Cummins Conversion Build
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: NW Arkansas
You suck man. God must agree with your assessment. It's 60 degrees here giving me a window to grind and clean the frame and paint it pretty. Get my pm??
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
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From: Gulf Coast of Florida
I'm going to see if there's a way to print off this thread and JTHARVEY's cummins conversion thread. I'm picking up a 2002 Excursion V10 with 117k for $8900 on Monday. I'll use it that way for a few months or years, and then I'm going with a 12v Cummins swap. This is friggin' AWESOME!
I love my 7.3 F250 but if you're pulling a gas or 6.0 diesel out, might as well put in a Cummins. I'll be shooting for ~400hp on the 12v I drop in. My fiance will be driving it more than me, and 400hp should mean good reliability and an easy build. Super Duty's with 5.9 Cummins power is like chocolate and peanut butter; they just go together!!!
I love my 7.3 F250 but if you're pulling a gas or 6.0 diesel out, might as well put in a Cummins. I'll be shooting for ~400hp on the 12v I drop in. My fiance will be driving it more than me, and 400hp should mean good reliability and an easy build. Super Duty's with 5.9 Cummins power is like chocolate and peanut butter; they just go together!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
400 is perfectly reliable in the 7.3, and cheaper & easier than a complete swap to a Cummins. Sorry, but after my buddy in his 2006 CTD blew his apart trying to "show me" how much better a Cummins is, I think I'll stick with my 7.3....
If you're looking for 800 or 1000 hp, then yeah, I think you're better off $$$-wise doing it with a Cummins. But for anything up to about 500ish, it just ain't worth it.
Oh, and I'm not trying to stir the pot here, just passing along my $0.02.....
If you're looking for 800 or 1000 hp, then yeah, I think you're better off $$$-wise doing it with a Cummins. But for anything up to about 500ish, it just ain't worth it.
Oh, and I'm not trying to stir the pot here, just passing along my $0.02.....
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast of Florida
400 is perfectly reliable in the 7.3, and cheaper & easier than a complete swap to a Cummins. Sorry, but after my buddy in his 2006 CTD blew his apart trying to "show me" how much better a Cummins is, I think I'll stick with my 7.3....
If you're looking for 800 or 1000 hp, then yeah, I think you're better off $$$-wise doing it with a Cummins. But for anything up to about 500ish, it just ain't worth it.
Oh, and I'm not trying to stir the pot here, just passing along my $0.02.....
If you're looking for 800 or 1000 hp, then yeah, I think you're better off $$$-wise doing it with a Cummins. But for anything up to about 500ish, it just ain't worth it.
Oh, and I'm not trying to stir the pot here, just passing along my $0.02.....
(though I'll be watching the Cummins/Dodge forums too!)
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From: NW Arkansas
It's simple math Joe - for me to even buy a 7.3 Ex with 180k would be $15,000. Then to get to 400HP reliably would be another $5k+ (injectors, turbo, tuning, reg return, etc.) - so, $20,000+. I'm buying this one for $8900 with only 117k and parts to remove and sell off, and can get a good 12v 5.9 for ~$3k and then do the swap. My 7.3 will still be the workhorse but another bonus is that I live about 20 miles from Destroked.... (though I'll be watching the Cummins/Dodge forums too!)
(though I'll be watching the Cummins/Dodge forums too!)I'll keep my eyes open around here for a 12v. I see them all the time in running condition for around $1500.
Keep your eyes open on compd and cumminsforum. There are great deals to be had. Might also need an industrial manifold to fit the turbo.
I would go 24v if I was in your situation. Electronics are nice.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
$3k for a Cummins swap?? Are you sure? What about a trans?? And SWAPPING a gasser to a diesel is a whole different thing, of course. But that said, and I've said it before, putting a Cummins in one of these is like putting a 350 in a Model T. Just ain't right. LOL But to each his own. I'd rather buy a 7.3 Ex and mod it, but that's me (I've been thinking about an Ex too BTW). Buying a Cummins and doing the swap, plus performance parts, plus swap parts, plus rebuild (assuming you're not getting a freshly rebuilt one already), plus the labor time to do everything..... I just don't see much of a cost savings, if any. My time is worth something, too. I swapped a 351W/C6 Auto into my 84 Mustang back in the day, but that was pretty easy, comparatively. So I'm not completely green to that kind of thing. I just think it's not really worth it for 400 hp truck. Like I said, 800 or a 1000, sure.....
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Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast of Florida
I agree. Although the 12v kinda sucks because the mechanical pump can be super touchy at times.
I'll keep my eyes open around here for a 12v. I see them all the time in running condition for around $1500.
Keep your eyes open on compd and cumminsforum. There are great deals to be had. Might also need an industrial manifold to fit the turbo.
I would go 24v if I was in your situation. Electronics are nice.
I'll keep my eyes open around here for a 12v. I see them all the time in running condition for around $1500.
Keep your eyes open on compd and cumminsforum. There are great deals to be had. Might also need an industrial manifold to fit the turbo.
I would go 24v if I was in your situation. Electronics are nice.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: NW Arkansas
Yeah, maybe 24v, but not CR - more money than I want to spend just for the engine. Thanks for the tip on the cummins forums, I'll keep an eye out. $1500 for a good engine that I could build to 400HP would be awesome!! I really don't need more than that. My F250 7.3 is pushing 300ish I guess and I'm fine with its performance. I'm after longevity and efficiency/mileage, not racing it.
There are a lot of people moving a lot of cummins parts for very little. You are a 64mm turbo, some inectors and a tune and your sitting at 500hp
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
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From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Sure, my time is worth something, and I'm not naive enough to think it'll be easy, but it'll be a project I can be proud of once it's done.
That right there sounds awesome. I'll have to learn more about turbos to make sure I choose right (since I'm at elevation), along with injectors, etc.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
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From: NW Arkansas
Talk to chris at engineered diesel. He will take care of you. Compounds would be nice at elevation.
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Compounds would mean lots more complexity and expense - lots of single turbo 5.9s running through the mountains here, so I'll stick with that route, but I'll get in contact with him, thanks!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
You're spot-on for a gasser conversion, Brendan. Like I said, not trying to stir the pot.... 
I admit I bleed Ford Blue, and that comes out here sometimes. I personally would never run a Cummins in my truck. I hate how they sound, and I'm never going to build a 1000 hp truck. For others it makes sense, if you can handle that annoying ricer exhaust note.
I admit I bleed Ford Blue, and that comes out here sometimes. I personally would never run a Cummins in my truck. I hate how they sound, and I'm never going to build a 1000 hp truck. For others it makes sense, if you can handle that annoying ricer exhaust note.
and I'm looking forward to the progress you're making on this truck.