Soon to be a two CTD family...

[steved]

Buying a black 1999 3500 QC SLT 4wd Auto CTD to replace my 97 Outback.

That leaves us with the 09 FXT and my 04.5 CTD. Never thought the Wife would agree that we need another truck, but she agreed my reg cab was too small and the FXT is not comfortable on a multi-hour drive. Plus, a 3500 will allow us to upgrade to practically any 5vr we want in the future.

The truck seems in great shape, 98k and never seen snow. And we are buying it from the original owner who bought it new, along with a 5vr, when he retired. He's done some "things" to it...it has a superchips installed, an ATS triple-loc converter, 2-inch leveling kit, K&N filter, and guages. The only thing that I don't like is the K&N.

We plan on picking it up once he gets home from Arizona...probably mid-April. Now I just need a bigger driveway!

[steved]

Picture the owner sent to me...

[ZacD]

Looks and sounds like a nice truck.








Do you know much about the QSB 3.9s and 4.5s? I'm not trying to hi-jack your thread...just curious. In the '78 Ford, I'm debating on these three thing:

1. Rebuild the 300-6
2. Do a diesel swap (4BT or possibly a 4 cylinder QSB Cummins)
3. Build a 520-535" EFI'd big block


The 300 rebuild would be easiest and it'll make decent power and deliver decent fuel mileage. A diesel swap would be neat, deliver very good mileage and have plenty of power, but I don't know if that's what I want to do. Even the 4BTs still weigh considerably more than a big block. An injected built big block will deliver earth mover-like torque and can get "okay" fuel mileage - considering I won't need that much overall gearing in it. The truck is and will remain just something to fool around with - maybe in a few years will get torn completely apart for a proper frame-off restomod.

[steved]

No, I don't know anything about the QSB. I'll need to get it at home, but I have a link to a Cummins-engine forum that would probably have everything you need to know...its been so long since I was into that (4BTA swap) that I forgot the name of the site.

Here it is:

http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/index.php


I look at it this way...

The 300 would be easiest and cheapest...but nothing exciting.

The CTD would be somewhat expensive to purchase the engine, the swap materials, etc...but you could buy a running engine that would simply need swapped. It would definitely be the cool-factor if you decided to show the truck after the restoration. I would look for a 4BTA (4 is 4-cylinder, B is B-series, "T" is turbocharged, and "A" being after-cooled).

The BB Ford would probably be the most expensive between finding the right block, buying the good components, etc...but it would probably be the most fun. It would also have the wow-factor if you decided to show or track it.

[ZacD]

Your assessment of the swaps is about spot-on with mine.

If I were to do a 4-banger Cummins swap, most likely I'd get one out of a box/panel van (or bread/Frito-Lay truck) that is known good runner (no issues to speak of) and simply fit it in the '78 with a ZF 5 speed or NV4500 mated to the married 205 and just basically run it. Caveat being on that "simply" term in the previous sentence...I realize it wouldn't be a simple plug & play, bolt in and go-type of swap. But rather a mechanical one-wire (for fuel shut off) setup...and rob an intercooler core out of a Dodge or Powerjoke or Duramix rig and sundry sh*t like that.


Truth be told, and not because I'm simply a Ford guy, but a big inch big block Ford is not "that" expensive these days. More expensive than a small block Windsor (289, 302/5.0 or 351W/5.8) Ford? Yes. More expensive than a small block Chebbie? Yes, quite a bit. That said, stock 429/460 blocks are bountiful, cheap and none ever had any known problems with respect to cracking or anything. There's ample room in the crankcase to run a 4.5" stroke crank (i.e. 550 cubes) as they were designed by Ford. I'd just run a production (good core) block with good hardware in it (ARP head and main studs), a good steel crank (can be had for $500), a good set of steel rods (~$500), and whatever compression height (for the combo) forged pistons.

The cylinder heads are where a bulk of the money would be tied up. There are a good many aftermarket (aluminum and iron) heads out there for the 385-series big block Fords but none are really inexpensive.

I do think it would deliver the most fun. I would think 600+ pump gas horsepressure and 600-700+ lb/ft of torque, all the while being able to turn 6500 rpm would turn a 37" tire over decently.

[Patent Pending]

Steve, looks like a really nice truck.

Zac, do the EFI'd BBF swap. That would be the cat's [censored].

[Jason]

Very nice! Stance is right, condition is right. Overall very good looking truck. But then again, I have a thing for 2nd gen duallies. Especially black.

[steved]

(03-18-2010 08:29 PM)Jason Wrote:   Very nice! Stance is right, condition is right. Overall very good looking truck. But then again, I have a thing for 2nd gen duallies. Especially black.

That's the only thing I'm not fond of...black.

[The Boss]

do you have a 3500 right now or is this your first? its a nice looking truck and i have a 3500 myself, albeit a 2wd. However I noticed your comment about being more comfortable on multiple hour drives. my trucks rides hard unless its got a good load on it, so unless you are only going to use it loaded, its not much of an upgrade in ride, more like a downgrade from a 2500.

nice looking ride, throw some towing mirrors on it and you will be all set.

[steved]

(03-19-2010 08:36 AM)The Boss Wrote:  do you have a 3500 right now or is this your first? its a nice looking truck and i have a 3500 myself, albeit a 2wd. However I noticed your comment about being more comfortable on multiple hour drives. my trucks rides hard unless its got a good load on it, so unless you are only going to use it loaded, its not much of an upgrade in ride, more like a downgrade from a 2500.

nice looking ride, throw some towing mirrors on it and you will be all set.

Both dad and I have/had 2nd gen 2500 "camper specials", which were basically a 3500SRW before dodge offered a 3500SRW. I know it will ride rough, but its the price you pay for room and a CTD.

The main thing about the comfort isn't the ride, but the room.