diesel conversion

[fast69]

Could anybody tell me what is involved with putting a cummins in a 69 1/2 ton longbed. I would really appritiate any help you guys can give. Thanks in advance.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

Well, a lot of fabrication and problem solving, but it could and has been done. Have you searched the here for cummins cnversion yet? If not that is where I would look first. After that google the web and see what you find.

Now a 6.2 conversion could be a relatively easy swap but you would not have the "bling" of a Cummins convert. I have been kicking this idea around especially since you can pick a good one up for MUCH cheaper than a Cummins, but with the price of diesel these days, you would have to drive a bunch to make up the cost.

[Tx Firefighter]

A 6bt Cummins weighs 1100 pounds, so suspension will certainly need to be addressed.

A 4bt would be the best choice. It's basicaly a 4 cylinder version of the Cummins used in Dodge pickups.

[TP from Cntl PA]

I agree............A tweaked 4BT would be the ticket for your truck.

I got a 6AT in my 3/4 ton............It is a tad lighter than a 6BT at 950 lbs, but it definitely squats the stock 3/4 ton front end with HD springs.

IMO, their isn't nothing better than a Cummins in one of these. Mine will be going under the knife again to finally ready it for paint, and then I can drive it and look good, right now it looks like crap, but does she run!

[fast69]

Thanks for the help. I am a little diesel illiterate so bear with me. What kind of power can i expect and what were these motors in. Thanks again you guys are great.

[Tx Firefighter]

Don't even worry about horsepower. It's the torque that makes them great. I have a 6bt in my Dodge truck that's right at 1000 ft/lb of torque. Nothing like it. I have real basic mods like injectors, pump and turbo tweaks.

[fast69]

what were these motors in. Thanks again.

[bandit1]

89 and newer dodge 3/4 and tons


Jared

[fast69]

what about the 4bt. What were thay in. thanks

[Tx Firefighter]

GM step vans like FritoLay and Mrs. Bairds delivery trucks. This is the way to go as they already are coupled to a Turbo 400 trans.

[fast69]

Are these also a turbo or a strait diesel. Thanks again for all your help. Its nice to have such knowlegable people to bounce ideas off of.

[HugrOrang71]

Yes, they are turbo.

Jason

[O'l Buck]

I'm thinkin' Duramax!!

[TP from Cntl PA]

Originally Posted by O'l Buck

I'm thinkin' Duramax!!

ROTFLMAO, That is a pretty good joke

A 4BT can be turned up a pretty good amount before things start to fail. Know alot of guys running them in log skidders and other equipment turned way up. About the only bad part about the 4BT IMO is they are pretty noisy and vibrate a bunch. One of the reasons I went with the 6AT, even though it really isn't any better of a engine than the 4BT, its just silky smooth when it runs.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by O'l Buck

I'm thinkin' Duramax!!

I`m thinking I could pump alot of gasoline through a big block with what a Dmax conversion would cost.

[HugrOrang71]

Originally Posted by special-K

I`m thinking I could buy pump alot of gasoline through a big block with what a Dmax conversion would cost.

The Duramax will never have the reliability and longevity of a mechanical Cummins. They are easy to modify for power and are capable of equal, if not better power and torque numbers than the late model electronic engines.

Jason

[Ole Blue 68]

Put some stacks on it if you do the conversion!

http://www.parleysdieselperformance....69/page/845090

Check out the video

[Dano69c10]

Originally Posted by Ole Blue 68

Put some stacks on it if you do the conversion!

http://www.parleysdieselperformance....69/page/845090

Check out the video

I would like to drive that rig down in the OC and shock some of those folk!
Dano

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by O'l Buck

I'm thinkin' Duramax!!

While it would be cool to see a D-Max swapped into an older truck, and I'm sure it has been done before, it would be a heck of a lot more work.

The beauty of the Cummins swap is that they will drop right in with the right parts, and no wiring nightmares (I hate electrical stuff). Google cummins 4bt and there is at least one Yahoo! group about them. Most of the guys there have swapped them into Toyota Land Cruisers.

I have been toying with the idea of a 4bt swap for my truck, and the best way that I've found to get one is to buy a complete running driving ex-delivery stepvan. Word in the grapevine is that you can buy retired units from Frito Lay for a decent price. Then you get everything you need for the conversion, plus a heck of a lot of aluminum body for scrap (haven't checked scrap prices in a while, but anything aluminum is $$$).

One concern I'd have is frame strength. Might want to box it in if you're gonna run a 6bt, and possibly even a 4bt. I only say this because we all know what kind of chintzy crapola compressed rust the General used for frames in these trucks.

EDIT: there is a member here who is swapping a 4bt into a K10. Charlieo is him, iirc.

Good luck.

[fast69]

Thanks to all for the info. I am hoping to get started real soon on this project. I would have posted pics of my ride but I am new to using forums an d I have not quite figured that part out yet. I will tell you that it is a 69 long bed that needs the normal stuff (cabs and rockers) And also maybe a new bed.My plan for the bed is to use stepside fenders and make it a dually. The truck is curenty a half ton but will be boxed and converted into a 3/4 ton. This will be pretty cheap to do as I have a rtted out 73 dually for a done. I will post pics as soon as I find out how. Thanks again for all your help.

[quadiak]

Originally Posted by O'l Buck

I'm thinkin' Duramax!!

I know I guy here in Alberta that sells Duramax conversion kits for 95-99 style gm trucks, the hardest part of the the conversion would be figuring out a way to mount the instrument cluster in the 69'. The instrument cluster is necessary for the electronics system to function. It actually fits quite well into the 95-99 style.

He sells the kits for $15,000.00 cnd which includes everything,Duramax, allison trans, T/case, proper length drive shafts. all electronics and instrument cluster. all items are removed from low mileage units with body damage.

[WLPTMP]

i will have a used duramax soon not sure what to do with it though i have my eye on a 69 panel 2wd i think would be cool

[BarryB]

Hey you would need to still be careful if you put in a 5 spd. They aren't built very strong either.but they can be made strong. I have been told the 6 spds are more up to the challenge. The key here would be to get a good clutch.

[special-K]

As far as suspension goes...Does an`89-up Dodge 2wd really have a beefier suspension than these trucks?

[Terraizer]

The 89-93 dodge trucks suspensions aren't to much beefer then the GM stuff, the 3/4 ton diesels suspension is more like a 1ton on the gassers The first Gen dodge Cummins diesel where just gas trucks stuffed with a diesel, where the 94+ dodges where designed for the diesel. The 4BT can be found in bread vans, some in ford chassis vans and some in Gm chassis vans, the Gm chassised ones used a TH475 (beefer TH400 and SM465 4-speeds, both with Small block GM bolt patterns, the most common 4BT is the CPL858 non intercooled, VE pumped engine, they are rated at 105HP at 2100 or so RPM, but are around 300 torque at 1600 or so RPM, These use the same VE style pump that the 1989-1993 dodges use so there alot of free power with just simple timming and pump tweeks. The inter cooled 4BT's are 120 HP. Hope some of this info helps. To buy one out right they can be pretty pricey, just look around and you can find pretty good deals on them from time to time, i got mine for about $300 complete with alot of new parts (i traded a scout that i bought for $300 for it) Stay away from the genarater and Marine 4BT's and 6BT's they use a different pump thats not suited for auto apps