cummins engine swap in my 72 1ton crewcab

[72CREWCAB]

Hi all! Looking to chat with anyone who has or knows anyone who has swapped a 5.9 Cummins into a 67-72 chev truck.Also wrapping up completion on my 72 1ton 3door dually p/u and would like to know of any-one else who has built one. I'll try to post some construction pics as soon as i get my @#$**%!! scanner working!

[bgbchevy]

I haven't done it in real life yet, all I have is this computerized version of my future truck...

Good luck, I would love to see pics!

[slam33]

It's a tight fit and a lot of fab work to get it in. Make sure you get ALL the electrical for the motor and trans. I did a mock fit about a yr. ago and decided to save the motor/trans for another day. The main problem was the rad support or the firewall were in the way and need to be moved 4 inches. The tunnel needs some room too.

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71 basic C-10 350. The only option is the rust.No nothing on it, but thats all about to change. <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410

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[Chevyman69]

My neighbor did it in a 79? 1 ton 4X4, it has an 86 cab and clip but I think the truck was a 79 to start with. It is similar to the 67-72's, there are differences but most of what he did would be the same. He had the cab off and he set the motor and tranny down to see where the mounts would have to be and what crossmembers needed to be built or modified. Made his own engine mounts and tranny X member. He actually notched the oil pan so he could make the engine sit lower in the engine bay, for him its easier to service, he is a shorter guy. He took a whole donor Dodge truck but ended up modifying and fabbing some brackets for the accessories like the PS, A/C and so forth. He also modified the firewall a bit( some denting here and there, but it fit fairly well. The 67-72 body may require more fab work, however a factory BB or 4 speed or 4X4 cab would be better because of the higher trans tunnel. Overall it wasn't to terrible but it takes time and patience, as well as a little trial and error, just like anything else.

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69 CST 10, 402, steel crank, heavy rods, Federal Mogul Forged Pistons, 9.9:1 compression, polished ported 781 heads 2.19/1.88 manley stainless valves, Crane Powermax Hydraulic roller 288/296 and .587,.610 lift, hardened pushrods, Crane Roller Rockers, Weiand Action Plus, 750CFM Rochester QJET, MSD HEI, MSD 8MM Wires, Dynomax Ceramic coated headers, should be about 500 H.P. 700R4 2500 stall, pretty nasty shift kit, 373 Auburn Pro Series Posi, buckets/console air/tilt/tach 4wheel discs

Daily Driver: 92 Chev Reg Cab LWB Silverado 4x4, loaded, 350 Accel filter/cap/rotor/coil/AC Delco wires/AC Delco RapidFire plugs, Edelbrock intake and headers, 180 degree thermostat, Hypertech Thermomaster Chip, true duals 700R4 with B@M Shift Kit for now!




[This message has been edited by Chevyman69 (edited May 08, 2002).]

[Baradium]

Don't forget that with the 5.9 cummins you have to take into account it's extraordinary weight (more than twice that of a 350 IIRC, two or three hundred pounds more than a big block I believe). You also need to remember that it has a ton of torque and you *will* need to reinforce the frame. It twists the frames and bends mounts in the trucks it comes in. The 6BT-5.9 is a very nice motor, but it is heavy and you have to build VERY strong. It's also a low rpm motor, you can't drive it like a car, nice easy accelerations and a constant rpm is what the motor likes. Look into the 4BT.

[Hart_Rod]

Where are the construction pics?

[HotRod71]

I have an 03 Dodge with the 5.9. It redlines at 3200 rpm. I shift it at 2k and in 5th she runs about 21-2200 at 70. It REALLY torques on the frame if you get on it hard so they are right about really strengthening the frame.

[franks72]

I went to the superchevy show friday at maplegrove pa. Got a lot of parts I needed and saw a 69-72 4x4 orange with a cummings in it in the swapmeat side hooked to a car trailer.

[TP from Cntl PA]

For a 5.9 you'll DEFINITELY need to do alot of suspension work to a 4x2 front end. It is probably the largest reason I didn't go with a 5.9, instead using a smaller 6 from Cummins, and its STILL right on the limits of the stock suspension even with the HD front springs. I talked with acouple guys that put Detroits and even Perkins in these trucks in the 70's, and they told me they got around it by mounting a leaf spring(Probably using a helper spring from a coil rear end) to take so of the weight. I was looking into air bagging the front end, but IMO its still alot of weight for the a-arms/mounting points. My next coversion is a 4x4, so I can add a few extra spring packs to get around this problem with little difficulty.

Like the others have said, you'll have clearance issues with the 5.9. Even with my little 6, its still tight between the front of the engine and the radiator, I am running a pusher fan between the grill and the radiator.

Go with an old mechanical injected 12V............You won't regret it!

Another word from my experience, swap the whole drivetrain in from a Dodge..........engine, clutch, trans, and driveline............POS GM's offerings for even BBC applications won't hold up.