Cummins Swap - What is involved?

[UPNADM]

Greetings,

For anyone who has not viewed my build thread, I am converting a 1981 Chevrolet C50 to a dually pickup.

I am wrapping up most of my body work and it should be street able soon. It's currently factory powered by a healthy 350 and a 465 trans. The rear drive is a 5:91 or somewhere in that vicinity. At 50 mph it is running around 3500 RPM.

It's almost done now and I am looking forward to driving it around before it snows... Once the snow comes its parked for the winter.

With all this in mind, throughout the build I have always thought I had more than enough room for a 12 valve Cummins. As for fabricating motor mounts and that jazz I think between myself and my friends (who majority are welder/fabricators) could handle this part with relative ease.

There are a few 12 valve trucks in my area with decent mileage for reasonable costs. I am thinking this is the way to go.

My question is, is there anything major involved in wiring this engine to work for me?

Attached are a few pictures of my engine bay.

Thanks in advance for your insight...

[jimbonice]

Lots of info online about Cummins swaps. Your truck may have had it as an option. The first and second generation 5.9's have mechanical pumps are essentially one wire hook ups. They don't turn the rpm of a gas engine so count on sourcing a new rear end with much higher gears.
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[kwin]

Thats funny! I have been following your build and I have been thinking I want one of these with cummins, and I have a cummins sitting.
It would be fantastic in this truck! DO IT!

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by UPNADM

Greetings,


I am wrapping up most of my body work and it should be street able soon. It's currently factory powered by a healthy 350 and a 465 trans. The rear drive is a 5:91 or somewhere in that vicinity. At 50 mph it is running around 3500 RPM.

That'll be a problem with a Cummins installation. They're factory governed at around 2200 rpms. Without an O/D, you're probably going to need a rear end of about 3.42 - 3.73. What's size tires are you going to be using?

[UPNADM]

Originally Posted by Edahall

That'll be a problem with a Cummins installation. They're factory governed at around 2200 rpms. Without an O/D, you're probably going to need a rear end of about 3.42 - 3.73. What's size tires are you going to be using?

I agree with you 100%, with that kind of ratio (and I am told they are available, just really need to look), the 350/4 speed would be much more streetable.

Perhaps I need to find a new pumpkin first before I consider a repower...

[andrewmp6]

On the wiring http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/94...evy-truck.html If you want to keep it a stick a know the dodges used 5 and 6 speeds depending the year that can be easy to do.Stuff like a tach kit http://www.destroked.com/parts.php has and http://www.autoworldmt.com/Page_11.html has a few pieces you might use.

[UPNADM]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

On the wiring http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/94...evy-truck.html If you want to keep it a stick a know the dodges used 5 and 6 speeds depending the year that can be easy to do.Stuff like a tach kit http://www.destroked.com/parts.php has and http://www.autoworldmt.com/Page_11.html has a few pieces you might use.

Thank you for your post, I have looked at those links, looks very doable.