Thanks GB SISSON, I sure do love it. It won't change too much for outside looks when I'm done, the wheels will be as tall, but a foot wide, so it will be one mean looking truck.


I've thought about a 6.7 Cummins, but in all honest with all the emissions crap they have and less mileage. I'll probably end up with a 12v 5.9, they have 24v ones but they are newer and thus more expensive. I like the simplicity of the older ones. 160-215hp and 400-440 torque stock is pretty dang decent. The 24v ones seem to go up to 325hp and 610torque, and the 6.7 at 350 and 800... but there are other things to consider than just numbers.

I like vintage because they are easy to work on and work with. The less there is the less things that can go wrong so to speak. Yet I'm sure it will all come down to what deal comes my way when I'm ready. If I get a smoking deal on a 6.7 I won't think twice about it, just as I won't if it's a 5.9. The 5.9s sure come up a lot more around here though, and it's nice knowing it's an engine that lasts for 300,000 before a rebuild, the 6.7s are newer and though it looks like it's just a bored out 5.9, I can't help but wonder, small things can make a big difference down the road.

Though I will have to learn them, never worked on a diesel before. From everything I've come across the Cummins 6BT (5.9) is it's own sort of diesel. No glow plugs will make things easier, especially in the winter too.

Personally I think it's pretty clear for this truck that it should be a Cummins 6BT over anything else. Better mileage, great power, tremendous torque, simple and very reliable and not several thousand dollars needed. I can't imagine I will ever need more than 400lbs of torque, but if I ever do I can get more out of it. I'm not really one to showboat my truck, I just want to use it and not show off, lol.


Now it's just a question of affording it lol. ( I need to get the engine, transmission, transfer case, axles, wheels, tires, and all of that jazz at the same time to put it together right).

 

I'll be swapping axles too, the rear is geared at 5.83/8.11, and though it's neat to have a dual rear, I'll never use it and it's dangerous on a 4x4. I'll be gearing around 4.10-4.56, but I will also be running 37" Hummer tires so it works out to be "factory" to better gas mileage with that ratio.

Hi Stephen, I think the 4.10-4.56 ratio's that your looking at will be too low for the Cummins diesel. The 4.10 ratio with 37in tires at 60mph would be 2200rpm. 1800 rpm seems to be the "sweet spot" for best MPG.

The 94 ford f700 that was the doner truck for my cummins swap had 4.10 ratio with an allison 545 automatic trans, when I drove it home I had my foot to the floor ... 2500rpm 55mph .. 9r22.5 tires.

I used a dana 80 with 3.31 ratio that gives me 62mph at 1800rpm. I'm running a fuller fs5306 6sp manual trans. Truck is about 10k lbs. I have been very happy with this set up.

Your 56 looks great and will turn many heads as a Big 4x4 keep up the good work!

 

Oh crap, I totally forgot diesels run at a lower RPM when I figured that. Nice catch! Thanks for spotting that before I bought them, lol. I was reading a chart that used a gas engine. So I need to find 3.00-3.31.


Thanks for catching that, you just helped me avoid a massive problem.