69-79 Ford with a Cummins engine - Overview
What does it take to put a Cummins engine in my 1969-1979 Ford?
Here is some information that will better prepare you for this Ford Cummins diesel conversion. Necessary parts are highlighted.
For cooling you can use a 460 Ford radiator or a Ford diesel radiator. When heavy work or performance is involved it is best to consider a larger radiator; remember, the more cooling the better. For everyday driving the 460 rad. is fine. (If you do use a Ford diesel radiator and your Cummins engine is intercooled, you will need to make sure that the Ford diesel radiator is one that is only about 31" wide. [Some are more like 37" wide...too wide for the intercoole.])
When using an intercooled 12V Cummins (91 or newer) you will want to use a 99+ Ford Intercooler or a 91-93 Dodge Intercooler. With either of these intercoolers you can use the 460 Ford radiator.
If you choose to use the 460 radiator with the 99+ Ford Intercooler, just note that one neck on the intercooler may require a slight modification in order to clear the radiator (cut and weld). So, if you get the Ford intercooler with plastic ends, just make sure that the passenger side sticks straight back. If you get the Ford intercooler with aluminum ends, and the passenger side is angled toward the engine, you can fix that one.
Gauges
We provide you with a bushing kit that will help you install your Ford oil pressure sensor and your Ford temperature sensor units into the Cummins engine so that you can simply plug them back in to your existing Ford engine harness.
Revision To Be Made:
To the Ford Truck:
- In some cases the Ford fire wall will need to be adjusted (with a hammer). A body lift is not necessary, but can sometimes give more room.
- In most cases there is a bit of drive line length adjustment to be made.
- The transmission cross member usually needs to slide back a bit. Some times it needs to be revised or restructured a bit as well depending on which transmission is used.
- If your gear ratios are 4.10 or lower, you may consider a higher set (such as 3.73's or even 3.55's [or whatever similar ratio is available for your particular truck]).
- You will need to trim the back side of the grill a bit to properly fit the intercooler.
- For a Ford trucks that has A/C we use the Dodge application Cummins engine A/C pump. In these older trucks there is a bit of fab work to properly fit this pump. (It is on the bottom passenger side of the engine.)
To the Ford Transmission:
Our custom Ford Cummins engine adapter Plates use the your existing Dodge style starter that is already on your Cummins engine. The starter ends up in almost the same place that the Ford starter was, only it has to be a little bit higher. This requires you to trim your bell housing where the starter will otherwise hit (as illustrated in manual). You will also need to trim the Cummins engine block a little bit in one place to allow the starter to go into the adapter plate straight. (also illustrated in manual).
Wiring:
12V: This Cummins engine is easy to wire as it is completely manually operated (explained in installation manual)
24V: This Cummins engine does have a computer but is not too bad to wire as we send a simple instruction sheet with your 24V engine mounting kit that will help you get the job done.
For more detailed information on the rest of the Ford Cummins diesel conversion see the Installation Manual
ORDER NOW : INSTALLATION MANUAL-Cummins into '69-'97 Ford or call us
