Toying around with the idea of possibly doing a Detroit diesel swap. Anyone here done it?

 

I havent seen one here but it would be cool.. There has been a 7.3 put in a dent so surely anything can be done!

 

I don't know anything about it but I did see a for sale ad here locally with a Detroit in a '79 dent

 

Which Detroit are you planning on using, I could see fitting a 353 or 453 in there, but I would think any of the 71 or V92 series would be too big or too heavy

 

453 would be best. I think there might be some vids on youtube.

 

No such thing as too big

 

That'd definitely be a build that I'd love to read about!

 

I don't know anything about the swap, my uncle bought it for his farm but he has one. It's a f350 cab and chassis with a dump truck bed, Detroit diesel, and a 2 speed rear.

 

There's a member here that has a 4-53T in a 2wd F250, from what I recall, it was done by a detroit dealer back in the 70's

It can be done!

Sam

 

We have had several members with 2wd f350's with I think 453's that all had a gear splitter installer behind the transmission. My working theory is that someone was converting them that way at the time.

They engine does not have a ton of power, especially down low, and it's noisy as all get out, so you will want a lot of gear.

To me that's the main issue. I've seen big boy Detroits swapped in and yes since they are available in v6 and v8 configurations, they will fit under the hood with a lot of work (they are very tall), but the transmissions required for those engines will not fit under your truck without a massive body lift or extensive reworking of the firewall/doghouse/tunnel. Honestly, it will probably require both.

It's a big project and aside from their distinctive sound, the old Detroits don't have a ton going for them these days.

 

Ya there,s nothing like the sound of a 2stroke Detroit. But if it,s not leaking oil, it probably doesn,t have any in it. lol.

 

Last year there was a 3-53 with a T-18 and NP205 for sale in the Tri-Cities, WA craigslist my brothers wanted to get for a swap in Bronco. They didn't get it but the setup was out there.

 

Here's a 4-53 Detroit in a '77

 

Here's a 12 minute ride in one.

 

I've worked offshore on 2 strokes for over a decade now.
The boat I'm on now has 6-71's for generators and winch engines, and 16-645-E6's for main power (10,320 ci).

I love love love detroits and emd's for stationary power.
For a pickup truck they are way out of their realm.

Issue is this, any detroit that makes real power weights way too much for a pickup truck. No one really wants a 3,000lb engine in the front of a pickup.
Otherwise you just end up with a weak engine that makes a ton of noise.

I'd be game for a mid mount engine (in the bed) and using a 8v92.