Duramax

[STOCKISH]

Tossing around the idea of a turned up Duramax/Allison (2wd) swap into my 86. Just wondering your thoughts. Anyone done it on here that can shed some light on the subject? Thanks ahead of time.

[JohnC]

It would be killer in that light of a truck. I haven't seen one done yet. I say go for it.

[1lowdiesel]

there are a few 67-72s and a couple 73-87s that have done it before. it's not that bad actually. build new motor and trans mounts. BB center hump and the trans should clear the floor. stripped harness w/ OBD port and hydro boost.

do it!!!

go for an lly or lbz. they have stronger bottom ends and have more power out of the box.

what would be your plans as far as "tuned up"

[STOCKISH]

I think it would be sick. I have a 02 crew cab 2wd Duramax truck I could tear down and use for a donor but it is VERY nice still. However, 400hp and 850lb. of torque with a light tune would be pretty cool in a standard cab, short bed truck.

[JohnC]

Yeah it would be sweet, but I don't know if I would strip your 02 down to do it. You may check around and see if you could get one out of a wrecked truck or something.

[menace121978]

thats a good one... tear apart a new truck to build up an old one! i knew i liked you for a reason!!

just think the money you could get out of the new one in parts would easily cover the costs of the transplant. DO IT!!

[menace121978]

btw ive even thought about doing it with the goat!! still owe way too much though....

[steemin_ehman]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

Tossing around the idea of a turned up Duramax/Allison (2wd) swap into my 86. Just wondering your thoughts. Anyone done it on here that can shed some light on the subject? Thanks ahead of time.

im seriously considering this swap as well, although if you increase your power/torque to the amount a duramax can put out, you may have to do some frame stiffening. ...our 1/2 ton frames were never designed for that amount of torque. However, it may handle it... it's definately worth looking into. Also, if you go with the allison combo, you need the 3/4, or 1-ton trans hump in the cab to clear, but if you build up a mean 4l80e or turbo 400, the duramax still bolts right up, and you have no cab mods. I've been in contact with a super nice guy named Loonie who's doing the swap in his '82 4x4. check out his build so far! http://www.lonniesperformance.com/82chevyduramax.htm

i invited him to check out 67-72chevytrucks, so hopefully he makes an appearance!

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

I have only heard of it being done never seen it before. Defiantly would be killer though. I would seriously check around for a wrecked truck first to pull the motor and tranny out of.

[STOCKISH]

I have a good buddy who ownes a trans shop so a built 4l80 is no problem. I didn't know it would bolt up. Thanks for the info. I am not sure I want to strip my DD Duramax truck to do the swap but I love that Duramax and would really like one in my 86. As far as "turned up" I wouldn't do much, exhaust, tuner, etc. Man, this really has my mind wandering. I am sitting here looking at my DD truck just thinking away.

[STOCKISH]

I would also like to know how far the oil pan hangs down. My truck is low and I'd hate to snatch that oil pan off running down the highway.

[steemin_ehman]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

I would also like to know how far the oil pan hangs down. My truck is low and I'd hate to snatch that oil pan off running down the highway.

lol thats also something i'd like to know.. i do know the physical size of the duramax block is no bigger than a big-block chevy, and weighs not much more. (approx. 830lbs) i dont think you'd run into oil-pan issues, or anymore than you would with a 454 or 502. however, if you do decide to go with a 4l80, go with an electronic version so you can program shift points. a duramax wont handle much more than 4500 rpm's without extensive mods, and a 4l80 needs to be programmed to ensure that the engine will not rev past that @ full throttle.

all said and done, its almost just easier to modify the trans hump and go with the allison (and its only an extra 34lbs).

comparison:
Duramax (2006+) = 360hp, 650ft-lb, weighs 836 lbs---------6.0 gas = 345hp, 380 ft-lb, weighs 600lbs.

Allison = pre-programmed shift points/cpu, bullet-proof design, but big size means trans-hump modifications, dry weight = 330lbs------------4l80e = smaller size, but more work to build and program to handle torque/rpm limitations, dry weight = 296lbs

[JohnC]

This is sounding pretty convincing man. I say go for it!!!

[1lowdiesel]

you can get the 4l80e to hold just as much power as the allison. out of the box the allison is really a pos imo. a ford 5r110 is hands down the strongest of the big three trannies.

w/ a good rebuild the allison will hold the power and be great for a DD. also it would be much easier to just find that combo than trying to do the dmax 4l80e combo.

here is a pic of a 70 that PPE did. pan clearance will not be an issue for you.




i'm actually in the process of putting a 12v cummins into a rcsb 1500 2wd that's bagged and bodydropped. so i hear where you're coming from on the clearance thing lol.

[STOCKISH]

Sounding pretty convincing for sure. BUT, the Duramax is looking DAMN expensive. Maybe a turbo 6.0??? I really want that Duramax.

[1lowdiesel]

yea the dmax is a expensive swap. typical price for the complete drivetrain and harness is usually upwards of 6-8k all depending on where you get it from.

and that's for 100% stock parts.

then another 3-4k for a built trans. $900 for EFI live and up and up from there.

hey you can always do the cummins swap w/ a twin set up and get 23mpg doing it . i'm cheap (well poor) so that's what i'm doin.

[LiveAnimals]

I thinks its a great idea, and I'm even interested in doing something like that. I dought I ever will. I definetly would not strip a newer truck for it, I would hunt down a swap from a yard, or private. A buddy of mine is thinking of doin a cummins/6-speed swap in his 74 4WD, way later down the road. You dont have to go balls out like the PMR Twin Turbo BIO Impala, bad a$$ btw, something simple would be sweet.

[sailed2japan]

I just stumbled upon this thread and figured I would add some info for the next guy. GM put duramax/4l80e combos in the Express and Savana cut-awys and cargo vans.