6.9L weighs over 1000 lbs fully dressed so it will do some damage to that front end unless you strengthen it with stronger springs and possibly other items.

cdnsarguy · 01-06-2009, 05:47 PM

Drop down to the 6.9 IDI forum, put a lead to this or ask a mod to switch this there.....

stroked_van · 01-06-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6.0f250

You need to find a ..........

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnsarguy

Drop down to the 6.9 IDI ..........

Ummmm......Guys........Well......
Y'all do realize the last post, before the 2 of you chimed in, was made in October of 2003......not 2008?!?!?!?!

Just thought I would throw that out.
I imagine the O.P. is long gone by now.

Kaliburz · 01-11-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stroked_van

Ummmm......Guys........Well......
Y'all do realize the last post, before the 2 of you chimed in, was made in October of 2003......not 2008?!?!?!?!

Just thought I would throw that out.
I imagine the O.P. is long gone by now.

How in the name of Earth did it get pulled out of bottom the electronics pile if it was THAT old!?

Just looked at the info for the OP.... why did it say the last time that person was on was 12-31-1969!!!!