I have a 1984 F250 6.9 Diesel 4x4, my dad is a professional diesel mechanic and he was telling me that these engine were not nesseallry made for what i want to do. I want to get the most possible power out of it, and i said to him about doing a Cummins conversion after a couple more years of running it now. He said its alot of work but it would probally be worth every pennie. What do u guys think? HAve any of u done it before?

 

I've never done a cummins swap, but I dream of it some nites. I'm sure you've read about Dave Sponaugle's engine and know these motors are capable of more than they are given credit for. If I were looking for maximum power without any other considerations I would probably trust your dad. The cummins motor has much better aftermarket support and there are more high hp examples to follow. I like the boschVE pump on early cummins too. On the otherhand making an idi ford fast would be more unique and more fun in some ways than following the crowd. I guess i'd say, are you in it for the results or the journey? Other considerations include the cummins' low redline compared to 6.9, tranmission swap, cost, ect. And if your expecting help from your dad it might take some convincing to get him excited about the 6.9.
Dave McGuire

 

Do not take my opinion on this comparison, but go & ask the mechanics who work on these engines [Cummins, 6.9/7.3 IDI's Powerstrokes, Duramax etc] everyday....and like your father, you'll get the same conclusion!

 

When I lived in cali my neaghbor had a '90 Ford F-350 with the 7.3, had it since it was new. he was a retired software engineer and him and his wife would use that truck to tow there airstream trailer ALL OVER. they'd jumo in the truck and go up to Canada, Alaska, places like that and be gone for 6-8 months at a time. He has this truck ALL deacked out, guages everywere, he could take one look around and know exactly what his truck is doing at any given time. several years ago he did exactly that, replaced the old Banks powerd 7.3 with a 5.9 Cummins engine and 6 speed trans. He sold his house about 2 years ago and now his wife and him are full time RVers, still driveing the same old Ford truck. Hes never thought about trading it in. loves the truck too much.

 

The downside is, that if and when you break something like a driveshaft while away from home, you'll be stuck until you can have someone fabricate a new one.

 

This truck wouldnt be a real traveling truck, and i think i would address though issuse before they came.

 

Its certinaly possiable if you wanna do it. My advice would be to get a roll over Dodge with the Cummins from an Insurance auction, so you'd have the engine, trans, transfercase if ya need it, wiering, computer, everything ya need. Then just take your time with it, make sure you do everything right when swaping it in.

 

No doubt the Cummins is a great motor. I've heard that Dodge has a great deal of trouble with automatic transmissions, though. If I had the choice, I would only use a manual transmission for that conversion.

 

I am not a big Cummins fan but strictly my preference had a bad run with some of their OTR engines and medium duty (M-11 aka M-A-Lemons). I like the IDI's had PSD's went back to IDI's to much computer crap on the newer stuff. The BT engines I hear are good but I will stick with my corn binders.

 

Remember that parts will break, usually at the worst time and in the worst place.

I break a lot of driveline parts myself, and it is nice to know I can walk into almost any parts house or salvage yard and find a replacement part.

When you swap in a Cummins, that will not be true.

 

I second that thought!

 

I third it, but check out fordcummins.com they apparently have a kit that will let you use your tranny and everything, the kit is like 1500 bucks depending on what year cummins you put in, i was thinking about doing this but i'm a die hard IH guy so I say dump the money into what you already have, sure the cummins is a good motor but, if it were the best ford would have put it in right away haha.

 

i think ill rethink it or not do it at all, thanks for ur help

 

I have done 2 of these swaps and even though you'll get lotts of power.I say either build what you got or go buy a dodge.I also own a 2001 dodge cummins 2500 6speed and I love the truck as much as I do my old idi beauty.haveing my hand in this kinda swap a couple times.you need to make up your mind on your own.I love both my trucks so much the lady says I spend more time with my trucks than I do her.all I say is can you blame me then she stomps back in the house.the body on a dodge not that bad.so if you wont a cummins get a dodge its easyer or build the 6.9 its just as good.like dave said they all breakdown at a bad time

 

Dodge Auto tranies used to be bad, but my Dad had an '05 2500 Quad Cab 5.9L 4x4, and traded up to an '06 MegaCab 2500 4x4. Used to tow an almost 10klb camper trailer with both trucks, never had a trans hicup. Truck would easily get up to and hold freeway speeds with that kind of load, up hill or otherwise.

The cummins is a damm good motor, lots of power to be made. But the same can be said for the IDI. Basicly the choise is yours, but I echo everybody elses comments, if you want a Cummins, go and buy a Dodge, it'll be easier, and mabey even cheeper in the long run.