I have a 2000 Durango SLT, 5.9L heavy transmission. I love it. The only thing that is keeping me from keeping it forever is that it's gas powered, and I want a diesel. Does anyone know about dropping in a Cummins into a Durango?

 

Doubtful it would even fit. It takes a lot just to stuff it under the hood of the Ram I've seen them under the hood of a Ramcharger, which has a larger engine bay than the Durango, and even that looked tight. [&:]

And with a DRY weight of around 1000lbs (for just the motor) the independant suspension the Duragno uses would definitely not be beefy enough. You'd have to find a way to swap a solid axle underneath it.

You'd also have to find a way to install a beefier transmission, or come up with a conversion bellhousing for yours, because it definitely wouldn't bolt up. I'm actually not sure your rear axle would stand up to the torque either.

A swap like this would run you much dinero, if you could figure out a way to fit it under the hood.

There's a reason they only put them in heavy duty trucks

 

yeah dude desiel in a durango not going to work to well. it is not made for that big of a eng.. I mean the 5.9 was almost pushing it for the durango.. but hey you could always try to down size every thing and get a v6 desiel. fromt a car.. LOL just kiding not possible... ok but if you are looking for a new eng you might just be in the market for looking for a new truck or a huge SUV that will have the desiel in it.. sorry dude.. I maybe wrong here so if I am sorry but I am prety sure just like The Burning Rom said " There's a reason they only put them in heavy duty trucks".. you can compair our durango to a small truck like the dakota not like a big 2500 or 3500 series.. [sm=jawdrop.gif]

 

go to youtube.com, it has been done before. if you're going to do it in a 4wd then the stock torsion will not hold it. my idea was to use a coil over shock in place of the regular shock to hold the added weight. with a 2wd then just get a beefier coil spring. if it can be done in 1500 then the Durango shouldn't be to much more difficult.

 

Wouldn't it be easier to package a powerstroke in the D than the big inline. I know it is a ford product but just like the cummins someone else builds it for them.

 

Probably not you would have to overhaul everythin. Keep in mind you would need to replace the rear end, driveshaft, transmission, PCM and ECM, likely radiator, it would just be easier and cheaper to get a Ford Excursion if you wanted a powerstroke under the hood.

And that Durango with the cummins has a Ram front end and everything from the hood back under the truck was redone.

 

Not going to argue the cheaper easier because you are right.

If the OP just has to have a diesel the conversion process will be involved no matter which one he decides to use. I was just trying to brainstorm ideas.

 

Yeah if you want a diesel really bad shop around on sites like Jegs for small block diesel engines. Keep in mind the 5.9 in the Durango IS indeed a small block.

 

No one has mentioned the 4bt? Excuse me if im wrong (im new here) but i believe the 4bt only weighs around 600 lbs vs the 6bt at around 1000 lbs. I may be wrong again but the 5.9 360 weighs about the same as the 4bt roughly. As far as the rest of the drivetrain im sure it could still destroy it just the same as the 6bt, so your still in it for some money on driveline upgrades. Ive daydreamed myself about stuffing a cummins in my d

 

It can be done... All of it... But asking that question here is mistake. A 6 requires alot of fab but well worth it, the 4 is the trick as mentioned above.