Looking for a cummins donor vehicle for 2500hd

[Vintage Windmills]

Thinking about an engine swap project for the fun of it. Considering pulling the 6.0 out of my 2500hd. Looking for perfomance similar to a pre 05 Dmax truck, nothing crazy. Primary goal is reliability and mileage. Not looking to spend a fortune here since I don't need crazy power.

I don't know much at all about cummins so help me find a good donor vehicle. I prefer to get a vehicle since I would know how well it runs.

Is there a year of engine I should look for that would be easier to swap into and make work with the body electronics on the chevy?

How low of miles should I look for? I found a rusty late 90's 2500 ram 4x4 in a neighboring state with 220k for $3500, is this a good deal? I want something with low enough miles that a rebuild would not be desired. Thanks,

Jud

[Vintage Windmills]

28 views and no thoughts?

[ryanroo]

I think it would be cool to have a 6bt in on of those era trucks. i thought about it when i had my 04. but its gonna be a project. as for mileage, id say lower the better. a VP engine with that many miles could be looking to toss an IP if it hasnt already. a good running 12v with that wouldnt scare me as much. not to mention, a lot of the early ISB engines came with 53 blocks and they are known to have cracking issues. if it made it 224k with no crack though, i would not be worried about it.

as for fitment, i have no idea. i saw one truck with a cummins swap when i was poking around thinking about it for mine. it was a 2wd but it fit fine. not sure what hurdles you would be looking at makingg the 4wd work. i also wonder about guages and dash lights. that may be an issue or may not be. i dont know how interconnected the GM BCM and ECM are for that truck
Ryan

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm sure it can be done but the biggest thing that will be the catch is always cost. That 12v with 22k on it should be fine for a long time as long as it saw some regular maintenance.

[Vintage Windmills]

Here's a couple I am considering. I think the 98 is free from the "53" block issue since its a 12v? The older one isn't Ppumped so i don't think its as desirable but the price is tempting. I like the lower milage, what do you guys think of these? If they had nv4500's it would be a no brainer. Is it atypical that the turbo had to be rebuilt before 148k?


http://stcloud.craigslist.org/cto/3678068841.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...692780391.html

[Vintage Windmills]

Looks like the 92 sold already. It was posted less than 24 hours ago! It had 157k and was an intercooled 2wd auto dually that reportedly ran well and had maintenance done for $2700. Didn't look too rusty either.

[ryanroo]

the 98 12vs sometimes had 53 blocks, but ive never heard of a 12v block cracking. the turbo thing i really dont know.

ryan

[Dieselwrencher]

That 98 would be a good deal. Use the drive train, sell the body and wiring to a dodge lover!

[Ackattack]

I bought my donor vehicle as a running and driving 94 3/4t dodge. I was specifically looking for a p-pumped 12V 4x4 5 speed and that's what I got. I had to pay a little more (probably because of the 5 speed 4x4) compared to other cummins powered trucks. I drove it as a dodge truck for about 2 months (hell, I was able to get the A/C to work too)

Can it be done? Sure, but honestly its a lot of work, and when that style of truck is out there with a duramax, I think I'd just get one of those.

Now my truck (a 97) wasn't available with a duramax, and the 6.5L didn't meet my "needs". Reliability, mileage, and decent power are also my priorities, so that's why I went with the 12V.

My build incorporated 3 major items: cummins swap, cutting it down from a lwb dually into a swb srw, and swapping in a solid front axle (it was a 2wd). The combination of the 3 things made it a lot of work. If you were just to swap in the cummins, it wouldn't be terribly hard.

One thing, I hate the chevy electronic transfer case. I have one in my suburban and I've have had quite a few issues with it. (replaced the transfer case, the switch, and finally the motor). It also seems like in my '05 CCSB I had a minor issue or two with it also.

As for the guages, I think the temp and oil pressure sending units can can swap over onto the cummins. The tach and speedo will be a little tougher. I'm working on my tach now and havent gotten to the speedo. That would be an advantage (if its even possible) of running the GM transfer case, since the speedo comes off of it. My plan is to use the speed sensor coming off the Dana 80 that was originally for the ABS.

Good luck!

[6BT 56]

This sounds good to me. I have a 02 burb 2500 4X4 that I'd like to do this to as well.

Have you done much to see if it actually fits? Is your truck 4X4 My understanding is that they dont clear the oil pan very well. I was thinking of a d max swap but i thought it was to much $$$. I even considdered a older 6.5. I am well aware that they are not hot rods but this is just a family hauler. i figured if i used this eng with a standalone controller for my 4L80 this would make the swap easy. Unless anyone can say tell me the cummins will actually fit.

[Vintage Windmills]

6BT, it will fit but I'm not sure what all is needed for mods. There is a youtube video of one in texas. I have tried contacting him to see how he did the intrument cluster but he hasn't responded. How much $ is the bellhousing and adapters that are needed to bolt up to the 4l80e?

[6BT 56]

Is yours 4X4? I think you can get the stuff to bolt the cummins to the 4l80 for abt $1200. Dont quote me on that tho. It would be nice to retain the stock trans . It wont hold stupid amouts of power but it would make some things simpler. I dont know anything abt dodge autos. Maby one can be used and mate up with the gm t/c ?

I know where I can buy a 1 ton 4x4 chev d max for $5000. it needs injectors , the allison is getting weak. That make it a $7500 and up truck just to get the usable parts. Makes for a expensive swap. but the ability to use all the electrical was appealing

[6BT 56]

The main thing I keep thinking is in this market my burb is worth abt $3000. If i put $ 8000 ish into a swap it sure wouldent be worth even close to $10,000 or more. I would have to want to keep this truck around forever to make it worth it.

[Vintage Windmills]

I wouldn't worry about the value as long as your body and chassis is good and you plan to keep it a long time. Look at what it would cost to purchase a diesel rig with similar miles and you may be saving money by just making your own.

Mine is a 4x4 and so is the one in texas in the video I was talking about.

What do you all think of this one? http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3745821978.html I could sell the nv4500 or run it and I could sell the Dana 60 front for close to 1000, body for 1000, and scrap the rest for a few hundred, so I'd be out less than $ 6k right?
I think I'm stuck on finding one with less than 140,000 miles since I just can't justify all the work and expense for something with way more miles than my truck has (80,000). Yes I know the Cummins will run to 400k but it just doesn't sound appealing at more than 140k

[6BT 56]

Thro up the link for that cummins 2500 hd swap youtube vid if you have a moment . i'd like to see it .

[ryanroo]

That will have a getrag 5-speed. you will be able to sell it i would think, but i doubt youll pull the same kind of money as a NV4500.

[6BT 56]

I just took a peek. That thig is a gem compared to all our canadian rust buckets. I think you would have a hard time getting $1000 for a dually front dana 60. I'd love the trans if it were closer tho !

[Dieselwrencher]

I'd bet you'd get closer to $550-$650 for that front. I'd bet you get good money out of the getrag to first gen guys. That truck is almost too nice to part out.

[Vintage Windmills]

I checked out this truck and made a down payment last night, price was too good to pass up. Well I'm not sure this fits the bill for my 2500hd (higher miles than I'd like and not intercooled) but I think I will put it in a 67-72. I won't breathe easy til I get it home though. He won't sell with the nv4500 in it, (I guess somebody swapped in, 94 was the 1st year if I recall correctly). Obviously had some work done, when they made a dually and added box.



Its a 1st gen non IC W250 with I hope a D60 and not a D61. Either way, price was right. Will probably put in this truck at some point http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590642

Now I need to research what all I need to connect it up to the SM465....

[Dieselwrencher]

Was it a manual truck from the factory? If so it should be a D60 front. The auto trucks with no OD had the D61's with 3.07 gears front and back.

[Vintage Windmills]

Not sure if auto or manual, but I think manual since it has no shifter on column and trans tunnel didn't look hacked. Apparently, the Vin won't tell whether auto or manual. He said it was geared fast, that's why I wonder.

[Dieselwrencher]

It still could have 3.55's if it is a manual truck. If not, you can get different gears other than 3.07 for a D61 now. So you should be fine either way.

[6BT 56]

What is a d 61 ? Never even heard of one before .

[Dieselwrencher]

It's the same physical size as a D60 but the ring gear is a tad smaller and so is the inside of the housing. It's an odd ball deal and as far as I know were only offered in dodge diesel trucks 88-91.5 before an OD auto tranny was offered.

[ryanroo]

the 71 were dodge only as far as know. but there were some 61s in ford vans too. i actually think they are kind of cool options to use in conjunction with a non OD trans or a an OD tranny and with shorter tires.