I've got a 1997 F150 w/ 130k miles. Sounds like the motor is almost shot. Any ideas on a conversion ? I figure I could find a V8 tranny combo from a salvage yard...or...is there a small diesel I could use ? Any options or ideas out there ?

It's not a daily driver, so I could turn this into a "project".

 

4BT with a NV4500 out of a dodge with the dodge case so its driveside drop, might as well throw a 60/10.5, 60/60, 60/14, 60/70 under it for a nice set of axles, ive always wanted to do it in my 2001 extended cab short bed 4x4 5 speed f150, its got 160K+ on it and its still running fine, mine is one step ahead cause i already got a 5 speed in mine, just needs the rearend rebuilt but if i ever get a chance, guess what its getting..........4BT.

 

Can't be shot, unless you run it harder than us. We are pushing 190k in our '98. This truck is a waterman's truck so any given day its towing a whole lot of weight, from equipment to harvest, usually over a big distance.