diesel repower

[enjenjo]

I have a guy that wants to repower a 3500 series Chevy truck with a 7.3 Ford/International diesel. Ever hear of someone doing this? Any links?

[Mikej]

When I worked at an implement dealer 30 years ago, we had 3 or 4 farmer who put Perkins or 3208 Cat motors in pickups. Seems like they would also put 2 transmission in so the had more gears. They pulled large campers and liked to brag about pulling the hill out west. 3208 hammering away in a pickup gets your attention. Also seems like they had to raise the cabs alittle. Brought back so old memories there. Crazy old farmers.

[UGLY OLDS]

We have a guy in our area that has what I think is a 4V-71 GMC in a 63 or 64 GMC 1 ton pickup...It has a Fuller 10 speed behind it that sits in a trans "tunnel" that almost goes to the top of the dash..One big 4" stack.. I talked with him at a show & he said his real problem is limited road speed ...He has the highest gears he can find in the rear axle & the tallest tires in the rear that will fit his 1 ton axle ...Top speed is about 45MPH or so...Says he really only needs the top 3 gears in the trans ..Kind of a "pick one & it will move" situation .... Said he built it to see if he could make it work ....


Bob...........

[OldSub]

Its pretty common to go Diesel as a replacement motor these days in some circles.

Here are some links to sites where they talk about such stuff.

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

http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/index.php

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/index.php

http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/index.php

I'm not a Diesel guy and doubt I'd ever make such a swap but find dialog on some of these forums that is relevant to a guy building a gas rig for towing.

Its possible you'll find your exact swap in one of those links because some of those people are doing things that seem strange to me!

You don't say what is in the truck now.  If its the 6.2 or 6.5 GM Diesel I think it has enough problems swapping to something else makes sense.  If he has a Duramax I think he is nuts.  If he is running a gas motor I'd just say it isn't big enough and he needs a Caddy 500 instead.

[enjenjo]

He is doing it for fuel mileage.

If he is running a gas motor I'd just say it isn't big enough and he needs a Caddy 500 instead.

Done right, a diesel is two Caddy motors.

[OldSub]

Done right, a diesel is two Caddy motors.

I'm not a Diesel guy I'd rather listen to a big gas motor work that listen to and smell the Diesel.

I'm putting a big Caddy in my own old truck used for towing and I've concluded it will have more than enough power for a GVWR of 18,000 while my current equipment is only 15,000.

I don't expect to ever exceed 3,000 miles annually with my truck making the Diesel a very expensive alternative.

Why that particular motor?  The 4BT or 6BT seem to be the most popular swap candidates.

[wayne petty]

just for humor

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/1006dp_78_liter_colossal_cummins_engine/index.html

its going to take an lot of miles to make it pay for the difference in fuel mileage..

its going to be a LOT easier to buy a diesel powered pickup thats crashed or rolled to get the entire drive train from...   maybe including the rear end to get the proper ratio..

one might want to unbend the wrecked truck for some short voyages to verify that there is no damage to the engine and transmission after what ever totaled it..  even if it means without windshield , roof... doors.. just  4 wheels and flies..


someone has already done it..

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/chevy/0604dp_chevy_cummins_engine_swap/index.html


there are more swaps to be found here..

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/sch/02/swap/articles/index.html

[OldSub]

So are you going to do this project for him?

[enjenjo]

Why that particular motor? The 4BT or 6BT seem to be the most popular swap candidates.

He already has the Ford  with a 7.3 for a doner.  He asked if it would fit. From what I am finding, not well.

So are you going to do this project for him?

If he understands what it takes, I'll do it. But a 6BT would be better on several levels. And probably cheaper to do.

[parklane]

Ya, if he went with a cummins, he'd have a real truck. I must admit that if you've got to drop a Ford into it, the 7.3 is the one to use.

[Glen]

Since you guys are talking diesel.


I bought a new 2011 F250.  I owned a 2006 F250 and it was a great truck with zero problems.  I knew the 2011 was going to be a hit so I sold my 06 back in November.  The 6.4 in the 2007-2010 have not been very popular so I made out like a bandit on my 2006 6.0 liter.

My new 2011 2WD crew cab is getting 24-25 MPG on the freeway and 19-20 in town based on the digital readout.  I drive normal 65-70 on the freeway and im not a lead foot.  Needless to say Im very happy with it

below is my 2006 the day I sold it.

[OldSub]

based on the digital readout.

Have you verified the accuracy of that digital readout?  I don't know about the Fords but I've read the Dodge's overstate the mileage a bit.

My gas powered Chevrolet actually understates the mileage just a tiny bit when compared to doing the math myself.

[Mac]

Keeping it in the Rodding vein, here's a youtube of a `39 Chevy pickup "rat rod" with  4BT (I think) power. I like it but think it should have a bed to make it a proper truck.

[wayne petty]

this might need it's own thread...

but take a look at this 2 stroke V4 aircraft diesel... turbo and super charged ...

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/1006dp_aerospace_diesel_engine/index.html


here is one more really important article to read.. owners of cummins six cylinders...

the killer dowel pin...

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/dodge/0706dp_1997_dodge_ram_kdp/index.html

[parklane]

That problem occurred on the earlier  models. My 06 gets an honest 18-20 mpg on the highway, and the overhead lies, lies, lies. Wish it was acurate.