Hey all, getting ready to pull the trigger on starting my cummins swap but want to hear some opinions first. Basically wondering if y’all agree with swapping it or think I should stick with the 6.4.

A little info on my 6.4: she’s a 2010 F350 srw with 266k and runs good but has a few issues. The oil cooler is plugged, she looses coolant (egr cooler?) and the dpf is plugged. Just about smoked out the whole town when it went into regen

I’d really rather not do the swap but everything I’ve read about the 6.4 scares the hell outta me and I feel lucky the truck even runs with this many miles and really don’t want to spend a bunch on repairs/rebuild.

The swap would be with a p pump 12 valve and I’d be shooting for around stock 6.4 power levels.

Now I just need y’all to tell me, fix the few issues + delete it and keep the 6.4 or toss in a greasy ol Cummins?

 

My vote:

Fix and delete it.

Denny

 

That's a tough question. How much money do you have to spend? How much will a delete cost? How much for the swap? For me, if I had it to do all over again, I'd do the swap. I have over $30,000 in a truck that ain't worth $5000.00. If I would have done the swap, I wouldn't be scared to drive it, and the truck would be worth more. That's just my opinion. You have to make the call yourself.

 

Well I did my 2009 for under 6k and that was less than the cost of rockers and head gaskets on the 6.4. I bought the 12v cummins in a 1997 F800 for 3k at auction. My biggest expense was the trans adapter and all engine mounts. The swap took me three full weekends to finish. So be warned if you need the truck quickly its rather involved swap. I did the swap in 2013 and unfortunately due to me not following rules I had to sell it in 2015. So be warned if you are in a area that requires emissions testing the swap isn't legal.

 

The beauty of my situation is that I’ve got 3 trucks so getting it done fast isn’t necessary top priority. As for budget, since I won’t be getting anything done very quickly I’m not too concerned with overall cost. sorry to hear about the loss of your fummins, I think I’d cry man

Also got a question for ya gashog, where did ya get the parts for your swap? I’ve been eyeing the DCS “getting started package” and wondering what else I should be lookin for.

 

I got my parts from DCS, I am not familiar with that package. I had to buy the parts individually from them. Yes unfortunately I built mine when diesel trucks were emissions exempt here. Then when I got the notice to smog the truck I got busted during inspection for the engine.

 

Gashog,

How did the electronics conversion go? Did you lose anything stock in the swap. Gauges, etc?



Denny

 

Well no not all of them. The tach didn't work and the stock boost gauge didn't either. I remember finding a solution to both but never got around to it.

 

Another question: do you HAVE to move the trans back? And if so would a 2-3” lift get me out of shortening the rear driveshaft?

 

It's kind of a tough call on a 6.4 truck. On one hand, the 6.4 is not a good engine no matter what you do to it, but on the other hand a Cummins swap into one is not that straightforward because of how computerized these trucks are.

IMO, the 6.0 trucks are the absolute best to swap a cummins into, but at the same time, a 6.0 is a way better (safer) engine to invest into repairing than a 6.4.

I did a 2008 6.4 truck to a 12 valve. I didn't like the 5R110 behind the 12 valve and swapped to a ZF manual.

My current truck is a 2003 F-350 with a 12 valve and ZF6. I have about $11k total into it including the purchase of the truck, A used 12 valve and complete rebuild with 155 degree pistons and injectors, Colt cam, ARP head studs, 7 blade HX35, full metal intercooler, 4" exhaust, adapter plate, flywheel, clutch, mounts, cruise control, AC, etc. I would trust it to tow 20K lbs across the country in a heartbeat.

The last 5% of the details of a Cummins swap always make or break it. A 6.4 truck is kind of a nightmare to get it to the finishline where a 6.0 truck is dirt simple.

My vote would be to sell the 6.4 truck running and buy a cosmetically nice 6.0 truck and swap a 12 valve into.

Also, I don't recommend any non-mechanical Cummins or crazy high HP for a swap. 250-300HP 12 valves for happy owners every time. Your budget needs to grow exponentially to support a high HP Cummins swap and the reliability/usefullness of an electronic Cummins used in a swap goes way down. Some have great luck with commonrails in swaps. Most do not. A well thought out 12 valve running a single turbo will put a smile on most driver's faces. In 20 years from now all the 12 valves will still be running great. I very much doubt the electronic engines will have the same appreciation.

A 250HP 12 valve won't beat a 6.4 on flat acceleration, but it will keep up towing at any weight and get better mileage.