Diesel Swap 99 4X4 360 - 6BT
 

Hey guys,
I Have a 99 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 gasser with 360 and i'd like to convert it to a 6BT. Any information is appreciated!

I'd sell and buy a Cummins truck. JMHO.

I really hadn't considered selling my F350 at all... until a W250 for the right price showed up. Suddenly it was a no-brainer. :yeah:

well there are multiple conversions on here and im hoping one of those guys will respond, i've heard its not that difficult of a swap, i just want as much info as possible

dead horse
 

Not trying to be a pesimist, but would you really want a 6BT in a 1/2 ton? I would think there would need to be extensive mods done to the 1/2 ton such as suspension/drivetrain.. i couldnt imagine dodge would use a strong enough tranny/axle driveshaft to hold up to a diesel in a 1/2 ton.

Good Luck =) should get good mpg's in a 1/2 ton for sure

Hmmmmm I would want a 6BT in a half ton :humm:

and I know a few other guys in the diesel performance world that have done the same thing.

I just did the same conversion. I would recommend getting a donor truck and swap everything. Its not a hard swap but it took me a week to get it completed and another week to work the bugs out. good luck

Dang not bad time at all :tu:

And ditto on the donor truck, it makes everything alot easier. I would recommend this route, and using the engine and tranny out of your donor truck. Im still running half ton axles, but befroe I do any major mods Im going to upgrade my rear axle. I have a set of 3/4 ton coil springs up front and front end is holding up well.

I know another guy with a 01 or 02 Dodge 1500 2wd reg cab that is running about 400 to the wheels through the stock rear axle.

just my personal-but the older trucks look soooo much better-the older the better,i run a 77 and 78 M880,s military pick ups-if you use the donor trans the job is pretty straight forward,you will find it easier if you have a good set of tools and equipment.

you know the old saying,measure it 5 times,draw it 3 times-make it once.

only problem i can see is your putting a lot more weight over the front end,i am using a different chassis and a wierd trans on my build,so i am putting as much weight over the rear end as i can-batteries,fuel,air tanks,propane,hydraulic pack etc.

gluck:rocking:

Agreed.

Do your research, be prepared, have what you need (most of it anyways) when you start, and itll go easier :tu:

I plan on starting my 12v 1/2 ton swap this week, just curious, how did you plumb your fuel system?

We converted a '95 3/4 ton 4wd with a 360 automatic to a 12 valve 5 speed and it wasn't bad. Swapped engine, trans, transfer, axles, springs, driveshafts, fuel system, computer, harnesses and cluster.

I'll say the same thing here that I did to the guy we did that swap for though, why go to the trouble if Dodge already offers that drivetrain in that body style? I'm all for swapping stuff, I have a 4wd S10 with a Duramax in it, but GM never offered it that way from the factory.

That's what I've read also!
I'm installing a 4bt in my 78 F150 & started a thread on it!:jump:

Do you have a donor truck for the build??

yea who would want a badass engine in a small truck?:argh:

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

agreed, no body is going to say to you at a stop light "is that a dodge with a cummins in it, cool!"

and just for the record the dodge d 250 driveshaft is the same size tube as my f150, thats how i welded the two together to make my driveline, and another thing i always laugh at is no one thinks twice about a mustang with nitrous and 10 inch wide tires launching at 3500 rpm at the drag strip from a dead stop, but "theres no way that 8.8 in an f150 can handle a cummins":humm:

How about the 6bt & 4x4 into a dodge van w/360? Im wondering why I dont see more dodge vans with 4x4 compared to ford..

I would like to ask a question here which is also releted to you topic I want to swap a 6bt cummins into an 88-98 1 ton chevrolet. I was wondering if the independent front suspension (ifs) would be heavy duty enough to support the weight of the engine. Or will it wear the ball joints and tie rods out prematurely?

I know of a 94 1ton DRW in Reykjavík that has had no problems whatsoever, he has a 6BT 24valve and a NV5600 in his truck...

The 6.5 Detroit is heavy aswell, i think there is less than 100kg difference in the two..