Engine swap
Engine swap
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
If you want to keep the truck long term, I'd suggest putting in a Cummins. Yes its quite a project and its costly, but you will have a geat truck. The 7.3 is a good engine, but its not worth the cost to retro fit IMO. Either way, sounds like quite the project.
Last edited by heavyiron; Jun 25, 2009 at 06:45 PM. Reason: didnt finish.....
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 462
Likes: 1
Hate to say it but i'd go with the cummins also. When i first bought my truck i had no idea of all the problems people had with these trucks. I almost did the cummins swap just cause i love this body style and the interior over the dodge. I haven't had any problems with mine but soon as i do it's getting stuffed with a cummins.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 11
From: freeland, mi
I have also been considering dumping my 6.0 as I am tired of the trouble also and I have not had that many problems. but more than any other newer vehcle I have owned. One problem with the 7.3 swap would be if they ever tested for emisions, atleast on my 06. Since they offered the 7.3 in your model year this may not be an issue. I would think your cost would be about the same as doing a cummins swap, but with adaptors on the cummins swap you could keep your trans. The easiest way would be to buy a whole truck to do the 7.3 swap and probably the most economical so the little odds and ends dont kill ya in price. either way good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
The other thing to consider is that the 6.0 is actually a very strong engine IF you fix the flaws it has. In reality you could probably turn your existing 6.0 into a reliable beast for less than a cummins swap would cost you.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 11
From: freeland, mi
I would agree to a point. I am just frustrated with how unreliable this truck is quickly becomeing. The local dealer cant seem to figure out what is wrong and I am worried once I run out of warrenty it is going to cost a fortune to get peolple to work on this thing. The advantage to going to the cummins would be the simplicity and a average person could work on it due to the lack of electronics. Now would it be worth the cost, that is only for the beholder to decide.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: Everett, PA
The only reason I would swap out my 6.0 if it dies for a cummins is to build serious power. Other than that I'd say I'm gonna keep a 6.0 in her...I love that crisp sound out of my stacks!
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
Ca. is supposedly going to start emissions testing/inspection on light duty diesels next year. If they do you are probably not to far behind. You could end up with a dynamite truck that cannot be put on the road.
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 462
Likes: 1
Unless you put the same year model engine as you truck in it.
Resident smarta$$
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,929
Likes: 9
From: Oaks,PA
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
Agreed but to do that you have to take the truck to a referee station and get a special tag applied to the radiator frame rail. Buddy of mine put a Chevy V-8 in his jeep ans it was rejected not because of the engine but because that year engine never had a stickshift behind it. They knew because you also have to use the donors stock computer and all that info is in there. He finally found a guy that used to do programming for the auto companies and he was able to write a program for the stock computer that let them pass it. A big pain in the A**. Also cost him a number of greenbacks for the guy to do it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 2
From: Albemarle, NC
Whats unreliable about the 6.0 aside form EGR, head gaskets and injectors???? EGR Delete= $couple hundred bucks. ARP head studs, price varies, good set of injectors- All this will prob cost less then an engine swap and be super reliable.
