So anyone here wheel an IDI motor? Just curious how it would far compared to say a 460. I have either option but need to make up my mind.

I personally don't have an IDI but know some people with IDI rigs and the only issue I have seen is the weight. Depending on the terrain and type of wheeling you are doing it can be pretty hinder-some to performance. What exactly do you plan to do with it? Will it be in a front engine/full bodied type truck?

they are fat...and too slow on the launch for some wheelin...

but guys to takem on the trails...

think of them as the plowhorse...ya dont ride them hard..ya dont ride them fast...but when you hookem up...they will WORK and just wont QUIT!!

Its gonna be a trail rig but there is some nice mud in WV. Heres the deal.

I have a 77 F-150. I can build my 460. Swap 8 lug outers on the 44 and use a 60 rear and 38s. Ill have close to $1000 in stuff like engine parts,brakes and dime stuff. OR i can get an 87 F350 with 6.9/4spd/bw case/60/sterling. ITs got 60k on motor/tranny/case. Needs a bed. $700.

Cant make up m mind. Diesel has torque but 460 has rpm and wheel speed for the mud.

i got an idi and i take it off road a lot and i got 33's on it stock front hd springs in rear and it does fine
the 1200 lb engine on the front end will drag you through anything or up anything including a 60 degree slope for twice the length of the truck
i love it and would never have a gasser after it
it really is once you get it going it wont stop
but id do a high idle they have oil issues sitting at idle for a while
and a 4200 rpm gov to give you the spinning tires when needed

Buy the F350 and throw those axles under the 77'. A Dana 44 isn't going to last very long under a F150 with a 460 in it and 38" tires.

If you're just doing trail riding, and aren't out playing in big mudholes, the IDI will serve you well, I ran my 6.9 with both 33's and 35's, and it was enjoyable for that kind of wheeling, was alot more fun with the turbo on it, but, n/a with 33's, and 100 gallons of fuel in the bed it would follow my buddy's old solid axle locked in both ends Yota wherever it would fit... The nice thing about the diesel is you can run it to the governor and hold it there...
That said, spend some money on that 460 and you'll have double the hp and probably 150+ lb/ft more than that 6.9 will without a turbo.
My 6.9 may end up in a trail rig yet, but, it will not be without a turbo.

Buy the F350 and throw those axles under the 77'. A Dana 44 isn't going to last very long under a F150 with a 460 in it and 38" tires.




I know this. But i have apprx $1000 to spend. I cant get a clutch kit, engine gasket kit and the stuff to coil spring the 60 for $300.

I know this. But i have apprx $1000 to spend. I cant get a clutch kit, engine gasket kit and the stuff to coil spring the 60 for $300.

or you can get the 44..spend $600 for alloy axles..and $300 for CMT's and STILL FAWKING BREAK IT!!

get a 60 under the front...I wish...I WISH!!....I wish I haddnt spent money to build a 44...and Im only runnin 35's on an explorer!!..

go 460...or cummins...leave the idi for a towrig.....for mudrunnin ya need quick RPM's....

Buy the F350

Put the 77 body on F350 frame & you've got IDI & 60s in it. Save money, build 460 into 500+ CID beast over time, then yank the worn out IDI out, drop 500+CID motor into frame rails, and let the stupidity commence


Kids these days, absolutely no sense at all

buy the f350....its got better components overall....you are polishing a turd with the d44/60r etc

I'd buy the F-350, swap in the 460 with a C-6/205 behind it, shorten the wheelbase up and put a 6ft bed on it.

Any idea how hard it would be to wire in the 460? Im sure the f350 wont have the ignition setup in its wiring.

Won't be very hard at all, DS-11 only needs a power in run and power in start wire feeding it, or if you really wanted to, you could use a HEI dizzy and go one wire. The alternator wiring you won't need to fool with, as it'll probably be the same, if not you can just bolt the alternator off of the IDI on the 460.
The IDI has most of the wiring you'd need already under the hood, the FSS solenoid has your power in start/run wire for the red wire going to the DS-II module, just need to find a power in start only one for the white wire if you wanted the start retard to function.
Or, you could find an engine/underhood harness from an 87 with a W or 460(carbed) and make it all plug and play, but, those aren't exactly common.
The clutch hydraulics, clutch and PP are the same 460/diesel, but, you would need to find a 460 bell and flywheel.

Try the 6.9 first and see how it suits you, for $700 as long as the cab isn't junk(if you plan on using it) you can't go wrong, that's a pretty cheap 1 ton drivetrain upgrade.

So your sayin the clutch kit is the same idi/460? I have a bellhousing and flywheel off my 460.

I wheel my 7.3 IDI all over the place. It won't go through the deep stuff, but it would surprise you what it has gone through, with a Detroit Locker in the rear, and a Powertrax up front, it does good. Plus I use it to haul all my other play toys around.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v671/4x4e350/89meatwagon-2.jpg

With the 4 speed, the clutch is exactly the same. The clutch currently behind my 6.9 was bought for my 460... LOL

I wheel my 7.3 IDI all over the place. It won't go through the deep stuff, but it would surprise you what it has gone through, with a Detroit Locker in the rear, and a Powertrax up front, it does good. Plus I use it to haul all my other play toys around.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v671/4x4e350/89meatwagon-2.jpg

And you can use that front bumper to plow snow in the winter:flipoff2::flipoff2:

And you can use that front bumper to plow snow in the winter:flipoff2::flipoff2:

What bumper? That is the snow plow:flipoff2:.
Of course, what would it be down your way? The cactus catcher?:laughing:

With the 4 speed, the clutch is exactly the same. The clutch currently behind my 6.9 was bought for my 460... LOL

This helps. See the F350 had a cracked head so he pulled the motor/tranny/case. Had the motor rebuilt with two new heads. Rebuilt the case and bought a new crate tranny.All of it with 60k on it now. Are the diesel tranny geared the same as a diesel?

Are the diesel tranny geared the same as a diesel?

yes :flipoff2:

but the diesel trans does have a higher first than the gas trans

The diesel T19 should have the close ratio gearset with the 4.02:1 first gear, 460 trucks ran the 5.11, but, what should be, and what is are not the same, my 6.9 has a 5.11 geared trans in it.
I just swapped the close ratio trans from a diesel into my 460 rig, it is actually MUCH nicer to drive, and yes, you do lose some crawl ratio, but, the 2.69 in the transfer case helps with that, with 4.10's, it still makes for a 44:1 crawl ratio, which, with a big block is pretty adequate. The 5.11 trans woild make for a 56:1 ratio, but, I found myself using 3rd and 4th low on the trail for the most part. It is much friendlier to drive with the closer gear spacing, you get into the one gear is too much, the next isn't enough situation far less often, and you more or less gain a useable gear for most trail work.

I would NOT want to try to wheel an IDI on a D44. Not so much because of the torque, but the weight. D44 can hold up under lighter rigs, but throw a bus engine on top of it in a fullsize truck and you will destroy one in short order. Add in some 38's, and i think the only good thing about it would be the balljoints would let go before you got the chance to make the housing into a smiley face.

From what ive seen of the diesel rigs out on the trail, they seem to be awesome hillclimbers so long as its not loose dirt.

Well an hour ago i picked up a 78 bronco for cheap. Im thinkin buy the f350 and shorten it up and put the bronco body on it. Make a nice recovery unit.

I wheel an IDI.

YouTube - Union Santena Chiman Mayo 2009 Ford F350 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNwGj8J7Viw)

Not the most nimble. but gets me there and back.
Chains help alot to use the torque of the engine.
I usually can idle through most dry parts.
Its very heavy, but i usually carry a lot of cargo anyways.

does ok in mud, but could use some more power for really deep mud.
YouTube - Club 4x4 Panama Calovebora Mud II (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLJe8s5w4wQ)

Does ok in slippery hills too.
YouTube - Hill Climb F350 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3mVJ-aEnxg)

Just be ready to use winch once in a while... a really big winch.:flipoff2:
YouTube - Club 4x4 Panama Hill Winch CaloveborA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9_87P9tbfM)
YouTube - Club 4x4 Panama Hill Winch f350 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZMoBOVlMQs)