Hi all, we have a 1985 ford f250 that has the original 6.9 diesel engine in it. Well something happened to it that now causes it to have a deep knock inside and it makes a bunch of red colored smoke. This is what happens when your uncle goes and buys a good pickup for 800, that didnt work very well. So my question for you guys is, we have a 1977 ford f150 that has a rebuilt 400 ford engine in it, would there be any way to make it fit into the 1985 pickup without any serious modifications, or should we just figure something else out?? thank you all for your help.

 

I wonder if that 6.9 just doesn't have a simple injector stuck open.


While the engine is running, crack loose 1 injector line at a time and see if the knock goes away. If you crack one open and the knocks goes away, you found a bad injector, replace it and be on your way.



And for the 400 from a 77, they use different motor mounts, so you'd need to fab some new ones up, as the 400 was never offered in these generation trucks.

 

hello, Well I talked to my uncle again (he is the one that actually owns the truck and knew what was wrong) and he said that when he got it checked out that the sleeves were wore down and there was alot of piston slop and blow bye. So it sounds to us like the engine is pretty much scrap. does anyone know where we could get another good 6.9 diesel to put in this truck that would not cost alot?? Or is there a way to fix the old engine?? Thank you for your help and have a great day!!

 

The 400 certainly was offered in these generation trucks. Our moderator, ctubutis owns a factory 400 powered truck. In 80-82, you couldn't get anything larger than the 400, as the 460 was temporarily dropped from the line up. 83 saw the return of the 460, as well as the introduction of the 6.9L diesel.

Granted, the motor mounts and frame towers would be different, as would the trans bellhousing and radiator, but it's certainly a doable swap. It would be a major step backwards, in my opinion, but still doable.

To the OP: there are 6.9L engines around in decent condition, but they are a bit scarce. However, the later 7.3L (not the 7.3L powerstroke) would be a direct fit replacement, as it is essentially just a bored out 6.9L.

 

Get the transmission to go with the 400, and it will fit with the proper engine mounts. Like was said, this engine was originally installed in these trucks in the early years. If you found a early 80's truck with a 351m, you could use the parts from it to make it fit also, since the 351m and the 400 are the same engine on the outside.

 

Here's some junkyards in Oregon that have diesel engines that will fit. Some of them are 7.3 diesels, which are the same engine bascially and will fit right in.

Year
Part
Model Description Miles Part
Grade Stock# US
Price Dealer Info
1987
Engine
Ford Truck 250 WARRANTY 3YR 100K,CORE$500,C-NOTES SZ0197 $4362 B & R Auto Wrecking, Springfield USA-OR(Springfield) Request_Quote 1-800-234-0098 Request_Insurance_Quote
1987
Engine
Ford Truck F250 4X4,6.9L,F,LOW LOW MILES 105,000 A DL2467 $1500 D and L Truck Parts USA-OR(Junction-City) Request_Quote 1-800-231-2603 Request_Insurance_Quote
1987
Engine
Ford Truck 350 GOOD RUNNER 127 A U42510 $1250 A-1 Light Truck USA-OR(Portland) E-mail 1-800-735-3429
1987
Engine
Ford Truck F250 8-420 (6.9L, dsl, VIN 1)-CHECK BANKS TU-103K 103,000 A 08-144 $1250 One Stop Auto Wreckers USA-OR(Klamath-Falls) Request_Quote 1-800-452-1304 Request_Insurance_Quote
1986
Engine
Ford Truck F350 8-420 (6.9L, dsl, VIN 1)- CHECK CORE??-142K 142,000 A 07-343 $1250 One Stop Auto Wreckers USA-OR(Klamath-Falls) Request_Quote 1-800-452-1304 Request_Insurance_Quote
1985
Engine
Ford Truck 250 RUNS GOOD 070104 $950 Klamath Auto Wreckers USA-OR(Klamath-Falls) E-mail 1-800-452-3301
1986
Engine
Ford Truck F250 6.9L (VIN 1, 8th digit, dsl) 183,000 A 4M0509 $850 Pick A Part, Eugene USA-OR(N.-Eugene) Request_Quote 1-800-439-3061 Request_Insurance_Quote
1987
Engine
Ford Truck F250 6.9 162,000 A 3K0032 $850 Pick A Part, Turner - PAR Member USA-OR(Turner) Request_Quote 1-888-877-6080 Request_Insurance_Quote
1987
Engine
Ford Truck F250 NO INJECTORS 163,000 A 3K1014 $850 Pick A Part, Turner - PAR Member USA-OR(Turner) Request_Quote 1-888-877-6080 Request_Insurance_Quote
1986
Engine
Ford Truck 250 400-420, 30PSI, RUNS GOOD 9837 $850 North Verde Auto Salvage USA-OR(Ontario) Request_Quote 800-772-1648 Request_Insurance_Quote
1986
Engine
Ford Truck F250 6.9L,A,9-86,4X4,NOT CKED 7256B $800 B and K Auto Salvage USA-OR(La-Grande) E-mail 1-800-233-9640
1987
Engine
Ford Truck 350 CORE,-323 -OIL COOLER MAC832 $400 B & R Auto Wrecking, Corvallis USA-OR(Corvallis) Request_Quote 1-800-325-8469 Request_Insurance_Quote
1986
Engine
Ford Truck 250 6.9,AT,BIODIESEL,CORE BLOWN GASKET CZJ431 $Call B & R Auto Wrecking, Corvallis USA-OR(Corvallis) Request_Quote 1-800-325-8469 Request_Insurance_Quote
1986
Engine
Ford Truck 250 CORE,IN PILE 9822 $Call North Verde Auto Salvage USA-OR(Ontario) Request_Quote 800-772-1648 Request_Insurance_Quote
1986
Engine
Ford Truck 250 6.9,CORE 170,000 A W764 $Call Light Truck Parts USA-OR(Portland) E-mail 1-800-452-8004
1987
Engine
Ford Truck 250 6.9L DSL,STD,BURNT EE147 $Call Light Truck Parts USA-OR(Portland) E-mail 1-800-452-8004
1986
Engine
Ford Truck 350 6.9L CORE 4 PARTS 142,761 A DD320 $Call Light Truck Parts USA-OR(Portland) E-mail 1-800-452-8004
1986
Engine
Ford Truck 350 6.9 NICE RUNNER 110062 $Call Oregon Auto Wrecking USA-OR(Portland) E-mail 1-800-666-2412
1985
Engine
Ford Truck 250 RUNS CHK COND AND CHK ENG 57,000 A 080037 $Call Lindell Auto and Truck Parts USA-OR(Pendleton) E-mail 541-276-5731 / 800-452-8114
1986
Engine
Ford Truck F250 PARTS ONLY 6.9 1FTHX2513GKA99150 100,000 A AA0021 $Call Clackamas River Towing and Auto Salvage LLC USA-OR(Estacada) E-mail 503-630-6487 / 503-630-6287

 

The 400 had a VIN code (8th character) of Z;

I believe the 351M was G.

The M-blocks were phased out beginning in 1982, replaced by the Windsor.

Bubba's site is one of the best online sources for these engines I've found, an archive is here:

Bubba's M-Block Ford V8 Workshop