I know I am crazy but it looks like I am not alone here. I am looking for a cummins td to put in my 74 chevy k20. I have been looking watching these forums for quite sometime and thats what made me decide on the cummins. I am of course not going to leave the engine stock when I get in it. My questions are as follows: What engine has the best power output for money invested? I've got it narrowed down between the 94-98 and 98-02 engines but dont know which. I also know I want a manual tranny but dont know which is the best reliability wise. I need a transfer case with the output on the passenger side so it will mate up to my old chevy's front axle. I was planning on dual stacks for exhaust. I would prefer to find the engine/tranny/transfer case all bolted together so I wouldnt have to bolt anything together since my knowledge isnt very big in the dodge category. <br>What kind of clutch linkage does the trannies have? Where can I pickup a complete engine/tranny/transfer case? I am not afraid to travel. Is there any dodge diesel salvages?<br>Thanks,<br>Mack

 

Bunch of questions, I'll give you my thoughts on a few of them. For a swap I would not think of using the later engines with the computer. So the 12 valve 98 and back is the engine in my opinion. The transmission is easy the six speed with the 3/8 input shaft. You will not find this bolted together. The transfer case will be a problem for you as the Dodge has a drivers side shaft. I do know know this but I would bet that you can find a Chev or Ford that will bolt up. The GM trucks used the five speed NV4500 which should have the same bolt pattern, and that would bolt to the six speed. There are other on here that know the combinations better than I.

 

The only thing I could add is that I would get stronger axles for the power and torque that is going to run thru them. I figure that there is a reason why they use dana 80 instead of any other. Everything else haulin said sounds right on the money. Good luck

 

Why not use a gen 1 setup? 12v engine, 727 auto and NP 205 transfercase. It is all sturdy parts and the NP 205 has a foreward outputshaft on the correct side for you. Try to get an engine from a 1989 truck. Their engines are powerfull, and there is no intercooler to move over in a new truck.

 

There is a fellow in northern Alberta who put a CTD in a 1988 K3500 4x4, he had used parts out of a 92 Dodge for a couple of reasons. Like the other guys have said some of these parts are common to the Chev or will mate up easier, there will be a shortage of room up against the firewall. The oil pan in the Chev will need to be modified as I remember and he had used a 454 4 core rad but it was not cooling adequately. I would suggest picking up a 6.2L rad that needs to be rebuilt and have it done up 4-5 core as they are wider crossflow rads with stock mounting hardware available. Somebody had mentioned an 89 engine without an aftercooler, I would suggest they will be cheaper to buy but not to worry Cummins makes a water box for these engines. The water box replaces the stock intake manifold and is an aftercooler but they are not quite as efficient as air to air. I think you said it was a K2500 which means your front diff will be a Dana HD44F and it will be to light in the spindles for the weight of the Cummins, look around for wrecked K3500 crewcab srw as they all have HD60F front axles. PK

 

Hey guys me and some buds got together and started talking and I just decided to get a 94-98 dodge pickup. thanks for the replies,<br>Mack