Which Cummins to put into my truck?

[clinebarger]

96,97,98 P-pump 215HP 12 valve with a 03 & up 48RE

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by gmech

I am seriously thinking of putting a Cummins into my 79 1 ton 2wd CCSWB project. I definatly want an automatic trans with overdrive. What I would like is input on what you all like and any other helpful info. Id like to keep away from all the electronics if I can. Plan to use the truck for everyday driving and towing.

Your best bang for your buck would be to purchase a 94 or 95 2wd dodge and use everything to transfer over in to your truck.

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by joe231

Pics of the engine bay, please?!?!

I will get on the other computer and add some.

[grayharville]

Originally Posted by Edahall

"Love the engine, hate the truck".

Exactly why I sold my 1st gen that was very warmed over, I had alot of money in that motor, but hated the truck.

Ive always said, chevy body and a cummins motor is what I want.

Hell, if you go buy a dodge ram with a cummins for 10k$, pull the cummins out, and replace it with a dodge gas motor, what do you have? a 2k$ truck I believe the only reason that dodges sell for so much is the very desirable motor, outside of the drivetrain the trucks are crap.

[Edahall]

If noise is a concern, you'll be a lot happier with an 88-93 VE pump Cummins. It'll save you a few bucks as well since they tend to sell for $1k less. That said, the 88-90 in stock form (non-I/C) make more power than the 91-93. In fact, they made a lot more power than the published figure. They came stock with larger injectors.

[wyattglock]

...the only reason that dodges sell for so much is the very desirable motor, outside of the drivetrain the trucks are crap.


I agree!! That is why I got rid of my 2003 Dodge quad cab 2500. Looked great sitting there, but that freakin Hemi wasn't near enough power to be called a truck motor. Wouldn't even move my camper until it hit 3500 rpm. My 89 Chevy with a 454 moves it when I let my foot off the brake. If it was a diesel, there might have been a better chance of keeping it. But I am still not sure about that.

[grayharville]

Originally Posted by Edahall

If noise is a concern, you'll be a lot happier with an 88-93 VE pump Cummins. It'll save you a few bucks as well since they tend to sell for $1k less. That said, the 88-90 in stock form (non-I/C) make more power than the 91-93. In fact, they made a lot more power than the published figure. They came stock with larger injectors.

How do you feel about an 88-90 motor and add an I/C off a 91-93? You would get the bigger injectors, plus the cooler air charge.. should be more power, If im not mistaken the 88-90 had a different turbo but I dont remember.

My cummins was a 93 with I.P. advanced, denny T pin, governor spring, full fuel 1/2 turn from runaway (LOL) bigger injectors (dont remember what) and a cold air intake, and a stock get-ragged trans.

It would smoke like a freight train and move that 3/4 ton well, but I hated the fact that it was in a dodge

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by grayharville

How do you feel about an 88-90 motor and add an I/C off a 91-93? You would get the bigger injectors, plus the cooler air charge.. should be more power, If im not mistaken the 88-90 had a different turbo but I dont remember.

My cummins was a 93 with I.P. advanced, denny T pin, governor spring, full fuel 1/2 turn from runaway (LOL) bigger injectors (dont remember what) and a cold air intake, and a stock get-ragged trans.

It would smoke like a freight train and move that 3/4 ton well, but I hated the fact that it was in a dodge

Better yet is to use an I/C off the newer body style 7.3 Ford Powerstroke on an 88-90 motor. The Powerstroke I/C is much larger than what was installed on the Dodges.

Not much difference between the turbos but some of the 91.5's had 21 cm (vs. 18 cm) exhaust housing which had lots of turbo lag. An excellent upgrade for these engines are to install an HX35 with 12 cm exhaust housing from a 2nd gen.

[grayharville]

Yes, it is coming back to me, sorry been out of diesels for about a year.

I had heard that the ford i/c was an upgrade, and yes, the 21cm was the crap turbo I was thinking of.

If im not mistaken the 2nd gens ran 2 types of turbos too... the standards had one and the autos were bigger/better? the hx35? hell I dont know.

Its funny how much you forget when you dont let the diesel run through your veins for a little while

[andrewmp6]

The reason cummins swaps are every where because the engines are every where.A lot of stuff used a 12 valve from the big ford trucks the l600 f600 to combines even some military trucks too.A lot of ford guys swap them in too so its not just us chevy guys but a ford is a easier swap tho.the 24 valve p pump is a nice idea but its pricey to do.

[greguw]

I'm just finishing my cummins build , its over the Suburban / Blazer section ... I'm just shy of 2yrs and I worked on the truck just about everyday .
I did a 4x4 , as others said get a donor truck ... I used parts from 1st , 2nd and 3rd gen ... and lots more parts .
I owned a shop over 10yrs ago and forgot how much time these projects can take ... and the money too !

Good luck in your choice .

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Edahall

Better yet is to use an I/C off the newer body style 7.3 Ford Powerstroke on an 88-90 motor. The Powerstroke I/C is much larger than what was installed on the Dodges.

Not much difference between the turbos but some of the 91.5's had 21 cm (vs. 18 cm) exhaust housing which had lots of turbo lag. An excellent upgrade for these engines are to install an HX35 with 12 cm exhaust housing from a 2nd gen.

That's what I did in my 95 F-350. Even though every one raves about the "bigger" injectors on the non ic engines, they're still only 4x.010's. Oh boy. My 90 Non IC 12v has an aluminum dodge common rail intercooler, an HX35W with 12cm exhaust housing, 5x.012 injectors, and an ag VE with no afc. It gets great mileage and tows like a mofo. Doesn't get hot and is dead reliable. Hard to beat it.

[gmech]

Holy sheep sh.t Earl, thats alot of info. My heads kinda swirling around. But thanks none the less. Know if I were to start with say an earlier ve engine I am able to upgrade to a p-pump, injectors, I.C. etc,etc if I feel the need to. If I understand correctely that would be a yes. Or will it be better off $ wise starting with one that allready has it. I doubt I'll need an a 1000hp monster, but I still want somthing that tows good and maybe sets me back in the seat abit too. Oh and is still is decent on fuel also. Just think if we were talking about a gas engine I could never think of getting that last request.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by gmech

Holy sheep sh.t Earl, thats alot of info. My heads kinda swirling around. But thanks none the less. Know if I were to start with say an earlier ve engine I am able to upgrade to a p-pump, injectors, I.C. etc,etc if I feel the need to. If I understand correctely that would be a yes. Or will it be better off $ wise starting with one that allready has it. I doubt I'll need an a 1000hp monster, but I still want somthing that tows good and maybe sets me back in the seat abit too. Oh and is still is decent on fuel also. Just think if we were talking about a gas engine I could never think of getting that last request.

Actually, yes the non IC engines have the largest bowl available in the 12v dodge cummins engines so they are ideal for that. I run these pistons in many high power trucks. So, other than needing the typical p-pump swap stuff including p-pump injectors, you'd be good to go!

[gmech]

Oh and one other thing I thought about is that I put 4:10 gears in my 14 bolt. I plan on running a taller tire, atleast a 32". Something like 235/85/16 old man tall skinny types. But that still puts me up there in the higher rpm ranges with an od automatic. 1959/2260 at 65 and 75 mph. So I'll probably need to do a gear swap???

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by gmech

Oh and one other thing I thought about is that I put 4:10 gears in my 14 bolt. I plan on running a taller tire, atleast a 32". Something like 235/85/16 old man tall skinny types. But that still puts me up there in the higher rpm ranges with an od automatic. 1959/2260 at 65 and 75 mph. So I'll probably need to do a gear swap???

You will want 3:54 or 3:73's. Don't worry about them being too tall as they don't even bother them. My F-350 has 3:55's with 285's. My bro's 92 F-350 has 4.10's and 35's, a 96 12v, and a NV4500. It runs 2000@75mph. In 4th which is 1:1 it runs 60mph at 2000 rpms.

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by gmech

Holy sheep sh.t Earl, thats alot of info. My heads kinda swirling around. But thanks none the less. Know if I were to start with say an earlier ve engine I am able to upgrade to a p-pump, injectors, I.C. etc,etc if I feel the need to. If I understand correctely that would be a yes. Or will it be better off $ wise starting with one that allready has it. I doubt I'll need an a 1000hp monster, but I still want somthing that tows good and maybe sets me back in the seat abit too. Oh and is still is decent on fuel also. Just think if we were talking about a gas engine I could never think of getting that last request.

VE pump is good for about 450 hp while the P-pump is good for over 1000 hp on straight diesel fuel. However, you still can go more than that with a VE pump with the addition of some Nitrous or propane. Both engines pull well. At the lower RPM's that are used for towing, there's not going to be much difference.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

You will want 3:54 or 3:73's. Don't worry about them being too tall as they don't even bother them. My F-350 has 3:55's with 285's. My bro's 92 F-350 has 4.10's and 35's, a 96 12v, and a NV4500. It runs 2000@75mph. In 4th which is 1:1 it runs 60mph at 2000 rpms.

thats lower rpm than my 04 runs stock it runs 2100 at 70.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

Just curious - why not just by a RAM truck with a Cummins already installed?

That's no fun!

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Cause who wants a dang dudge? I work on them all the time and they are rattle traps. Great power train and drive train, crap body!

HEY!!!! mine resembles that remark!!!