Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Flatty · 10-30-2006, 05:34 PM

Has anyone done this? I want to swap a cumming diesel into a 67-72 chevy truck. I ahve anlways loved the look of the chevy's, but I LOVE the cummins motor for a tow rig. I tow my roockcralwer all over ht place to wheel, but now without a tow rig, I have to drive the wheeler... This is not an option for now. Has anyone ever done this swap? Are there any recommendations?

Dima

72freak · 10-30-2006, 07:45 PM

Its not the most popular diesel swap, nor the easiest...but in my eyes the only one woth doing!!!!!!!!!! There are many folks that have done it...there is even someone on here that did a 67-72 on the Dodge frame to make it easier.
If you try to use the 67-72 frame you will need to beef it up.

Flatty · 10-30-2006, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72freak

Its not the most popular diesel swap, nor the easiest...but in my eyes the only one woth doing!!!!!!!!!! There are many folks that have done it...there is even someone on here that did a 67-72 on the Dodge frame to make it easier.
If you try to use the 67-72 frame you will need to beef it up.

How would I go about beefing up the frame? Do I have to channel it?

Dima

qksilver · 10-30-2006, 09:10 PM

box it. channelling is when you drop the body down over the frame
and probably some X bracing to the crossmembers

TP from Cntl PA · 10-30-2006, 09:40 PM

Frame work depends on what engine you use...............Mine is still stock, so is the front end. I'll probably have to bag it though when I get around to repainting/cab off resto...........It squats some in the front end.

I did one, and honestly it wasn't as much work as I had planned, but it isn't completed yet(needs painted and sheet metal replaced), and I hadn't anticipated how underbuilt GM driveline components were. I am running GM from the flywheel back, and honestly, nothing has held up. Acouple trannys, driveshafts, a good # of carrier bearings, and lets not forget u-joints. I am going to a ZF-6spd eventually too, mainly just to get a HD one for a tranny oil cooler. I also am going to to a heavier driveshaft/u-joints and I am going to adapt a heavier carrier too.

In the mean time though, I've been patching it up when it breaks and have been running it. IMO, for a knock 'em down and drag 'em out truck engine, you can't beat a Cummins..........Torque out the rear at 1800 rpm!

For my next one, I am going to use a 4-53 or 4-71 Screamin' Detroit.........Not to much low end with them, but I want them for the fact you can take a Jake Brake off a larger 6-71 and pop it right on the 4 and have a AWESOME tow rig in both pull power and STOPPING power.

I also always thought a 354 Perkins would be a good engine..........Gas engine go with the diesel low end...........

alblogg · 10-31-2006, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TP from Cntl PA

Frame work depends on what engine you use...............Mine is still stock, so is the front end. I'll probably have to bag it though when I get around to repainting/cab off resto...........It squats some in the front end.

I did one, and honestly it wasn't as much work as I had planned, but it isn't completed yet(needs painted and sheet metal replaced), and I hadn't anticipated how underbuilt GM driveline components were. I am running GM from the flywheel back, and honestly, nothing has held up. Acouple trannys, driveshafts, a good # of carrier bearings, and lets not forget u-joints. I am going to a ZF-6spd eventually too, mainly just to get a HD one for a tranny oil cooler. I also am going to to a heavier driveshaft/u-joints and I am going to adapt a heavier carrier too.

In the mean time though, I've been patching it up when it breaks and have been running it. IMO, for a knock 'em down and drag 'em out truck engine, you can't beat a Cummins..........Torque out the rear at 1800 rpm!

For my next one, I am going to use a 4-53 or 4-71 Screamin' Detroit.........Not to much low end with them, but I want them for the fact you can take a Jake Brake off a larger 6-71 and pop it right on the 4 and have a AWESOME tow rig in both pull power and STOPPING power.

I also always thought a 354 Perkins would be a good engine..........Gas engine go with the diesel low end...........

I had two Dodges both with Cummins in them best engines I have seen and owned the trucks was not that nice but served their purpose. I thought about switching the engine into a Chevy but that was the things I thought about was having to build up the frame and the rear end staying in it. That was what I came up with if I was going to do it was to use the Dodge frame and put a Chevy body on it.

Pl4yboy · 10-31-2006, 11:35 PM

For once I can say... The engine will probably outlast the truck. My family has owned 4 Cummins in the past 9 years and one of them had 500,000 miles on it. Of course he went through about 5-6 clutches and 3 trannies... But the motor held strong the entire time. Slap some cold air and and crank up the fuel and its an even bigger beast.

TP from Cntl PA · 11-01-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pl4yboy

For once I can say... The engine will probably outlast the truck. My family has owned 4 Cummins in the past 9 years and one of them had 500,000 miles on it. Of course he went through about 5-6 clutches and 3 trannies... But the motor held strong the entire time. Slap some cold air and and crank up the fuel and its an even bigger beast.

500K is just getting broke in for one of them. I was looking at buying a 5.9 with over 300K on it and some of the guys I was working with thought I was nuts in the machine shop...............They didn't quite understand diesels. Place I wrench at part time runs 3406 Cats and later C-15's out to well over 1 million miles.

onetonk5 · 11-01-2006, 05:25 PM

go back to pirate you vodka smuggling whore

Flatty · 11-01-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onetonk5

go back to pirate you vodka smuggling whore

Hahahahaha... Maybe this wa a bad idea, and maybe just spending the money on a Tahoe or a Cummins truck is worth it...

idma

alblogg · 11-01-2006, 06:00 PM

Aaaaaaahhhhh yes a big Chevy 'hoe with a Cummins a hummin'....what a ride.

onetonk5 · 11-02-2006, 06:54 PM

there was a 3/4 4x 67-72 truck on ebay with a cummins 6 not long ago.....i think a 6bt in a 72 sub ton 4x would be cooool.

Rod · 11-02-2006, 09:16 PM

It would look something like this when done.
not mine., just had a pic. Dont have any details on how it was done.

10-30-2006, 05:34 PM	#1
Flatty Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 27	Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy Has anyone done this? I want to swap a cumming diesel into a 67-72 chevy truck. I ahve anlways loved the look of the chevy's, but I LOVE the cummins motor for a tow rig. I tow my roockcralwer all over ht place to wheel, but now without a tow rig, I have to drive the wheeler... This is not an option for now. Has anyone ever done this swap? Are there any recommendations? Dima

10-30-2006, 07:45 PM	#2
72freak Rottenwood Garage Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 4,321	Re: Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy Its not the most popular diesel swap, nor the easiest...but in my eyes the only one woth doing!!!!!!!!!! There are many folks that have done it...there is even someone on here that did a 67-72 on the Dodge frame to make it easier. If you try to use the 67-72 frame you will need to beef it up.

10-30-2006, 09:10 PM	#4
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy box it. channelling is when you drop the body down over the frame and probably some X bracing to the crossmembers

10-30-2006, 09:40 PM	#5
TP from Cntl PA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central PA....In the Berg of Nisbet Posts: 790	Re: Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy Frame work depends on what engine you use...............Mine is still stock, so is the front end. I'll probably have to bag it though when I get around to repainting/cab off resto...........It squats some in the front end. I did one, and honestly it wasn't as much work as I had planned, but it isn't completed yet(needs painted and sheet metal replaced), and I hadn't anticipated how underbuilt GM driveline components were. I am running GM from the flywheel back, and honestly, nothing has held up. Acouple trannys, driveshafts, a good # of carrier bearings, and lets not forget u-joints. I am going to a ZF-6spd eventually too, mainly just to get a HD one for a tranny oil cooler. I also am going to to a heavier driveshaft/u-joints and I am going to adapt a heavier carrier too. In the mean time though, I've been patching it up when it breaks and have been running it. IMO, for a knock 'em down and drag 'em out truck engine, you can't beat a Cummins..........Torque out the rear at 1800 rpm! For my next one, I am going to use a 4-53 or 4-71 Screamin' Detroit.........Not to much low end with them, but I want them for the fact you can take a Jake Brake off a larger 6-71 and pop it right on the 4 and have a AWESOME tow rig in both pull power and STOPPING power. I also always thought a 354 Perkins would be a good engine..........Gas engine go with the diesel low end........... __________________ '72 K-20 EFI'ed 250 Inline/4spd stake body, Farm Truck '71 C-20 Cummins Diesel Powered, In storage thanks to $5.00 diesel! '69 3500 GMC 305V-6/4spd, Still under reconstruction.......... Inlines Rule! 6 soldiers standing is better than 8 laying down!!!!!!!!

10-31-2006, 11:35 PM	#7
Pl4yboy Freeeeee Mason... Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: McAlester, Oklahoma Posts: 320	Re: Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy For once I can say... The engine will probably outlast the truck. My family has owned 4 Cummins in the past 9 years and one of them had 500,000 miles on it. Of course he went through about 5-6 clutches and 3 trannies... But the motor held strong the entire time. Slap some cold air and and crank up the fuel and its an even bigger beast.

11-01-2006, 05:25 PM	#9
onetonk5 Cereal Killer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montgomery, Alabama Posts: 639	Re: Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy go back to pirate you vodka smuggling whore

11-01-2006, 06:00 PM	#11
alblogg Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NC Posts: 62	Re: Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy Aaaaaaahhhhh yes a big Chevy 'hoe with a Cummins a hummin'....what a ride. __________________ '07 G6 Wife's car '00 Malibu stock, just a parts getter. '99 Blazer LT Loaded, K&N Filter, Pioneer Super Tuner,Viper '88 K1500 Cheyenne, 5.0, stock, bought new '86 Nissan 720 Trash Truck '69 C/10 step side, 307, all original, second owner, in process of restore. The person who says it cannot be done should not interrurt the person doing it. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. Allen- Paintman Wrenchtwister Broompusher

11-02-2006, 06:54 PM	#12
onetonk5 Cereal Killer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montgomery, Alabama Posts: 639	Re: Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy there was a 3/4 4x 67-72 truck on ebay with a cummins 6 not long ago.....i think a 6bt in a 72 sub ton 4x would be cooool.

11-02-2006, 09:16 PM	#13
Rod Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Eastern - Manitoba Canada, Winnipeg Posts: 4,369	Re: Swapping a Cummins into a 67-72 chevy It would look something like this when done. not mine., just had a pic. Dont have any details on how it was done. Attached Images __________________ Senior active founding member. 70 3/4 ton GMC Suburban 4x4 250/4 spd. 71 1/2 ton Suburban Chevy 4x4, 350/350 72 Chev 1 ton tow truck 402BB w/Holmes 440 wrecker on propane 2005 FLSTSCI Harley Springer 85 FXSB Harley Lowrider 72 Triumph 650 Bonneville 5spd "Poor people don't have hobbies" Quote from wife. Last edited by Rod; 11-02-2006 at 09:21 PM.



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