18 to 1 6.5 crate engine vs lb7 duramax

Here are some Cummins swap links for the 88-98 Chevy 4x4 trucks.

http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/showth...d-up-with-pics

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/cu...silverado.html

http://www.competitiondiesel.com/for...=chevy+cummins

Here's a Cummins swap on a truck like yours.

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/sm...topic=15339.60

The existing crossmember on a 4x4 truck doesn't have to be removed, however you'll need to add an extra crossmember like the following. That crossmember is overkill. It doesn't need to be that hefty.

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/sm...ch=13950;image

thanks for the pics on that I like how easy that crossmember makes the swap look other than the fact I parted a nice truck for the nv4500 I have and know it wont work but other wise nice and simple guess i could get a matched set only other thing I see as you said that cross member is over kill it looks afull close to the diff what happens with 1100 pounds of engine and 900 pound snow plow and a bad pothole on the ditch side but it dont have to be made that low on the bottom

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Originally Posted by Vin82k3500

thanks for the pics on that I like how easy that crossmember makes the swap look other than the fact I parted a nice truck for the nv4500 I have and know it wont work but other wise nice and simple guess i could get a matched set only other thing I see as you said that cross member is over kill it looks afull close to the diff what happens with 1100 pounds of engine and 900 pound snow plow and a bad pothole on the ditch side but it dont have to be made that low on the bottom

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you may have me convinced to go with a cummins

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Originally Posted by Vin82k3500

you may have me convinced to go with a cummins

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I don't think you'll regret going this route. Just make sure you get an 88-93 Cummins with the VE pump on it. Everybody wants the P7100 Cummins that's much louder so the VE pump engines are less costly. The average price for a VE pump Cummins that runs well and has all the accessories is around $1500. It also makes more sense for you because you've already got the NV4500 that's more than enough to handle the power. Once you get the engine installed and running, go find an HX35 turbo with a 12 cm housing for lots of low rpm power and quick spool. This turbo works especially well with a manual transmission because it has very little lag.

Also, here's the muffer you want for your truck. This muffler is both quiet and free flowing.

http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ry...oductDetail.do

I have one concern with my nv4500 its an early gm design but maybey It would be practical for me to get a gm adapter plate if i went the cummins route 1500 sure is a lot less than even replacing a 6.2 the boneyards here dont let 6.2/6.5s go cheap 2500 to 4000 for a good running 200 k mile pull but they dump lb7s for 2500 with 100 k on them go figure most of the pullers here steer away from the lb7 in favor of the later design with out the removable injector cups that are prone to leakage are all your assecories working ac cruise ect I hope if I do this swap I can still drop the 4 inch suspension lift and go back to stock height its bad when 265s on 17s look like escort tires on 8 lug wheels

have an hx 35 ksb1 from my 98 the new ownder decided to swap it out for an hx 55

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Originally Posted by Vin82k3500

I have one concern with my nv4500 its an early gm design but maybey It would be practical for me to get a gm adapter plate if i went the cummins route 1500 sure is a lot less than even replacing a 6.2 the boneyards here dont let 6.2/6.5s go cheap 2500 to 4000 for a good running 200 k mile pull but they dump lb7s for 2500 with 100 k on them go figure most of the pullers here steer away from the lb7 in favor of the later design with out the removable injector cups that are prone to leakage are all your assecories working ac cruise ect I hope if I do this swap I can still drop the 4 inch suspension lift and go back to stock height its bad when 265s on 17s look like escort tires on 8 lug wheels

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Are you talking about the adapter from a P30 bread van? Wow, that's expensive for a running 6.2L. If someone offered me that much for my complete 1982 Suburban that runs and drives well, I would sell it in a heartbeat.

All the accessories work on my Cummins Suburban except the cruise control. I could buy an aftermarket cruise control that runs off vacuum however, I rarely ever feel the need for using cruise control. For the A/C, I'm using the standard Mopar A/C pump but had to notch the frame slightly maybe 1/2" to get it to fit between the frame rails. The rest of the A/C system is still GM. However, I ended i[ using R290 refrigerant because it's more efficient than R12 and especially R134a. I didn't want to have to change to a parallel flow condenser.

Here's some information on adapting a GM NV4500 to Cummins engine.

http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/showth...arly-GM-NV4500

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=427435

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/94...mmins-12v.html

Ive got 2 of the adapters from those bread trucks that had a 6.5 in them . I know it had a small allison trans i think . im not sure if its anything ya need but ill be willing to let one go

yeah they like to hang on to them I paid 800 for mine and they told me it was junk they didnt know what they were talinking about it still runs good today better with out a turbo than with one for some reason its really sluggish with the gm8 I tossed on it much more responsive na they dont like to get rid of them cause all the junkers here run them and if they do they dont sell them cheap how ever the more electronics they less they will drop them for I guess they are in high demand cause someone blows up a 6.5 regularly around here but as a resource and all I have exhausted in the state duramax run between 2500 to 6000 for what they call a conversion package or drop in solution that comes with engine harness custom motor mounts dented down pipe to clear frame acellerator pedal and pcm and fuel tank cooler yes its the p30 adapter so i dont have to replace my nice gm nv4500 with the lower first gear and reverse and custom bellhousing with a more common dodge unit i am partial to this as I dumped 4 grand in to this swap when i first built the truck and put the v6 in it i have noticed cummins dont sit very long i called on one yesterday for 1200 i called back 2 hours later to go look at it cause i wanted to take some measurements and they allready sold it

and iff you want a wrecked donor i been seeing them for 6500 to 8000 a buddy of mine just picked up an 04 for 6500 just beacuase its beat up its a daily driver 2500 hd crew cab 4x4 duramax allison I found annother one for 3 grand front end collision no bed no seats 05 this is why i was considering a duramax cruise will be a nessesity if i get the truck up to what i want it to be with the durmax i know it involved lots from a donor

are the adapters you have the ones for the cummins to bolt to a chevy transmission ?