I have searched and could not find much - so I am posting here as this is the conversion section.

I have a 94 Chevy K1500 w/ 5.7 gasser. I am looking at picking up a '89 dodge cummins truck with the 6bt in it. If i have both vehicles how hard is it to swap the cummins into the chevy? I have found a few threads about dropping a cummins engine in, and bolting to the 4l80e - but I am asking if I have a complete donor truck.

the only reason I ask is because the donor truck is pretty rusted, but drive train and engine are solid.

 

the old dodge trans really wont hold up that much but if u use the chevy trans then your going to have to get a controller to control the trans if its the newer 4l80e

 

you will most likely rip the from out from under that 1500 with a cummins in it. upgrade the frame to a 3/4 or larger frame before even considering the swap

 

hmmm from what I research the 1500 and 2500 extended cab, short beds (1/2ton and 3/4ton) frames with chevys 88-98 were the same. Only difference was the suspension setup.

Whats the differences in the frames? I do appreciate the info already given in the thread. I enjoy learning new things

Also - If the frames are different, which frame would the 1500 "heavy duty" have?

 

Frame may be the same but the torsion bar setup won't support the cummins I wouldn't think. I'd go solid axle setup

 

Or just turn the torsion bars up...... The 6bt is obviously heavier than a big block, but by how much? If your not going to hot rod the cummins, the half ton parts could potentially hold up a long time. With the 89 not having an intercooler to throw in the donor truck, your even further limited in turning it up.

 

it will be fine, if adding 500 pounds to the front of a truck frame would destroy it, ranch hand bumpers would have some 'splaining to do..

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i give it five more replies till someone tells you to buy another truck....

 

ahaha aint that the truth cumminsf150 my snow plow weighs just over 1,000lbs and it hasnt destroyed my '99 F250 plow truck yet. Just turn the torsion bars up and call it good! IMO i would do a solid axle swap like tiremann9669 said bc im not fond of IFS on trucks, yeah they ride nice but they have alot more parts to wear out. And non intercooled 6bt with just a very mild build wont destroy the frame of a 1500

 

Thats pretty much not true, lets break down a modern coil spring SFA truck vs a modern chevy, (just forget about the truck in question being a half ton for a minute to keep it apples to apples).

Ford and dodge= 8 suspension arm bushings, 2 track bar bushings, 4 ball joints, 2 wheel bearings, 2 axle joints, pitman, idler, inner and outer tie rods, Double cardan driveshaft with 3 u joints, a centering kit and a stub and slip. 30 wear parts

Chevy IFS = 8 A-arm bushings, 4 ball joints, 2 wheel bearings, 4 tie rods, pitman, idler, 2 half shafts, 2 u-joints in the driveshaft with no stub and slip. 24 wear parts

Even if you take a leaf spring front end on the older solid axles trucks, your only reducing the number of bushings by 4. And like some else stated, I believe the frames from the half ton to the 3/4 88-98 chevys are the same..... at least from the rear cab mounts to the nose anyhow.

 

Ok touche