My brother has a 2002 gmc duramax. The engine has 187,000 miles on it and he blew a head gasket. He was planning on doing a complete engine build up anyway. We were talking and he asked about instead of rebuilding the dmax how hard would it be to put a 12v in there instead. I am asking all of you guys for any input on this subject. I have never heard or seen anyone do this (not that it hasnt been) but just how hard would it be to pull this off. Thank you

 

Well im not guna be much help. But I think it is a great idea. That would be an awsome truck. But i will do some research for you and let you know what i find. But realy i do not think it would be that hard since the 12 valves would all be manual no computer BS. Just a few selonids for shutting down. But if i find any info ill let you know. Marc

 

Look at your emissions laws. In most places it is illegal to put an older engine into a newer vehicle.

The swap is doable but not easy. Most people have to do a SFA conversion to fit the height of the engine. The great thing about a 12V is that there are basically no electronics.

It would definitely be easier to do head gaskets than a swap but it is physically doable, just not necessarily legal.

 

Cost of replacing a head gasket vs. doing a motor swap?

Forget it. The duramax generation GM pickups are way too integrated/way too streamlined an electrical architecture. Much more so than the dodge or ford trucks. Yeah I know you need like 2 wires to make a 12valve ctd work but you need like 200,000 to make the GMT-800 pickup truck body systems work. Many electronic things in the truck wont work, the gauges wont work, you'll have to wire up a whole new ignition switch, ABS wont work, transfer case wont work (if its the pushbutton electronic xfer case)..

And then you'll need to address the IFS if it will hold up the engine (it might for on road use, absolutely forget it if he wants to plow). And then you'll need to fab up motor mounts. And then you'll need to find a solution for the transmission, and then you'll need to do something custom if he wants to keep AC (which might not work anyways because the AC is turned on via the duramax ECM, which itself gets a data-message for AC-request from the HVAC control box)... and then and then and then... Not to sound like an a$$, but its way more complicated than most people want to deal with. Not to mention it would be one of those projects that would nickle and dime you to death.

How much horsepower does he want from the dmax? If hes keeping it ~525-550rwhp or less, throw a new head gasket in it, button it up, and call it good.

Just my oppinion.

ben

 

DO IT!!!! and send me a pic so I can send it to my old neighbor w/ a dmax!!! That would be great. We cummins guys will show the dmax guys! Awesome Idea.

 

Like I said, yes its easy to make the engine work. But everyone forgets about the rest of the picture.

Would it be cool? Yout bet! Would it be realistic? no.

ben

 

when we put the 12v in the 03 dodge it was a pain to try and get a lot of the stuff to work. the chevy would be a lot harder due to all the electrical stuff that is just used by the tranny. dont believe i would be practical, but as far as emmisions if the motor that is replaced does not have any emmision components then i would not see any legal issues. we didnt have any when we put the 96 motor in the 03 and i have to have everything dot inspected.

 

alot of states go off of the engine year emmisions for diesel vehicles

 

he lives in colorado, he does not have to do any emission testing. No arizona where i live, if it smokes at all you get rejected (thank you smarty)

 

Not in AZ where I live. I can pull in like a freight train and nobody even bats an eye.

 

I think you only need a transplant if you own a Ford. I'd only do it if it was a long range project truck, your going to have a lot of electrical issues for sure. You better be a mister wizard with electrical diagrams when you pull the heart out .

 

It has been done with older Chevy vehicles but $$$$$ may be a factor.

Here are a couple http://rides.webshots.com/album/265481837whbOnX and http://www.fordcummins.com/chevrolet...onversion.html

It doesn't look like there is a market for it or maybe the work is too complicated to do newer Chevys.

 

I wouldn't do it. Keep the duramax in there it's a good engine.

 

for the overall cost of the transplant he'd be better off fixing the headgaskets and taking the additional $ and putting it in the maxipad and allison ...