Back to the main point. I had asked if anybody has any ideas or comments about swaping motors with a duramax and replace it with a cummins. Thanks for the other comments that did reply about my main topic! Rest of Comment Removed

Here is the story behind my father truck. He had bought the Duramax about two years ago. We didn't research the truck before we bought it. The truck's injectors had been replaced twice already when we bought it. The last two times it went out we took it to a chevy dealer and they replaced them since they have the 200,000 mile warranty. My father went down to O'leans for about 2 months. But on the way down the injectors went out. He was pulling his gooseneck (25ft) with a skidloader on it,and a fuel tank(300gal) that was full. That is why Chevy, Fords and all other trucks besides dodge that has a cummins in it are piece of CRAP! On all of those chevy commercials they have their trucks pulling heavy loads and everything. Rest of Comment Removed

 

***Edited as comment was no longer needed***

I put an 05 Cummins in a Ford SD this summer. I love it. I highly recommend repowering your GM if you like everything else about it. Megacabs are expensive.

I previously wrote the following in your first thread. I'll repeat it here now that we are back on topic.

My swap took 8 days and about $4500. In the process of doing the swap, I got a new engine, turbo, exhaust system, alternator, A/C compressor, clutch, power steering pump, fan clutch, water pump, rad hoses, air filter, U joints, starter, etc.

I've now got 81,000 miles on my '99 and it is pretty much like new. The body/frame/interior are in excellent shape. I see no reason why I won't get another 80,000 to 160,000 miles from this truck with very few problems. Much fewer problems than buying a new Ford with a 6L, for example.

The Cummins, especially the 3rd gens, are very sweet engines.

A good place to discuss swaps is at www.cummins-conversion.com

There was an article at TDR about a guy swapping an Allison onto his Dodge Cummins. I'd have a look at how he did it. I think his Allison had an SAE bellhousing, ie motorhome model. One could machine an adapter plate to mate a Cummins to your Chev Allison. I machined the adapter plate for my swap. It is a pretty advanced thing to do, but definitely possible.

You might also consider swapping your Allison for a ZF6. In my thinking, a ZF6 is a perfect match to the 3rd gen Cummins. I am not fond of automatics behind diesels.

One more thing: your Chev might be a bit short in the engine compartment. The Ford SDs work well because they are designed to fit the V10, which is a long engine. My truck was 38 inches between the back of the radiator and the firewall. And my 3rd gen Cummins fit that perfectly. Any shorter and there would have been issues.

 

you telling us that chevys and fords are crap still dosent really explain just what exactly happened to your dads truck. i personally think that you will be money and time ahead just go sell the chevy and go buy a dodge. JMO though.

 

The first thread has been locked.
Ive already altered this thread in an effort to keep it on topic.

Please keep it on topic or I will have to remove both threads.
Thanks,
Rich.

 

I hope this is on topic...

Superduty...I didn't mean anything bad with what I said related to engine swaps in the previous thread. It's neat - really neat - that you put an '05 Cummins into an '99 SD. That's excellent. If you have the ambition, and don't mind figuring out all the details to put together a great unit, go for it!! I think that the pool of people out there these days willing to research and put in the "sweat equity" to do such a conversion is shrinking.

As to the original question. You ask a good question, with good reasons, so here are the criteria my Father and I asked ourselves when working with older cars as to the viability of a vechile for an engine transplant:

--Engine itself - is it rebuildable? Would it cost more to re-build this one or purchase a remanufactured or "new" engine? [You want a Cummins - so this may be irrelevant, but it ought to be asked anyway.]

--Truck condition, you mention the high mileage, it's an '02, right? How is the frame, the suspension, the steering and braking systems? What condition is the body in? How is the interior? What [total cost] would it take to put the rest of this truck into "mint" condition?

--Knowing all this, how does the truck suit you Father's real needs now and into the future? Does he have an extended cab now but really wish it was a double-cab? Is the cab too big or two small? Is the bed too large or small? What truck, if he could choose, would he really pick out?

--Last question: can you afford all this - and will it make long-term financial sense to do it. It's quite a bit of money on a truck with high miles, so it's a lot to consider.

Cummins engines are designed to last a long time - as you know with your current truck. They are "investment" engines, so to speak, and if you watch the resale value on a truck with a "C" on it, it's not far from wrong to call it that. So the ultimate question is; would your Father want to drive this truck with a Cummins in it, for the next 200k miles, at least? Otherwise, it may not be worth the time, money, and effort.

Good luck with your decision. Merry Christmas!

 

Thanx for the information. I hope you have a Merry Christmas as well.