TWX

Since I had forgotten to ask in my OP, the standard accessory brackets should just bolt up, right?

I'm just being cautious because it's about 150 miles away and because I've not got any experience with Diesel. I've built a gas engine starting with a bare block with main caps, but I'm still educating myself on these. The simplified cycle is appealing since I assume that an alternator or generator is only needed to power accessories in the truck, but brackets for air conditioning compressor, power steering, and whatever kind of electrical generation for accessories and lights are still necessary...

wannadiesel

Yep, all the bolt holes will be there.

dodgenstein

Looks like the oilpan and dipstick will need to be changed.

TWX

That's right, these trucks are rear sump...

It'll probably need another pickup tube too then...

This info is good. It gives me a list of actual reasons to make an offer less than the seller's asking price...

So my list so far includes:

• Replace intake pipe
• Replace exhaust manifold
• Rework turbo
• Replace oil pan
• Replace oil pickup tube
• Replace dipstick/tube

I'll need a donor truck sans engine, or to find a donor truck in a yard without an engine but where the wiring harness and the like haven't been butchered...

Trebor

In the past I have found complete nice drivable donor trucks for less than half of what you will probably spend on just that engine + the Dodge parts. Buying individual parts will generally cost far more than buying a donor truck. Being retired here I do not have the unlimited funds that you may have. However the path you pursue to your project may be different from mine.

BTW, I didn't see it mentioned here but you will also need the "dropped" steering center link because the gasser version will contact the oil pan.

jughead

easiest swap i have ever done. real problem was fan and radiator clearance. 90 mounts actually fit the 318 brackets. mine is a 1/2 ton though. been daily driver for about 6 years.

TWX

Definitely do not have unlimited funds... I paid $700 for the crew cab truck, sold the flatbed for $250, spent $800 for the parts truck that the bed came from and ended up selling the remainder of the parts truck for $650 or so, and I spent more than I should have on the wheels considering the offset is wrong and if I were to drive it like this I'd probably scrape the rear tires on the bed. Probably spent another $100 on the hood and door, and about $150 on the grille. So, I'm currently sitting at about a thousand into the truck as it sits/parts sitting around. I will have to do some rust abatement on the cab floor, I'll need new fenders, front doors, valence with turn signals, and radiator core support ('79-'80), and then there's all the body work and paint. Plus the frame isn't 100% straight and will need to be tweaked on. I expect that even if I find a great donor truck for a great price I'll still end up spending the better part of $8000 on the truck, based on what it cost me to get the Cordoba's body work and paint done.

That engine has been listed for some time, I guess I'll hold off and see what else comes up for sale. An ideal donor for me would be one rolled by a meth addict with liability-only coverage who would let it go for $500...

jughead

i only paid 500 for my truck but still wound up with 4 grand in it and had a diesel torgue flite that i took out of my 90.