I'm new to this site so bear with me. I have a 1984 Chevy 1/2 ton 2WD. came factory with the 250 6 cylinder and 3 speed on the tree, 30k original miles. My great grandfather bought it brand new it spent its whole life in Arizona so no rust at all. I've been toying with the idea of swapping A 6BT in it. I have welding, machining and fabricating experience and I've built a few hot rods. I know its a light duty truck but i would like the fuel mileage and power to pull a car trailer. I'm new to diesel's and I'm just looking for the Do's and Don'ts of this swap. Any advise would be great! Thank you!

 

I would find a cummins with a 2wd trans attached. Then find a 3/4-ton chev parts truck your vintage for the front suspension and rear axle. (Some 14-bolt fullfoaters were 3.21 and 3.42 geared; esp. bigblocks).

 

Are any particular year cummins better that the other? What years would you recommend? Is setting up and getting the motor in and running pretty straight forward? Thanks for the info!

 

The 89-91 are easier to swap because there is no intercooler to worry about. Still lots of power potential. Guys often re-use the factory Dodge mounts with a 3/8" plate shim underneath. It is a tight fit though. Wiring is brutally simple because it is a mechanical engine.

 

What's your opinion on buying a engine already pulled from a truck off cragislist? Or would you recommend buying a truck that's already running and go from there?

 

Buyer beware on craigslist. I would suggest getting one with the Getrag still attached. They are getting hard to find, and piece-mealing everything is difficult and costly.

With the whole truck, you can assess the transmission, plus, score driveshafts, and a Dana 70 (usually in 3.55 ratio.)

I would still get the chevy 3/4 or 1-ton front end. It is bolt-in and much stouter than the Dodge suspension.


Get one with the trans attached, and proven running. Otherwise you will be chasing bits and pieces.

 

Thanks for all the info!

 

i know an old guy here in ma that runs a non intercooled cummins in his half ton chevy and loves it. he did the swap in 89 and is still driving it. stock rear trans and front end. i think he hooked his vacuum pump to the modulator on the trans and uses a hydroboost. seems crazy but he loves it...keep in mind this guy is OLD and drives it like an old man

possibly the first chevy cummins swap ever