2wd cummins crossmember

[Lobie]

I have a 87 r20 suburban that I'm putting my 12v in. I've seen lots of the 4x4 guys making new cross members but haven't seen any pic of the 2wd conversion. The cross member in the 2wd is part of the front suspension. I'm wondering if i will have issues with clearance with the crossmember? Anyone have pics of a 2wd cummins swap?
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[andrewmp6]

I haven't seen a 2wd crossmember just motor mounts so i think you can keep the stock one.I would talk to http://www.tndieselpower.com/site/ he sells parts and has done a lot of swaps he would know.

[odee]

I just started driving my cummins swap on a 85 gmc c3500 crew dually a few weeks ago. Didn't have to change the crossmember. I leveled and centered the engine on my prior marks and blocked it into place. I built my mounts to work with the stock gm mounts. Everything afterwards has feel into place. On my ac box I ran into some clearance issue with the turbo because midway thru I ran into a good deal on a bigger turbo with the banks exhaust brake. I used a 89 dodge version 6bt, that having a different style vaccum setup had to eleminate the lower pump housing. The ac wanted to run into the frame rail also. Not a big fan of notching or gouging the frame so I'm on the hunt for the mid mount ac stuff from a ford or frieghtliner. May look over on the 4bt swap site. lots of good info and good guys there. Hope this helps.

[grayharville]

I used the factory 1st gen dodge motor mounts, no crossmember mods, I did have to notch the frame for the ac compressor though.

Have fun!
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[Lobie]

Thanks for the replies. Just wanted to see if the cross member would work as is.
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[Lobie]

Garyharville or odee, you have any pics of your cummins build?
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[grayharville]

Ill start a thread soon, I pulled the big block out on Monday and drove it with the cummins on friday. It was an easy conversion
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[andrewmp6]

On the ac there is two companies that sell a mid mount but its not cheap.On the factory ac box if you got the cash vintage air makes a kit and everything is under the dash the firewall is flat.The only thing for sure you gotta notch is the cross member in front of the engine for room for the balancer.

[Lobie]

Originally Posted by grayharville

Ill start a thread soon, I pulled the big block out on Monday and drove it with the cummins on friday. It was an easy conversion
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This is my second cummins conversion and have some lessons learned. Good to here it only took a week to get driving.
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[Lobie]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

On the ac there is two companies that sell a mid mount but its not cheap.On the factory ac box if you got the cash vintage air makes a kit and everything is under the dash the firewall is flat.The only thing for sure you gotta notch is the cross member in front of the engine for room for the balancer.

It seems everywhere I look people are notching that front member.

I don't want to change ac. Mine currently works good and want to keep it stock. There are a verity of exhaust manifolds that should help. The conversions I've seen don't seen to have a problem with the ac. Most seem to use the 94+ manifold that tilts down and modify the down pipe.
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[Lobie]

Couple more questions. I'm using a 47rh. Did u keep the stock tranny crossmember in the same place and refab the mount? Any pics would be great. If you don't want to post them email me. ksloburk@gmail.com

My plan is to keep the suburban running till I get parts and a plan worked out. I put the cummins in my 79 Cherokee last year and now want it in the suburban and the 454 in the jeep. The jeep is 4wd so it was harder than this should be. Just trying to plan it out.
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[grayharville]

I didn't have to notch the front crossmember, however I will have to use a cowl hood or body lift. I used a 5 speed and had to modify the crossmember but it bolted right into the holes for the auto trans.and I used the dodge ac and notched my frame because im cheap and lazy, im getting a local shop to build me new hoses.
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[grayharville]

Ps. I used a 91 exhaust manifold and stock Dodge downpipe with no issues whatsoever
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[Lobie]

Originally Posted by grayharville

I didn't have to notch the front crossmember, however I will have to use a cowl hood or body lift. I used a 5 speed and had to modify the crossmember but it bolted right into the holes for the auto trans.and I used the dodge ac and notched my frame because im cheap and lazy, im getting a local shop to build me new hoses.
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Why a body lift or cowl? Can the engine sit farther down? What was limiting the engine height?
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[grayharville]

My laziness and not wanting to build custom mounts, I wanted to lift my truck a little anyways so it works out alright from me
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[suxtobu65]

Any updates? I'm looking into a 6bt swap too. I picked up a complete 5.9 12v a few years back. Almost tired of tripping over it, guess I'll swap it in my dually. I don't want to modify my xmember or a body lift. Everywhere I've looked sofar says I have to do one or the other.

88 CC Dually, 2wd. BBC/400