Diesel questions
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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Diesel questions
Hey, I have a few questions on the diesel engines. I know I should ask in the diesel forums but this relates to dentsides. I am on the lookout for a late 70's extended cab 4x4. My goal is to have one as a daily driver. I am curious as to why most swaps I see are cummins. Isn't ford's diesel the powerstroke - 7.3. Are they just too hard to find? I really don't know much about these engines but would like to learn more. I read about someone with a 460 getting 6 mpg, switched to a diesel and got 22 mpg. I would be really interested in learning about swaps, opinions as I would like to know where I should start. I have wanted to build my own frame and build a full truck from ground up. I have been told to just buy one but being in Alberta, I have looked everyday since January and have only found 4 for sale and of course I didn't have the money for. I welcome all thoughts and info.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
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Cummins are a dime a dozen there so common the put them in everything and there great engines. On the other hand international engines kinda suck stock. and all you need to know about a diesel is this, they dump and stuff. dump the fuel in and stuff it in a small space and it goes boom. And if you have the money you can get all the parts and peices and put a repro together with brand new parts or used parts. Find a bronco frame or something for it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,536
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From: Schweinfurt Germany
A lot of people use cummins because THEY ARE AMAZING, powerstrokes are notorious for injection, air, and oil problems. If you found an international 7.3l (pre 94) and added a turbo you could have a decent 7.3 but the cummins are just so sexy and if you are ford through and through. Well the oval uses a cummins in modern 450-750
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 176
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From: Wyoming, USA
A 12V cummins is the most popular because it only has 3 wires to make it run. It makes great power, gets awsome economy, is dead solid reliable, won't leave you stranded in the cold, and lays down some very nice figures in the power department. A powerstroke has a ton of electrical to deal with, hipressure oil pump stepup system to deal with, parts are expensive (compared to a cummins) and tend to be a little more cold natured for those of us living in arctic conditions.
While I have ridden in some nice powerstrokes, I have owned, build and raced a Cummins and I love them.
One question comes to mind:
Why do you think that the vast majority of over the road diesels are inline sixes and not V-8's? There is a reason for sure and they work great at what they do.
George
While I have ridden in some nice powerstrokes, I have owned, build and raced a Cummins and I love them.
One question comes to mind:
Why do you think that the vast majority of over the road diesels are inline sixes and not V-8's? There is a reason for sure and they work great at what they do.
George
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 550
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From: N. IL
The real beauty of the 12v cummins is its simplicity. They are a no frills get the job done engine. They were designed for industrial use and dodge decided to put it in a truck. It takes very little wiring to run the engine. Dodge put a computer on them, but there is no need to run it. The main thing the computer does is control the grid heater and the alternator. But they were notorious for messing up the alternator side and most guys switch to an external regulator even in the dodge trucks.
Check out HRDROKN and CHASETRUCK's conversions in the engine swap section for some insight. It takes about the same amount of work to install a 7.3 idi engine as a cummins, so why not go with the better engine?
Check out HRDROKN and CHASETRUCK's conversions in the engine swap section for some insight. It takes about the same amount of work to install a 7.3 idi engine as a cummins, so why not go with the better engine?
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury, PA
The early cummins have no computer and electrical to work with and you can make awesome power with them and extremely reliable. You will pay for them though.
Depends on what you want to do with your truck. I put an 86 NA 6.9 in mine knowing it wouldn't make great power but did it to run WVO in it which is way cheaper than feeding the 350m or 400m what usually came in these trucks and throw out similar hp numbers. It is just a play truck and for running around town mostly.
These old 6.9 and 7.3 engines are everywhere and dirt cheap to get and so are used spare parts cause no one has great desire for these engines to people just have stuff sitting around.
Want to put a turbo on one day and get 225-250hp and maybe 450ft.lbs of torque but either first or 2nd generation cummins engine can do way more than that with very little mods.
Depends on what you want to do with your truck. I put an 86 NA 6.9 in mine knowing it wouldn't make great power but did it to run WVO in it which is way cheaper than feeding the 350m or 400m what usually came in these trucks and throw out similar hp numbers. It is just a play truck and for running around town mostly.
These old 6.9 and 7.3 engines are everywhere and dirt cheap to get and so are used spare parts cause no one has great desire for these engines to people just have stuff sitting around.
Want to put a turbo on one day and get 225-250hp and maybe 450ft.lbs of torque but either first or 2nd generation cummins engine can do way more than that with very little mods.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 954
Likes: 2
From: 15 miles west of Venus
I did my first repower using a 6.9 IDI. Mileage was 16 tops and power lacked. That was with the injector pump turned up and injector pop pressure at about max. Put the 390 back in after cavitation erosion claimed the second block. The first cracked by the PO plugging it in cold. Drove it about 100k in that configeration.
Current repower done with 6bt Cummins. High 19-20 mpg combined mileage. Should be putting out >400hp with addition of injectors, fuel plate, governor springs, afc springs and timing. Probably have $750 in total upgrades. Takes 2 wires to run it. You can actually use the red and white wire to the Duraspark box, along with a relay to handle the extra current to lift and hold the fuel shutoff if you use the inline pump. If you use the rotory pump. you only need one wire. Have over 80k miles so far.
See gallery
Current repower done with 6bt Cummins. High 19-20 mpg combined mileage. Should be putting out >400hp with addition of injectors, fuel plate, governor springs, afc springs and timing. Probably have $750 in total upgrades. Takes 2 wires to run it. You can actually use the red and white wire to the Duraspark box, along with a relay to handle the extra current to lift and hold the fuel shutoff if you use the inline pump. If you use the rotory pump. you only need one wire. Have over 80k miles so far.
See gallery
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