12v To 24v Conversion
 

I HAVE RECENTLY OBTAINED A '96 2500 W/ A 12V MOTOR AND 5 SPEED AUTO TRANS. THE MOTOR HAS BAD RINGS. I ALSOHAVE AN '02 24V HO W/MANUAL 6SPD. THIS IS A WRECKER AND IS COMPLETE W/ CAB (DASH WIRING, COMPUTERS ETC.). iNEED TO PUT THE 24V MOTOR IN THE 12V TRUCK. 12V MOTOR & TRANS ARE OUT ALREADY. AS I BEGAN TO REMOVE THE 24V I BEGAN TO SEE THIS PROJECT GROW. THE WIRING LOOKS AS THOUGH IT WILL REQUIRE MUCH CUSTOMIZING TO COMPLETE THIS CONVERSION. HAS ANYONE OUT THERE PERFORMED THIS CONVERSION IN THE PAST? I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A FAIRLY POPULAR CONVERSION. ARE THERE ANY PRODUCTS OUT THERE THAT WILL MAKE THIS TASK ANY EASIER (I.E. WIRING ADAPTERS OR CONNECTORS)? ANY HELP OR LEADS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SNOW WILL BE FLYING SOON & I NEED THIS TRUCK FOR PLOWING.

Chappie;

Welcome to the board! When you post here, please use lower-case lettering, all-caps stands for SHOUTING.

I have not heard too much of this myself. If anything, people on this board might be prone to go the other way, returning to the simpler 12V engine. Converting an auto to a manual is going to be a challange; do a search on this as it has been discussed here before. You're looking at some rather complex wiring and computer changes doing this conversion--it's going to be costly to upfit the electronics if any parts on the donar truck do not work.

Good luck, keep us posted on progress.

After further reviewing your post, I think I would rebuild the original '96 12 valve engine; re-ring and perhaps re-sleave if there is scuffing on the cylinder walls. The older engine is likely rebuildable, it'll cost less in the end, and then you could part out the newer truck and sell it part-by-part on ebay to more than pay for your rebuild. Just my $.02

I agree with 96_12V.
Switching to a 24 valve, even if free, would be a downgrade.