So i have a 2001 Ram 1500 with a 5.9 gas job. I wanna swap a cummins into it i have a truck lined up for parts. How hard is it to swap a cummins into the truck. Ill be buying the whole truck that is a write off. Whats the best way to do this as well?

 

What year is the donor truck?

Keep in mind, that cummins is HEAVY, and your 1500 frame really isn't designed to support it. That said.... others have done this in the past. I think there are even some threads out there in the world on it.

 

Wouldn't his concern mainly be the suspension and axles(increased power and weight on the narrower tubes on a 1/2 ton axle) as opposed to the frame?

 

More like "in addition to"......

 

Yeah, but it's worth having a cummins and I guess since he has the whole truck he could always swap the axles out but I am assuming your gonna have to modify the frame a bit for the new suspension setup. And to answer the question of is it hard to do the swap, it will not be as easy as converting to say a different gas engine. Having that donor truck will save you a lot of trouble ie harness, computer, and from what i understand the added high pressure fuel lines required for a diesel.


And just throwing it out there, if the two trucks are the same body (bed length, cab style) and the reason the donor truck is out of commission based on body damage, it would prolly make your life at lot easier to do a body swap. I entertained that idea on a totaled 2001 Cummins but then i realized the donor truck being around $6000 plus the value of my truck id be better off just buying a used one for the around 10-12k you can find em now.

 

Yeah the donor is 2002 everything is the same for the bed size and everything. I'm not sure about the frame on the donor though not sure if it's bent.

 

whats wrong with your 01?

whats wrong with the donor truck?

body swap if the donor frame is ok

sale the 01 and buy a CTD,,, time is money

 

gunna need to do some fabrication to make that work, and rewire the truck, basically swap everything but the body and frame to make it sucessful.....IMHO, just buy a CTD...LOTS of work to do this...not saying it isnt possible, but the time and headache it will give you is not worth it

 

nothings wrong just want a diesel. Yeah the frame is bent on the donor so its a hard choice now

 

Putting a cummins in a 1500 has been done before. This is nothing new. the 1500 frame is stout enough to handle the cummins. you'll want to beef up the suspension I'm sure and your gonna have a lot of work ahead of you fitting and adjust/wiring.

It will take time, but if it what you want, go for it I say. Putting this much work into the truck will either make you appreciate it a bunch, or make you end up cursing the day you though this up.

Good luck man.