I have a 92 C3500 bucket truck that I've had forever. It HAD a 6.5 non-turbo slug, currently has a 350 with the original diesel NV4500, and is in dire need of a new motor with more power. I initially considered the 12V Cummins swap, but it seems a little cost-prohibitive at the moment. Then I got to thinking, with Powerstrokes being more plentiful, why not a 1st gen, non-intercooled Powerstroke. I have one in my other bucket, a 96 F-Superduty with a couple engine mods, and it's got plenty of power for my purposes, even towing a 24' camper to jobs.

I'm wondering if anyone out there has attempted a PSD into a Chevy swap. I'd like to use the NV4500 that's in the truck since it also runs the PTO for the boom, but I think the biggest hurdle is going to be finding an adapter since the NV4500 never came behind a Powerstroke, to my knowledge. Any info on getting a Powerstroke to mate to a Chevy NV4500 would be appreciated. I could use a Ford trans, but then I'd have to modify the driveshaft, crossmember, PTO and lines, shifter, and who knows what else..

Maybe I'll just go the easy route and put a 454 in it, but man, I'd love some diesel torque and turbo singing in that truck..

What do y'all think?

 

i would think that a 7.3L would be a harder swap than a cummins swap would be its a larger engine

 

That would be pretty cool..be pretty tough but cool!!

 

the opposite of the typical classic hotrod where a chevy engine always ends up in a ford.

the PS 7.3L is actually smaller and lighter than a 6.0L but a heck of alot more advanced than a 6.5L. also alot lighter than the cummins.