1970 CST Cummins conversion/5spd manual

[j_cst_10]

Hey guys, I have done a terrible job keeping up with my build thread on this but figured I would start a new one with a couple videos.

I started the project a while ago and recently came back to it with vengeance. I was able to drive the truck a few weeks ago while we were having freakishly good weather in Cleveland.

The truck is not done by any means but it's functioning.

[no1udknow]

how hard was it to fit it in?

[no1udknow]

I found your build thread, Kudos to you for shutting down all the nay-sayers and doing something different than a cookie cutter ls swap. Thing sounds mean, now all you need is some taller gears in the rear end like 3.08's and that thing will idle at 85mph. my buddy had an 05' cummin's chipped and fast fuel, he was putting out about 800 hp, and some ungodly torque, with the 37's he was running, he would get about 26 mpg on the freeway.

[Daddy'O]

Outstanding!

I'm planning a 1956 ford F600 with the 5.9 and this motivates the heck out of me!

[j_cst_10]

Make sure that you click on the pictures if you haven't already, they are videos, not very obvious at first

Yeah I had a set a lower gears in it before I swapped rear ends for my 5 bolt/disc brake conversion I did way before I had any diesel plans. The low gears make the engines run stronger believe it or not because it loads them up quicker, which fuels them, which then builds boost, which then dumps even more fuel in them and builds even more boost!

The hardest thing about fitting the engine was the mock up stage. The shear weight of the engine made it difficult. You absolutely cannot man handle the engine which means every 1/4" move has to be via a jack or hoist. Then supporting the massive engine while I mocked up mounts was another challenge full of jack stands and anything I could shim with along with a few ratchet straps.

It fit really well, it clears the stock steering and the oil pan only hangs down a little past the k member. The brake booster and everything clears and the hood closes with out modification. There is almost nothing left of my transmission tunnel however, I could probably fit down it.

[kamikazekyle05]

I seriously thought about doing this swap. Glad you did it. Do you think the the 12 bolt rear end will hold up? Any sagging of the front coil springs?

[j_cst_10]

Not really sure on the 12 bolt. I upgraded to a forged yolk that accepts the largest U-Joint you can buy for the 12 bolt. I'm hoping that it doesn't grab hard enough to break in the lower gears. I may upgrade to better axles in the near future.

[j_cst_10]

The front coils were the highest spring rate big block lowering springs I could find (made by hotchkiss)