1972 Chevy Suburban C10 Cummins Swap

[Dieselwrencher]

This is going to be the build thread for my wife's 1972 C10 suburban. Leon (LockDoc) found this for us last year (2020) and we were able to get it purchased. It is rusty but luckily it's not completely hashed. The original 402 was locked up and I have already removed the 402/TH400. It is getting a spark plug delete, marker light delete, trim delete, bumper delete, and 72 front clip delete. My wife wants this to not look like a truck, in her words. I have a hard time with that because, well, it is a truck and I really like the 72 grill.

The kids have already been helping on this unit. They got the task of starting the clean out. The boys have been on degrease duty too.

[Dieselwrencher]

The front clip is off and the new to it powerplant installation has begun. I had to remove the 72 only BBC RH heat shield to allow the bell housing to get down far enough. I was surprised how much of the floors were still solid.

[Dieselwrencher]

Here the engine is getting close to where I'd like it to be. The factory brake booster setup has to go though. This will be getting hydraboost now. The injection pump is hitting the booster and I still need to go back about another inch so the factory vacuum booster is out.

There is a portion of the patch panel collection we have gotten so far. How crazy is it right now? Stuff I never thought would be out of stock and on back order is crazy!

[Dieselwrencher]

This was done last spring. I forgot to post a thread in here on it.

I've gotten the engine and trans bolted in. I just have to drill new holes for the trans cross member and I will have to move the hoses going back to the rear hvac. These hoses will be replaced anyway.

I'm waiting on parts to be able to mount the turbos. Until then I need to get the 67 front clip on and start modifying the core support because I'm going to use a 2nd gen dodge radiator and intercooler. I'm also going with hydra boost. I need to decide if I will make an adapter bracket or source one.

[Dieselwrencher]

I've got to remove the stock BBC exhaust hangers. More than likely I'll run 4" exhaust to possibly dual 3" tail pipes behind the back tires. I'm planning on cutting the control arm mount cross member and putting a piece of 5" tube in there to give a place for the 4" to pass through.

I will take the drive shaft to the drive line shop next week. Get the front shaft shortened, have spicer non greaseable u joints installed and a new carrier bearing.

The trans has a double deep pan for extra fluid capacity and it doesn't hang too far down luckily. This burb will more than likely only get a 3" drop and that will be it. It needs to be driven on bad roads and weird approach angles.

[Dieselwrencher]

This year has been full of a lot of surprises which have taken my time away from this project. We were hoping to get it done this year but it will be pushed back to spring. Parts shortages along with money shortages don't help.

Since this is Momma's rig, we couldn't leave it stock. It is getting a second spinning muffler. I also wanted to use the Dodge intercooler and radiator in this one. I chopped up the rusty 67/68 radiator support and grafted in the 2nd gen dodge one. I wanted the extra cooling capacity and it makes it a lot easier if you can go to any parts store and gets parts if we ever need to especially on a road trip.

[Dieselwrencher]

The green hood is just a mock up hood. I have since gotten a nicer one from Leon. I'm sure glad he has a lot of parts for these trucks. It's going to be a bad deal when he's out of them.

The radiator hoses went right on without any mods. The Cold side intercooler pipe worked as well. I'll have to modify the hot side since the addition of the second muffler. I have ordered a reman steering box with the flare/o ring type fittings so I can run the dodge pressure hose. One more part that usually would need modified.

I need to figure out the hydra boost next. I also have to decide if I want a shift cable for the transmission or a linkage. I have a tilt column I need to get put in this so I can work on that.

My son Colt was helping clean the interior out. Someday it will be chop cut rebuild time for the body. That's probably the last stuff I've done to it for a while. I've been swamped with helping my Dad on hos place, work, and other work.

[diesel burner]

Looks good Ryan, I'm along for the ride.... I'm surprised that your slant hood cleared the radiator cap.... your radiator must be mounted lower than mine.
I'm curious about what you plan to do for inner fenders.... I didn't use the stock dodge lower hose because of inner fender clearance. I used a cold side aftercooler hose on the hot side because the sharper angle required less inner fender trimming. I still need to build patches for the holes I cut to clear aftercooler

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm surprised the radiator cap clears too. It sure didn't look like it was going to before I put the hood on and shut it. I plan to use stock inner fenders just modify them. I had to modify them on my orange truck because of the piping too. I hope to keep the piping back farther so a guy can access the oil filter without a fight. I have to remove the air inlet pipe from my excursion to get to the oil filter and then you have to pull the filter down behind the engine cross member to get it out thanks to the ac line and cac piping. On my orange truck I can spin the oil filter off from the bottom with my blue point 3 jaw filter tool and a long extension. It is just a pita to do. I do have some oil filter relocator set ups Ryanroo made up that I probably should use but ya know.

[gmikkels]

Another Awesome build from Ryan!!!

[gmikkels]

Ryan,
On my hood latch,I removed the coil spring, and used a brake return spring to pull the latch forward, this gave me about a 1/2 inch of much needed clearance.
Gene

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by gmikkels

Ryan,
On my hood latch,I removed the coil spring, and used a brake return spring to pull the latch forward, this gave me about a 1/2 inch of much needed clearance.
Gene

Nice and great idea. Where's your build thread?

[gmikkels]

Five inch square tubing will work great for your crossmember

[dwntwn]

Awesome! Looking forward to seeing how this come out, and I'm stoked to see a new build on here. (I've been slowly working on one, will start a thread too)

[gmikkels]

Hello Ryan,
How is the Sub coming along?
Gene

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by gmikkels

Hello Ryan,
How is the Sub coming along?
Gene

Unfortunately no real progress lately. I've been collecting parts for it but had no room in the garage and some things had to go to storage.