c20 needs help!!!!

[walmer1968]

hey! new ta the fourms so dont really know how anything works. im looking some help with my biuld i have a 1968 c20 i will not down grade stuff to c10 parts i use it as a truck and love my 8 lug. so here is my issue i have a strong running 350. but i dont like the sbc or bbc chevys unles 348/409 or the 427 so short of doing that i was looking to do another motor tranny swap i still have my I6 292 but im not sure if i want biuld that or go diesel. im looking to do something crazy different. a one off truck but not break my bank. (im 18 and dont have too much money but im pretty well set) i wanta go manual but i mite to an auto if the price is right. I am going to biuld the motor. ive thought bout doing a 5.3 w/efi but all the wires kinda scared me off so ive been doing parts lists for a 292 probly turboed but i think i wanta go diesel. so can anyone help has anyone played with the 6.2 or 6.5? the truck is not a dd but if it is possable i would make it one. im thinking if its gas it;; be a friday night get in trouble truck if diesel maybe a dd

[eagleuh1]

I like mine with gas. 5.3 that is.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

If you want a Diesel and something different drop in a 3-53 or 4-53 Detroit Diesel.

Bill

[midniteblues]

If you want something differnt keep the big six and save all that $$$ from a swap into building it up that 292 will put out some very impressive torque and have a unique sound. after all they put them in big dump trucks and such for a reason

[hugger6933]

welcome to the site . there is a wealth of help and infromation on here. now you are so excited that you are all over the place about your build so calm down a notch and think about the skill levels you have and the difficulty levels of what you want to do. Nothing can kill a project faster than jumping in and biting off more than you can chew or start taking something apart and having fun on teardown[cause it is fun] and then realize you have a pair of framerails and don't know how you got there or worse yet how to get back.
Then after a while of walking around piles of parts in the shop you get tired of that then get somebody to come make an offer that can put it back together[probably to flip witch is ok] Ok off my soapbox now. You said you wanted one of a kind but not a bank buster. Those don't exsist anymore. it is so hard to do there are so many trucks out there it is a been there done that thing.But you can add you personal flair to it that is different and cost effective. but you need to decide on a drivetrain first train before anything else make it SAFE to drive like balljoints, brakes, steering, tie rods, u-joints and such. Nobody wants or needs to drive a truck that is a hazzard to you or us. I would suggest that if the six in there is running good maybe consider going to TBI with it and maybe a turbo and a cam . Big gains can be made there. Figure out how your gonna drive it if every day plan your build that way, if weekends plan accordingly the two can be the same build but not always. your doing the best thing first. read a LOT and ask a lot of questions. We will help you get through it. There are no stupid questions, just ones that hav'nt beenasked yet. Jim

[walmer1968]

has anyone done a 6.5 chevy diesel swap!?! what is a good manual tranny to mated to it?

[hugger6933]

6.4 were a good motor had a ton of problems with the injection pumps in 1994 so stay away from that model. The black label pumps were supposed to have fixed the prolem but I had black label s green blue red as well if I recall and it took a very long time to get that thing running right. I got one used and it did quit on me in my driveway after another dealer had put a pump on it and the truck had 99,900 miles sitting in my driveway. I had it hauled to a big dealer in Memphis TN and they put in a crate motor 8 new injectors and plugs[glow not spark] a rebuilt turbo and some other stuff plus another updated pump. They did this and it was covered under the 100k warranty and the deductable was something like 350. I was a very happy customer, So was the guy I sold the truck to a couple of days lateras of course I had bought it to sell. The best in the trans dept for it in the man will be a NV4500. and cheaper auto will be a t400 or a more costly 4l80e. Jim

[hugger6933]

Sorry hit the wrong key it is a 6.5 t instead of a 6.4 so ya'll can stop the warmups for the jumping now. No need to jump on me. Jim

[walmer1968]

everyone i talk to loves them or hates them with a passion so i dont think in going for that
so back to the drawing board on a drivetrain. oh is anyone interested in a 350 message me for details. im pretty sure i wamta go diesel so any ideas? i would do a old 12v but its costy. a;; the wiring scared me on the 5.3 has anyone done it was is a pain?

[eagleuh1]

5.3 is easy enough. Plenty of people have done it, including myself, you'll get plenty of help and pointers. jim

[walmer1968]

jim youve done it with the factory efi and all the factory wiring and my issue is i want my ecm in the cab not under the hood

[walmer1968]

so update i close to go with a 6bt cummins and 5 or 6speed. i dont have the motor yet so cant star a biuld thread but once i start getting parts i will put one up.
i just had to put some money in my dd and my wheeler so it mite be after christmas for the build. but stay tooned!! and also in looking to sell my 350 in the truck now so feel free to ask me bout it plz it needs gone.