Thanks guys. I'm enjoying sharing as much as I am doing the project. I hope the information I've been able to publish can assist someone else that's contempating a modern drivetrain swap into these old beauties. I'm planning two more videos, first will be a short "show and tell" of what the engine compartment looks like after the job is done and second will be a "ride along" around scenic Leesburg Virginia.
I do have the original 2 speed rear axle still and during my test drive the other day I noticed 1st gear was like a "granny low". When the drivetrain was in the F250, 1st gear "pulled" and now it just "moves" the truck into motion. I'm going to try starting out in 2nd on my next test runs and see how that feels.
The wheels are Accuride 28157 that I bought new and had re-powdercoated black and silver. Tires are all Goodyear 10R22.5 radials that "magically" transformed the way the truck drives down the road. I drove the truck for five years on the nylon bias tube tires and was speechless at the difference the new tires made.
Correct on the engine being and International and not a Ford. The transmission is also not Ford, its a ZF that went into other makes as well. Most guys go with an early Cummins engine for their swaps for a couple reasons, with the main one being no electronics involved. Second, there's several businesses that specialize in adapters and "bolt in" kits for swapping the Cummins. I personally like the sound of the V8 Powerstroke over the Cummins inline 6 which was my main reason for choosing it. Plus not many people have a Powerstroke swapped truck, but everyone has a Cummins swap (boring).
I'll let you know how the brakes turn out after this weekend. I'm using the hydraulic booster and master cylinder for a 97 Ford Super Duty (F450) since it "plugs and plays" with the power steering pump on the engine. The bore of the master is 1 5/16" which is a little bigger than the original. I'm adding inline 10 pound residual pressure valves since the master has none. It's total guess work on my part but I've got to start somewhere.
