Diesel Conversion
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Amateur
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
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It's a relatively easy swap. The frame will hold it just fine. There's a number of converted 1500s with 12v Cummins' in them putting out anywhere from 600-1000+hp.
The frame is very much like the 2500-3500 frame. Get the mounts from a 25/3500, weld them onto your 1500 frame, and it's a direct bolt-in. Run fuel, power to the pump solenoid, starter obviously, and you're up and running.
The easiest swap would be a 12v Cummins or 4bt Cummins.
The frame is very much like the 2500-3500 frame. Get the mounts from a 25/3500, weld them onto your 1500 frame, and it's a direct bolt-in. Run fuel, power to the pump solenoid, starter obviously, and you're up and running.
The easiest swap would be a 12v Cummins or 4bt Cummins.
NOTE: Just read the home page of this site, looks like Dodge is considering building new 1500 series with diesel engines. Interesting thought.
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,400
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From: Charleston, SC
yea and that bit about a 1500 suspension and frame not bein able to handle it is bs as well. like what was posted earlier, there are plenty of 1/2 ton with cummins behind em that are holdin up just fine. and its hard to belive that they would of made the frame weaker since they made our 2nd gen frames
Professional
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 221
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From: NewBrunswick, Canada
This is an interesting thought. I'm going to subscribe to this thread and keep an eye on what you end up doing. I would LOVE to have a Cummins in my 1500! My dad just recently bought a Harley Davidson 6.4L F350 and its a beast of a truck, and its not even a Cummins! I'm sure that International makes the 6.4L though, but its only a Ford trans, which I think are ok for that model.
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
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To answer the question above, you would have to come up with an adaption plate to fit the 46RH trans (if you have an auto). That is probably the single most difficult thing. I'm sure the torque of any diesel would eat a 46RH in no time, but I'm not willing to hack the floor out of my truck to go with a manual. I'm guess to have this done properly, my trans would have to be rebuilt to 47RE specs ($2k), get the engine ($2.5k), trans adapter plate ($1k), and then have miscellaneous machineing and fabrication ($1k at least).
All Star
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 759
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From: Wyoming
So all I would need to mount the engine would be the heavier mounts out of a 2500/3500 truck? What needs to be done about the transmission, I assume the transmission would need to be swapped out to something heavier to handle the diesel, or at the very least modifications made to the stock set up to connect the engine and transmission?
NOTE: Just read the home page of this site, looks like Dodge is considering building new 1500 series with diesel engines. Interesting thought.
NOTE: Just read the home page of this site, looks like Dodge is considering building new 1500 series with diesel engines. Interesting thought.
As for the transmission, I'd use whatever comes with the diesel engine. I'm not sure how the interface in your truck would work for the upgraded gasser transmission (or diesel transmission) along with a diesel engine. The bellhousing is different between gas/diesel, but the internals are swappable I believe.
I'd get hold of Goerend or Suncoast and see what they say for transmission options.