I been reading from this forum for some time now and learned many valuable tips about this cummins engines, I plan to swap the one on My IDI for one of this en the future and the problem for Me is to find a good engine to replace the one on My truck (excellent condition) but I can not decide if I would buy a used engine that I can hear running but don't know how long it would last (I can't trust what someone else did before Me), or buy a core engine and build Myself one that will last Me much longer. Thanks to a member here I found one that could be a good candidate for rebuild.

What do You guys think, buy a running engine that may/may not need work or buy a core and be sure?

how much does it cost to rebuild this engines for the home mechanic? Is there any kits available? or am I better off buying a rebuild/remanufactured?

As I said the engine on My truck runs perfect (only 40k miles=no rush), but is meant to be in another truck, I want this truck to have a cummins in it.


Thank You.

 

Buy a used running one, if its a 12V it'll run a half million miles if the KDP is done. Rebuilding one is a lot of work, and a lot of money, but then again you get it exactly like you want it. The choice for me would be used, then rebuild and overbuild when the time comes and you have some money saved.

 

It costs a LOT to rebuild a Cummins. You could buy a bad one the first time, buy another, and still come out ahead.

Best case is to buy a donor truck so you can really hear it run.

 

How much is a lot? I see rebuild units for $4500, or is this a bad rebuild?
Most of the donor trucks I see have over 200k miles and cost almost as much as a rebuild unit here.
I'm trying to get an engine that will last but at the same time I don't want to over pay.

Thank You.

 

has anyone ever delt with this place...diesel care and peformance, cause on the web site they have a rebuild kit for 600...here what it says...Inframe kits include Pistons, Rods, Mains, Rings, Gasket set including head gasket, Piston pin bushing and Camshaft bushings. Out of frame also includes additional gaskets and front and rear seals. You will need to specify sizes for rods and main bearings when placing order for a kit. We have sizes in std/.10/.20/.30 oversized... cheap isnt it or am i missing something here??

 

What about this one?

What else do I need?

Thank You.

 

Hey man, if you need me to look at another motor, let me know,

Eric

 

This is what I intend to do; of course the fact that there are currently three Cummins powered trucks in the yard sort of cements this decision.

If I were in your position, I would buy a decent RUNNING engine.

A 1st Gen. need not be in a truck to hear it run.

All you need is a battery, a wire to the fuel switch, and a wire to kick the starter, also a jug of fuel, with a draw and return line stuck in it.

We ran my engine a zillion times, sitting in the shop floor, for weeks before we started the swap.

After you get an engine in the truck, and all the bugs worked out of the swap, then buy another engine (or two), and, dollar by dollar, little by little, build it to the gills.

There are so many variables to a rebuilt engine that you might get dis-couraged before you ever actually get a Cummins in your truck.

You could have a perfectly built engine and then find the injection pump is shot and the turbo is junk; this means more waiting and more money.

With a running Cummins already in the truck, you have more incentive (and more time) to go for the big smoke.

 

Dave is DEAD-ON!!! PROOF IS IN THE PUDDIN. Buy a whole truck. You can use it on the farm sort out any problems before the swap takes place.
Dont forget my motto: BUY IT TAKE WHAT YOU WANT SELL THE REST AND HAVE ZERO DOLLARS IN IT.
TOMMY

 

If you are doing a engine swap, buy the whole running truck. There are sooooo many parts you will use in your swap included in the sale price. I know I would have at least twice the money in my swap if I had tried to find the parts a piece at a time.

 

i bought my donor truck, a 91 ctd stick 4x4, and drove it 250 miles home. 2 grand the getrag needs work but the cummins fires before you can get your finger off the key. body is trash. saw another the same week same money had been wrecked but would drive.

 

How many miles in the donor engine? I must be looking in the wrong places, around here people want too much for a trashed truck with a running engine.

Also, what else is needed in the kit I posted? Is it a bad kit?

Thank You.

 

What parts of MD r u in Eric? I know of like 6 yards between St. Mary's city, and Waldorf. I guess im going to have to go for a drive down there sometime soon here.
I know of 2 small places that r good, the rest are all interconnected by that parts exchange deal, cool, but it drives the price through the roof.

hey! bells n whistles r going off, PM Cummins at ya!

 

get on your local craigslist and look also in the neighboring areas that you would be will to go fetch from. i don't know what a IDI is or are. tell me more about what you want to put a ctd in.? this rig has 250k miles on it. this guys dad bought it new and when his dad passed away he got it. he was driving it when his wife jumped a gaurdrail on some icy roads which along with being rear ended and shoved into the car infront of him left this pickup with a straight hood and thats it. i do not want to pay for custom parts to get my crew cab on the road . that is one reason i bought a dodge crewcab for the frame rail widths should be close and the front and rear end are bolt in . i would rather do a chev being the extra body parts are cheap and everywhere out here. lots of crew cab chev/fords here never seen more than a couple early dodge crew cabs. just thought i would do somthing different.

 

JR I'm in rockville and yes I check craigslist often but very few 1st gen for a fortune here. If I where to pay $3-$4k for an entire donor truck with high miles might as well build Me an engine.

The truck I have is now in My sign sorry, 1993 f350 with a 7.3l IDI (InDirect Injection) that hopefully will change soon for 5.9l C. The parts for this truck are fairly cheap but is more of a sentimental bound what makes Me keep this one and put a cummins instead of just buying a dodge (nothing against any of You dodge owners).

Eric and JR where good to Me (thank You both again ) and look at a possible donor engine but the yard guy didn't start it and again wanted too much for just Hes words.

Thank You.