hey guys its my first time postin on a forum so please be easy lol i got a 97 dodge ram 1500 extended cab short bed wih a 318 in it i know it sucks lol but anyways im wantin to put a cummins in it but what all would i have to change out to do that i know ill have to change my axles out but will it be to tight of a fit? and im after i do my motor swap im wantin to lift it 12in on 40s

 

Do a search. Several have been done. Lots of work, and more cost thatn expected (but what isn't, right?).

1500 frame is a little lght wieght for a diesel though.

 

Welcome to Df

If you want a diesel go buy one, you don't need a oil burner to go big. A built 360 or 408 a Dana 60 front and a Dana 80 rear.

 

Cheaper and easier to find a truck that already has the drivetrain you want. (minus the lift....) It CAN be done..... but, you would end up spending more money doing the swap, than you would if you just bought the truck outright. I haven't seen ANY parts donor diesels..... even parts donor gassers are rare.

 

Im never one to advise against a project, but unless money isnt an issue and you just want to do it to say that you did, I would just go buy a diesel. The frame itself is too lightweight for the project and by the time you buy all the stuff to basically "clone" a 2500 or 3500, you could have easily bought two of the real thing. And... it would be factory fresh, not hobbled together on a frame that isnt designed for that much weight/torque. Not bashing your skills, I just like how clean the factory can build things.
If it was some cool older truck that didnt have a cummins as a factory option, I would say go for it, but there are tons of diesel dodges around. No sense in building a replica of something that is commonplace.