Diesel FC-150 project

DzlFC

DzlFC

Well Oiled
Oct 12, 2020
1,124
Rancho Tehama
First Name
Andy
Willys Model
  1. Forward Control
Willys Year:
  1. 1964
Picked up this cool FC 150 project from a gent in Idaho. Drove 700 miles One way based on two pics. Was gonna try to adapt it to an 82 cj5 frame I have but it ended up being way more complete than I thought. Has almost everything, good glass, no body damage or serious rust Anywhere, and 31000 miles on the door. Engine is gone, but side shift t90 is there, as is T18 transfer case, and Danna 44 FRONT and rear. I thought these had 25 or 27’s up front?

i ordered a brand new 2.44 TDI Kubota from Greg M at Overland diese. I’m finishing the FC tear down now. I was inspecting the T90 and S18 combo in anticipation buying an overdrive from Herm, and found First/reverse has a chunk missing from a tooth. Will tear it down and look close and order everything at once.

Has anyone here done a full float conversion on the rear 44? Are there any tube frame designs with the dimensions and angles? Anything I kneed to know as I’m diving in?
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Nice find! You will want to insulate the hell out of the tunnel and engine cover to cut down on noise and heat. I wonder how the T-90 will hold up to the torsional vibration/torque of the diesel? I'm not sure what the optimum cruise RPM is on that diesel, but as you have noted you will need the overdrive for sure. Your diffs should be 5.38:1.
 
Seabee said:
Nice find! You will want to insulate the hell out of the tunnel and engine cover to cut down on noise and heat. I wonder how the T-90 will hold up to the torsional vibration/torque of the diesel? I'm not sure what the optimum cruise RPM is on that diesel, but as you have noted you will need the overdrive for sure. Your diffs should be 5.38:1.
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Yep on the insulation! Looking at spray on ceramics from lizard skin as well as a ceramic fiberboard. The diesel conversion has been getting popular in the little willys, and a group went to Alaska in 2017. so the combo with the t90 has some collective miles. From what I can glean, you are right about the ratio. I was hoping to do a full float on the back, but these axel lengths might be unique to the FC-150. Any ideas?
 
I would think a 2.44 TDI Kubota will be underpowered for a fc 150 even with 5.38 gears, I used a cummings 3.3 in a mb and it is just right, but without any power to spare, but a fc is 1000 lb heaver...Phil
 
There is no "g" in Cummins. My Dad worked for them for 27 years and would go crazy when someone called their engines a "cummings.":)

I checked and the preferred continuous duty rating on the Kubota is 2,000 RPM. With 5.38:1 differentials, 29" tires and a Warn overdrive, 42.8 MPH is it.
 
Seabee said:
I checked and the preferred continuous duty rating on the Kubota is 2,000 RPM. With 5.38:1 differentials, 29" tires and a Warn overdrive, 42.8 MPH is it.
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The paperwork with this one gives 2700 rpm continuous duty, with a no load of 3000 Rpm. it might be a boondoggle, but maybe not. Have to try to find out. Probably wouldn’t try without the Cherokee guys out there pushing the 2403 a lot harder than I will. if it has enough hp, I will deal With the rpm, through tires and gearing. Without enough hp, it won’t be worth the effort to change Gear ratio. if it doesn’t work, the running gear will get dropped in an old flatty, and the FC turned into a hot rod.
 
Still looking to see if anyone has done a full float on one of these, or swapped out the whole rear end with a disc brake ford or something....
 
My MB has a full float ( not stock 25 ), but I machined it from a 44 rear and built my own axles, spindles and hubs, years ago Smitty built sold a kit but they are long gone...Phil
 
DzlFC said:
The paperwork with this one gives 2700 rpm continuous duty, with a no load of 3000 Rpm. it might be a boondoggle, but maybe not. Have to try to find out. Probably wouldn’t try without the Cherokee guys out there pushing the 2403 a lot harder than I will. if it has enough hp, I will deal With the rpm, through tires and gearing. Without enough hp, it won’t be worth the effort to change Gear ratio. if it doesn’t work, the running gear will get dropped in an old flatty, and the FC turned into a hot rod.
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At 2700 RPM continuous you'd really be wringing that thing out, but to each his own, it is your money. Why do you want to full float the Dana 44 so badly? Just curious..........................
 
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