Silly question from a customer re 7.3-6.9 swap

BrunoWilimek · March 6, 2008

Our parts man asked me if the intake manifold from a 7.3 IDI would retrofit to a 6.9 IDI. Apparently the gasket is the same. This question came from a customer. I don't have a lot of 6.9 and 7.3 IDI experience. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shrug.gif

Bruce Amacker · March 7, 2008

I probably knew the answer to this question many years ago but have dumped that cache to make room for newer stuff. Let's assume these are both Fords, because I know the intakes were different between the IH version and the Ford version. Another minor problem might be the glow plug system- the 7.3 probably has the later bullet system and the 6.9 probably has the blade style system. I know when retrofitting a truck to the bullet system I have to drill a hole or something back there to mount the controller.

There was some kind of difference in the intake ports- later engines had a passageway that was plugged with a ball just under the port (or something like that). Just because the gaskets are (supposedly) the same doesn't meant the intakes interchange, even at the port flange.

Think as hard as I might, I still can't answer this for sure. Man, if I had a penny for every one of those I had apart.....

/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Jim Warman · March 7, 2008

I probably knew the answer to this question many years ago /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Bruce has CRS... Bruce has CRS... Welcome to the club!!!! It's all downhill from here.....

LARRY BRUDZYNSKI · March 7, 2008

The 6.9 and 7.3 IDI do use the same gasket, but I'm not sure if the intake is the same. The customer should check the #'s on the manifold and lay them side by side to be sure.

BrunoWilimek · March 7, 2008

Thanks. guys for your quick responses. That is about what I suspected. I don't know why he wants to do this swap other than he has a complete 7.3 and the truck has a 6.9 in it, but I try to keep our customers happy. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif

LARRY BRUDZYNSKI · March 8, 2008

Bruno, today I laid out 2 intakes side by side, it looks like they are the same between the 6.9 and 7.3 IDI. My bad but didn't grab the #'s off of them. Will look at them monday and let you know for sure. I believe that the early IDI's are pretty close to each other, other than the bore, correct me if I'm wrong( I know Jim will ).

By the way Bruce is suffering from SOMETIMERS