i am wanting to know if anyone has did a 12v cummins conversion to a 80-86 f250/f350.. i have purchased a engine through a deal i couldnt pass up.. now if i could only find the truck i want.. i have read the overviews on fordcummins.com and think it sound like a pretty basic conversion..

the truck i want is a 80-86 crew cab.. i have found a running 350 with a 351, but it is only a 2wd.. im thinking i could pick it up for less than a grand, but then not only will i have a engine conversion, ill be adding the extra work of changing it to 4x4.. i plan to take my time on this project down to a frame off if necessary.. i plan to use a c6 tranny, but would like one from a 460 or 6.9, so if i end up with this 2wd i guess ill be in search of a 4wd with one of those engines in it..

all of this is just in the "in my mind stage" so f ya'll have any advice or whatever i'd be glad to hear it.. just don't try to tell me how bad it is to put a dodge heart in a fine ford machine.. if i could afford to buy a powerstroke i would, but i know this engine very well as it was in my gpa's truck and only cost me $800..

i would love to find the truck configuration i am looking for in 4x4, so if ya know of any within 300 miles of southern indiana please let me know..

thanks in advance
chris

 

You may not be happy with this engine in front of a c6. I have never done this swap, but have read conversations about it, and the cummins is a very low rpm engine, even lower than the diesels Ford used, so gearing is important. The c6 doesn't have overdrive, and you may find a lot of the f250/350 Fords have 4.10 ratios for gears. I believe you are going to at least need overdrive, and there are trucks around with the 3.55 gears in them.

If I were doing it, I would use the dodge supplied manual tranny, so I would not have to buy an expensive adapter. Of course if you have to have a automatic, then you probably should go with the Ford setup, though if you want overdrive that means the E4OD which is going to require a computer to run it.

 

thanks for the info.. i am mostly considering the automatic because i wont be the only driver.. but it sound like i might be better off teaching her than trying to make the c6 work or messing with wiring for the others..

looks like i got a lot of planning ahead of me..

 

A diesel truck would be a good vehicle to learn to drive a stick. They are definitely not as easy to stall out if you let the clutch out too fast.

 

i did some research last night.. looks like i can keep the getrag and use a divorced np205 transfer case.. looks like the getrag360 is kinda a love it or hate it kinda thing.. people suggest proper maint, no lugging, and an additional quart of fluid will ensure many years of use out of it though.. if i go this way i will be saving a lot of money up front with the hope of it not coming back to be a costly mistake later..

still got a lot of planning to do and plenty of room for suggestions.. im almost obsessing over this build and i dont even have a truck yet.. lol.. if i keep this up my lady is going to have me spending all my money on building a room in my garage for me to sleep in..

 

as i said i was wanting a 80-86 style truck... i wonder if there is any problems with using the older 80-86 dog house on a 87-97??

seems like i am not going to just find a 80-86 like i want..

 

You mean like the front end? Fenders, hood, grill, etc? Some people have done it.

 

The front clip (as a complete unit) will interchange from 80-96, with the bumper being the only part that needs custom brackets. Of course, the 80-86 models have different fenderwell profiles than the 87-96.

 

well good i was thinking it did, but wasn't for sure about any little details such as the bumper and fender wells..

 

Failed to mention, the headlight and turn/marker lights *may* need minor changes. The 80-86 uses sealed beams, and the 87+ use the replacable bulb insert. The plugs are different between these types of lights. The turn and side markers may use the same sockets, and need no wiring changes.

 

I believe there is a small difference in how the lower rear fender mount bolts up, but people seem to easily get around this also.

 

thank you all for the replies.. i'm sure as soon as this stuff goes from my head to a reality i will have many more questions.. lol..