not sure if the rad support from a gas to diesel are the same because of the diffrent rad size and intercooler. the fuel system, fuel pump would have to come out of a diesel truck as well. like hey you said donor truck for sure. it will be all the small parts that will get you. i installed a cummins into a 04 ford truck and it wasnt to bad to do.

 

12 valve 5spd will make this fairly straightforward. Nothing computer controlled that way. Like everyone else said, DONOR TRUCK! Axles, crossmembers, wiring, everything's there. Good luck bro.

 

buy a 2500 like this and be done with it.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/2776898555.html

 

and pay 10 grand for a 10 year old truck with 180k and obvious major body damage? I bought my V10 4x4 crew with all options 50,000 less miles for $6000 less. Unless you're putting serious mileage a year it doesn't make sense. The motor may last 500k+, but everything else having to do with the truck certainly won't.

 

The op did not say he wanted a V10, he said Diesel if thats what he whats to do then I agree with dhvaughan go buy one.

 

if you want a diesel you got to pay the price.

 

+ 1

 

you will easily put the difference of the cost between a diesel if not more into this conversion.

 

Go with a 12 Valve Cummins. Motor mounts if going into a 2ND Gen Ram are the same. It will bolt right up. Find a 47RH or NV4500 transmission. From what I've been told by swap enthusiast, your axles can handle around 400 HP. Now the weight of the Cummins is am issue. I've seen people do it in 2WDs with stock springs, and some swapped 3/4 ton springs. 4X4 is a different story. Need ti research that. If you can find a donor, the better. Then you can swap it all. Dodge Ram frames are boxed nearly completely, so with around 400 HP you should be fine. Look up competitiondiesel.com and 4btswaps.com, they have a 6BT conversion section

 

+1 the frames on the 1/2 ton gassers and cummins are almost the same