I’ve got plans to cab swap this ‘66 c20 onto a 1990 d250 and slowly run through the whole things with upgrades part by part. I could DEFINITELY use some community input to avoid headaches and unnecessary work. I do everything on a budget. Will be selling dodge and chevy parts I pull throughout the course of the build.


Hi,
I’m starting a Chummins/ WVO project. I fell in love with this chevy and bought it on the spot. Have always had plans to diesel swap it. A few friends convinced me to cab swap instead of mating to the old chevy frame/ suspension that likely could not take the beefcake weight of a cummins.

As for the donor dodge, it’s a 1990 non-intercooled d250. The engine is clean and stock at 450k. Cab is dented and noisy, and everything inside is failing plastic. Want to delete. CA valley truck with no rust on the frame. I built a WVO system in it last summer and drove it across the country for next to nothing when diesel here in California was $7/gal. Planning on rebuilding the fuel system a third time during the cab swap.


Key components of the WVO system pulled.


Some question’s to start with:
Can I trust a 1990 dodge frame, particularly if I want to 4x4 this thing down the line? Ive already needed to replace some loose crossmember rivets. I’m a capable fabricator and trust myself to reenforce the frame with the right guidance.

Should I stick with getrag if I want to 4x4? I’ve got two of them lying around in case one explodes. No transfer case or front axle yet.

Anybody on here that does wiring harnesses and aftermarket gauges for cummins?

cheers!

 

Imho, the old C20 frame and the '90 dodge are similar channel and thickness. (Aside from rust.) A stronger frame is a 1ton or 91.5-93 diesel.

I suspect the dodge frame shape will force you into a body lift, or channeling the back floor of the cab. There is about 4" inches wheelbase change from the C20 to D250 also.

The dodge 2wd suspension isn't spectacular. It is rubber bushed like a Chevy half ton, and the brakes fall short of Chevy 1ton.

Converting a getrag from 2wd to 4wd isn't easy to get the parts for these days, nor the specific np205 that fits. You're better off to find a complete setup with tcase.

edit: the dodge rear end will be a 35-spline D70 most likely in 3.54 ratio. That will be the one to run vs the C20's corp or D60 axle.