how much? $

[93fordturbo]

Does anybody have any idea what it would cost to put an early common rail cummins with a 6 speed, dodge or ford transmission, in an idi? with the dodge transmission I would just need the brackets, or when I be better off with a ford transmission and the adapter plate? cost of wiring as well?would either transmission hold up better? probably looking at a rebuilt motor, or used motor to be rebuilt. any ballpark ideas on the money? thanks in advance.

 

[The Warden]

IMHO if you're a 2 wheel drive and you can weld, you're better off with a Dodge transmission...if you're a 4x4, you'd do best with a ZF5 and an adapter; otherwise you're going to have "fun" with getting the transfer case mated to the transmission, and IIRC any Dodge transfer case that'll work with a Dodge tranny drops on the passenger's side. A ZF6 is doable (IIRC jaybee's the guy who put a ZF6 into his truck; you may want to look that up...it was a VERY involved project), but you're going to run into the same transfer case issues, hence my recommendation for the ZF5.

I really don't know about $$, but I have a feeling you'd be looking at $5K+...I can't imagine a common-rail Cummins being anything even remotely resembling cheap. You might want to take a look at Darrin Tosh's 6BT conversion thread...it may give you an idea on how much you're going to be spending for parts besides the engine itself. I'm sure someone who's actually done this conversion can give you a better estimate...but one thing I know for certain; it's going to be more expensive than you may think. I looked seriously into swapping a 1st Gen Cummins into my truck a few years back...granted this is a different animal than the common-rail engine, but IIRC the ZF5 adapter plate was in the $800 range, the engine mount kit was another $500 or so, and various other expenses just kept adding up (don't remember the specifics anymore)...and that wasn't even taking into account the engine acquisition cost.

IIRC Darrin once said that you should get an idea of what individual parts are going to cost, and then multiply that by two to get an idea of what your budget should be.

Not trying to talk you out of it (I've been wanting a 6BT Cummins since I was 14 years old ); just trying to help you go into this with both eyes open...

Good luck either way

 

[Keeway]

sounds like alot of work that aint worth puttin 5k into a old truck

 

[Iowa 73]

It would be cheaper to buy a Dodge truck and swap the body over...

 

[8973]

sounds like alot of work that aint worth puttin 5k into a old truck

Ima gonna guess you don't work in a repair shop.

New trucks are much more expensive, MUCH more complex, and arguably much less reliable than a well built/maintained old truck. It is not uncommon for us to see 5 year old trucks at the 100k mark that need $2-3K in repairs. Standard, run of the mill repairs, like ball joints, wheel bearing hubs, and maybe a blown out spark plug or GM fuel pump.

I could afford a new F250 if I wanted. I drive an '89 for a reason.

To the OP- it's a big job. But, if you're committed to doing it right, you'll have a very cool truck when you're done.

 

[Darrin Tosh]

Yea it is a lot of money to put in an old truck, but I have done it,...twice,..and love the trucks that I have ended up with, and have no regreats. It only makes sense to do it on a good solid rust free truck that you plan on using for years, and is a good truck allready, IE, brakes, suspension, tires, accessories etc.

The price of the swap depends largely on what your skills are, and now patient you are. But for the most part $5K is a pretty bare minimum for a swap including a motor. I don't know about the wiring on a Common Rail, but any early VE pump, P Pump motors, the wiring is very easy, No computer to mess with, and will run with 12v to the pump just like an IDI.

Quick break down'

$2000.00 motor if you can find one for that price, I have seem some VE pump motors for around $1500.00 lateley.
$800.00 Adapter Plate
$350.00 motor mounts.
$350.00 intercooler boots and custom piping.
$350.00 Moving the trans and transfer case back, and changing drive shaft lengths.
$300.00 misc gaskets because you will end up regasketing the motor, taking care of the KDP while you have it out.
$300.00 Misc, hoses, power steering, air conditioning,
$200.00 Misc brackets for alt, ac, vacuum pump.
$300.00 Hydtoboost if you don't run a vacuum pump

$4950.00 total just off the top of my head, Some numbers may be high, but all are close to reality. That is not taking into account any other incidentals that you will run into, Exhaust, Pump upgrades, Injector upgrades, bad turbo, New Clutch while it is out, adapters for any gauges, air cleaner, cables,...etc ...etc,..etc,..

You get the idea, figure $5000.00 and double it, and if you do it for $6000.00 you did great!

That said, where the patient comes in is on the front of the project, waiting for the right deal to come along when you buy the motor. I was able to buy a 1985 Ford F350 that had a 20K mile Cummins Swap already done to it. Most of the basic that I need for my swap came with the doner truck.

 

[FordGuy100]

For a common rail? My guess would be $6-12K

Common rail cummins cost around the price of gold. Then you need all the wiring. The 6 speeds aren't cheap, ad if you get a ford 6 speed you would need an adapter.

 

[hesutton]

Ima gonna guess you don't work in a repair shop.

New trucks are much more expensive, MUCH more complex, and arguably much less reliable than a well built/maintained old truck. It is not uncommon for us to see 5 year old trucks at the 100k mark that need $2-3K in repairs.

I could afford a new F250 if I wanted. I drive an '89 for a reason.

Yea it is a lot of money to put in an old truck, but I have done it,...twice,..and love the trucks that I have ended up with, and have no regreats.

X 3! There is a reason I have two trucks that are 26 years old. I could buy a new truck, but I don't want one for the reasons listed above. A good friend of mine has owned several "new" trucks over the years and now he's looking at doing a repower of his Modern F350 with an old mechanical diesel. Why? He's sick of the complexity, computers, and cost of repairs that he can't make with handtools. He's likely going the 6BT route. He's already got a 4BT swap in the works for another truck of his.

If I were you, and you are really sold on a motor swap............ I'd stay away from an electronically controlled engine and find a mechanical diesel that suits your needs.

Heath

 

[93fordturbo]

Thanks for all of the replies guys...I am leaning more towards a ppump now. And I agree,I would much rather have a Nice simple older truck than a new one

 

[gsxjay]

interprize diesel sells engines cummins to be exact if at a fair price i am aquireing the parts to do a 12 24 combo in my truck i got a complete bottom end with all accessories and brackets and a p pump for 500 and the 24 valve topend for 450 if your gunna do it check them they are in ohio but are fair on shiping.

 

[ocnorb]

Summit has the Painless wiring harness for the CRD dodge swap for about $1000. There is a burned down '05 near me for $5500 that is stripped down to the frame, so I looked into this option. Swapping the entire CRD drivetrain and then the wiring would put you at least $7K. A little too rich for my blood.

It would be a cool truck, though. I damn near pulled the trigger, but I really NEED a manual transmission to be happy.

 

[93fordturbo]

Another question is, do you think a cc dually with a five speed would ever step out with a well tuned .want a daily driver, but wouldn't mind a little pep... I'm thinking with all the length and a manual it may still be sluggish? And mileage as well?

 

[GOOSE]

Another question is, do you think a cc dually with a five speed would ever step out with a well tuned .want a daily driver, but wouldn't mind a little pep... I'm thinking with all the length and a manual it may still be sluggish? And mileage as well?

It all depends on the performance mods you do to the Cummins. A good friend of mine has a '95 12 valve in an extended cab longbed with the 5 speed and 3:54 gears. First off, it weighs more than my CCLB 4x4, second, he has it hopped up to the 450-500hp mark and 1200 ft/lbs of torque. He went to a shop and between what he did and what the shop did he has about 7 grand into it. It is a real hp engine, not a punk talking. With that said, he has ran along side of corvettes, SRT Dodges, WRX's, even Porche's. VERY few vehicles can out run that truck from 50-90mph. At 60mph in 4th gear, he can smolder the rear tires at will. With this hp he gains quite a bit of economy. He has a 12 mile commute to work, definitely not highway mileage. 19.42mpg has been attained.......after waiting 3.5 weeks to run his tank out. He can approach the high 20's on a long road trip. Towing on the interstate is effortless with a 8,000lb trailer. The thing is an absolute animal and has 180,000 miles on it, 155,000 at the current power level so, yeah, it will last as well. Sluggish???? That can be cured.