Hi all. I have been reading the posts on this sight for a couple days now. So far, I like it here alot. Tons of info I didn't know. Still a ton I don't know.
Here's a question that may already be on here, but I haven't found it yet.
Has anyone done a gas to diesel swap in a dodge? I know it would be easier to just buy one, but they never built what I want. I have done many engine swaps, body swaps, lift kits, rebuilds, I weekend race a 68 Roadrunner , ect. so I am fairly mechanically inclined and not afraid of a swap like this. I want a Cummins powered Ramcharger 4x4. I already have the 3/4 axles and springs under it. I did this when I put a 2WD 87 Ramcharger body on a 79 4x4 Ramcharger rolling chassis, applied the 3/4 ton axles from a 86 3/4 ton ect. The entire project was intended to be topped off with a torque monster 440, but ever since I rode in my buddies cummins powered ram with fully enclosed race car and trailer, I have been trying to figure out how to do this swap. I figure I will need a 93 donor truck so I can pilfer all the parts off of just one truck. I can't use the 94 and up parts because I need the front driveshaft on the pass side of the truck, unless I use the transfer case of a 93 and older truck with a newer eng/trans, but that requires more than one donor truck. And I could use all the stuff in the dashboard stuff without much trouble.
And it would make a heck of a web story, too.
I hope I put this thread in the right place, if not, move it to where it should be, as long as I can find it. :-)
Thanks a bunch in advance. Todd
PS. My wiife thinks I'm nuts !!

 

Hey Todd,,,,,
Don't feel bad,,,,,, my wife thinks I'm nuts and I'm not even trying to be creative like you!

I know that I've seen guys swap a Cummins into 1st gen 4dr crew cabs, K-5 Blazers, F-350's, and even a Dakota,,,,, so I don't see why it would be that hard to put one in a Ramcharger. I almost think I remember seeing that swap somewhere on the web,,,, not sure though. Maybe some of the other folks will chime in with some info.

 

Thanks, I new I would put this thread in the wrong spot. I guess I just need to keep reading this forum, as I don't know squat about the cummins. But we do have 5 1100 horsepower Cummins units for out Head End Power in our restored E-9 Locomotives at the Illinois Central Railroad ( now the Canadian National RR). And I do know a few things about GE and EMD 4000 hp diesel engines, but not these "little" engines.

 

Cool, we have three of the EMD 20 cyls for emergency back up power. We have a 3612 Cat rated at 4800 hp and a host of smaller back up diesels from Cummins (the old one with the three heads) to V8 Detroits, to Allis Chalmers, and a 5.9 Cummins for back up power to the admin building. We even have some little single cylinder Lister diesels (crank start) for back up power to the EMD air start compressors. We're diesel happy here not to mention back up diesel air compressors.

 

Welcome Todd.
I think you're biggest hurdle would be the weight of the Cummins hanging on the front of the Short-Wheelbase Ramcharger.
It's the same reason you don't see standard-cab, short bed Cummins pick-ups.
The weight would be very heavily biased to the front of the truck causing some pretty evil handling characteristics.

 

ta,
Didn't the E series locomotives have twin EMD V8 diesels?
Love to see pics.

MikeyB

 

MikeyB, Yup, the e-9's have a pair of blown 12 cyl engines that had 567 assemblies. They have been upgraded at our shops to 1200 hp each.
Dieseldude, yeah, we use the 3 headed Cummins in the back of those for the head end power ( supplies 480 volts for heat/ac , lighting, ect in the passenger cars.
How much does the Dodge/Cummins weigh? A full cast iron 440 weighs around 700 pounds. The 360 in it pulls ok with 330,000 miles on it, but the 440 would do much better. However, the gas mileage is around 9mpg and 6 mpg with the 36o towing the Roadrunner. I love that 15 and up mpg with several of my buddies Rams, even when towing heavier trailers than mine!
My truck already has 3.54 gears and 35 inch tires, yeah I know thats where about 2 mpg is already, but I like those 315/75/16 Mickey Thompson tires. And, I really can't spend 10,000 for a use up 4 door dodge, I need something that can haul around all 5 of us and the dog. I sat in the back of a quad cab and just wasn't impressed with the back seat. What can I say, I had a ramcharger 15 years ago, sold it and missed it for 5 years, so I started building one I wanted.

 

An ISB engine with peripheral components (turbo, intercooler, etc.) weighs in at around 1000 lbs. dry.

 

thanks commatoze. the truck should handle it well as it handles better with the extra 700 lbs that the snowplow weighs. I will have to upgate both of my websites with better pics soon.

 

Welcome TA! Nice to have you with us. Great guys and Gals here, look around and make yourself at home

 

I don't know you well enough to bare with you.... but we'll all bear with you while you learn the ropes!

 

I have seen pictures of 2 Cummins powered Ramchargers on the internet, so you're not the first person to try this. You need a '89 - '93 donor truck, or a '91.5 - '93 if you want an intercooler. It really is going to be a bolt in swap with the correct donor, no special fab work should be needed.