What kind of upgrades will i have to do to my suspension in order to do a 6bt cummins in my 1995z71? And would it be just as easy to put a 6speed behind a 12 valve or would it be easier to do the 5 speed.

 

My uncle does a lot of 6.5 to Cummins conversions, good for me since I can get parts for my 6.5, but I asked him the same thing since the Cummins is about 200 lbs more than a 6.5. He said that the engine sits far enough back that you don't have to upgrade the suspension since the engine sits better. As for the 5 or 6 speed, I'd imagine that the nv4500 and nv5600 are compatible with each other. I know the nv4500 in the GMs, all you got to do is replace some gear/drive thing, I don't remember whats its called, and the Cummins bolts right up. I'd imagine that if you got the nv5600 from one of the 2001-02 high output models and did a complete swap, all ya got to do is hook up the clutch and drive shaft.

Good Luck, I hope to do one when my 6.5 gives out.

 

You could always do a straight axle and leaf spring conversion in the front... Lots of work but that'd be pretty cool