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Thread: 4-53 Detroit

  1. #1
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    Apr 2007
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    Alberta, Canada
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    Default 4-53 Detroit

    I've heard some rumours that the old 4-53, 3-53, 4-71, and 3-71 detroit diesels can be fitted into gmc and chevy pickups. They are supposed to fit right up to the older 4 spd standards, and probably require some new motor mounts.

    i don't know if it would be a very practical engine swap as the detroit is a rather heavy engine for that displacement. but as a gmc/chevy/diesel/detroit engine fanatic i think it would be a cool project and quite a noisy and noticable truck to tear around in

    anyone know of the possibilities of this??

  2. #2
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gophergunner
    I've heard some rumours that the old 4-53, 3-53, 4-71, and 3-71 detroit diesels can be fitted into gmc and chevy pickups. They are supposed to fit right up to the older 4 spd standards, and probably require some new motor mounts.

    i don't know if it would be a very practical engine swap as the detroit is a rather heavy engine for that displacement. but as a gmc/chevy/diesel/detroit engine fanatic i think it would be a cool project and quite a noisy and noticable truck to tear around in

    anyone know of the possibilities of this??
    There used to be a couple guys in Bakersfield that put 4-53's into 3/4 ton Internationals. Stouter front suspension. With an Alison they saw 18 mpg and with a standard 22 mpg. They would climb a telephone pole if you could get the traction. But they leak and are very NOISY!
    "The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government."
    -Patrick Henry


    A5150nut
    2006 K3500 D/A
    94 6.5 4x4 5spd Sold

  3. #3
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    Nov 2003
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    COLORADO
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    Default

    The other thing to consider is that those motors are very tall. Might need a body lift to fit and still close the hood. Those noisey old leakers sure are fun though...
    white '93 K2500 started it all..
    red '94 K3500 old faithful
    black '93 K3500 daily driver
    '83 G20 conversion van
    '74 C65 truck diesel conversion...

  4. #4
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    Default

    i was told you might get 200 hp out of it, but some wild torque.........and noisy detroits sound really nice

    i was also told they are rather hard to find and expensive to rebuild........i wouldn't mind getting my hands on a good used one as a project though

    they may have been leaky way back when, but as i recall my dad has a 6-71 in an old farm truck, it was rebuilt over ten years ago and last i saw it looked pretty clean

  5. #5
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    Default

    No body lift required. Stock GM manual will not fit up. Some welding required to get it mounted inside. Great sound. Can be muffled a reduce noise but will always have the 2 stroke roar. Many add a auxilliary overdrive transmission to compensate for the rear end ratio.
    83 C10 Suburban, Silverado, 6.2, 700R4, 3.73, 31-10.50R15
    82 C30 Crew Cab dually, 6.2, Banks, Th400, 4.10, Gear Vendors, 235-85R16
    83 C20 Suburban, Sierra Classic, 6.2, 700R4, 4.10, custom paint, 285-50R20
    95 Yukon, 6.5, 4L80E, 3.42, 265-50R20
    73 GMC Astro 95, 8V71, 10 speed Roadranger, 110" WB, 6 each 11R24.5

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
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    Default

    Forgot to add that a properly built Detroit two stroke will not leak any more that one of our 6.2's.
    83 C10 Suburban, Silverado, 6.2, 700R4, 3.73, 31-10.50R15
    82 C30 Crew Cab dually, 6.2, Banks, Th400, 4.10, Gear Vendors, 235-85R16
    83 C20 Suburban, Sierra Classic, 6.2, 700R4, 4.10, custom paint, 285-50R20
    95 Yukon, 6.5, 4L80E, 3.42, 265-50R20
    73 GMC Astro 95, 8V71, 10 speed Roadranger, 110" WB, 6 each 11R24.5

  7. #7
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    Aug 2003
    Location
    Bakersfield, Ca
    Posts
    248

    Default Detroit Diesel in a W200 Dodge,

    One of our members has put a Detroit in a old dodge, and is using for sled pulling in Europe. He has posted pictures in the photo area. Take a look.

    HammerWerf
    1999 k2500 Suburban Pyro, Tranny Temp, Boost, K&N Air Filter, +3.5 qt tranny pan. 190000 miles
    1984 C20 249k miles DSG gear, SM-465, 3.73
    1983 C30 CC dualie. 308K miles on Chassis, TH400, 4-45 A/C Looking for a TurboCharger

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
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    Knoxville,Tennessee
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    Wink

    4-53's used to be used for power in the rail refrigerator cars. Might find a rail road dismantler.
    "The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government."
    -Patrick Henry


    A5150nut
    2006 K3500 D/A
    94 6.5 4x4 5spd Sold

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    AB
    Posts
    153

    Smile

    I remember seeing an article in Four Wheeler mag of a 6V-53 install in a GM pickup truck. If memory serves they were running a brownie behind a 5 speed tranny out of a big truck. 20 forward gears...

    I spent years just behind a 318 Detroit in a Western Star. I still kinda miss the sound. Hmm, wonder if that is why I am a tad deaf?

    K. D.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
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    Riverside, CA USA
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    Default

    A very nicely built 6V53 was on Ebay this week. Installed in a 70's Ford 3/4 ton truck of all things. They are hoping to get big bucks for it. They ran an auction for the same truck a few months ago with out selling it.
    83 C10 Suburban, Silverado, 6.2, 700R4, 3.73, 31-10.50R15
    82 C30 Crew Cab dually, 6.2, Banks, Th400, 4.10, Gear Vendors, 235-85R16
    83 C20 Suburban, Sierra Classic, 6.2, 700R4, 4.10, custom paint, 285-50R20
    95 Yukon, 6.5, 4L80E, 3.42, 265-50R20
    73 GMC Astro 95, 8V71, 10 speed Roadranger, 110" WB, 6 each 11R24.5

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
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    Default

    So if i were to try and arrange a 4-53 or 4-71 for a pickup, maybe even the 6V-53 if its not too heavy, what sort of transmission would i be able to use, preferrably something that i can get already mated to a t-case to save myself some trouble. Cause this would be quite an interesting 4x4 build i think.

    Just tryin to set myself up for future projects is all.......any info would be great

    thanks
    2011 VW Jetta TDI, pretty well loaded without leather.
    2006 GMC Sierra D-max, 4x4, 4 door, bumper, winch, Espar heater, and the HID lights are a nice touch too.....
    1986 GMC 3500, 454 on propane, 4 speed, 4x4, crew cab dually......the welding truck
    1984 Toyota 4x4 pickup, 4.3 V6, 700R4, Toyota t-case.......transforming into 4x4 cage buggy

  12. #12

    Default Detroit

    6V-53T in a ferd F250 but truck weighed a little over 8,000 lbs. With a RTOO-9513 was a lot of fun to drive. Great tire smoker even with 44" groundhogs.
    I didn't even want to .....until you told me I couldn't!


    '96 GMC K2500 4L80E

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Nederland- Schoonebeek
    Posts
    197

    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by HammerWerf
    One of our members has put a Detroit in a old dodge, and is using for sled pulling in Europe. He has posted pictures in the photo area. Take a look.

    HammerWerf

    here is my dodge W200 with 6V-92 twin turbo,

    http://videos.streetfire.net/video/6...3d011bba43.htm

    I have been looking for picktures from series 149 injectors on the net, but i cant find enything, dus someone have picktures from those injectors and can e-mail them to me? thank you.
    Chevy Nova sedan 1977
    6.5 HD diesel/ 4L80e
    Gear drive timing set
    Ram air, E.P.S. stainless steel exhaust
    2.73 axle ratio/ 205-65-R15 tires
    new projeckt: Dodge W200 with Detroit 6V-92

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Kazan
    Posts
    27

    Default

    I had an IH travelall with the 4-53

    Highest mpg (with #50 injectors) 13 mpg

    Loud and rattly. Glad I got rid of it.

  15. #15

    Default

    Some YouTube videos of a 64 Chevy pickup with a detroit engine

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF9EpUDpvZU

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fS43WnFGWs

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1EH8ys7sPU

    Hope you all enjoy because I did.

  16. #16
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    Apr 2007
    Location
    Whitmore Lake,Mi
    Posts
    28

    Default

    I have a 4-53 that I bought a few years back,it's in a 1976 GMC 6500 series truck, 5 speed tranny with a 2 speed rear end. I plan on putting it in a Ford F 450,have seen 2 in pick ups in the area,both were 3/4 tons,a Ford 4x4 and a Chevy mechanics service truck. I want to turbocharge this one to keep the noise down.As for the price of these engines you can find them available for about $2500 and cost of parts to rebuild is between $1000 -$1500. there are still plenty of them out there.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
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    Default

    i can't let this topic slip away. i really want a detroit in a pickup but i can't seem to get any answers on transmissions here.

    there are dealers around home that i can get all kinds of engine parts, even complete rebuilt engines of my choice. but the guys there know nothing about any adapters for gmc/chev transmissions.

    i've seen and heard of these before, you can get adapters for detroit diesel engine flywheel housings to mate up with gm bellhousings.

    anyone have any information on this, or whether or not gm bellhousing patterns match any SAE patterns?

    i'm looking to get an NV4500 behind a detroit so i will at least have an overdrive gear, but before i even get started on such a project i need to make sure that the engine to transmission part is easily achievable

    thanks
    2011 VW Jetta TDI, pretty well loaded without leather.
    2006 GMC Sierra D-max, 4x4, 4 door, bumper, winch, Espar heater, and the HID lights are a nice touch too.....
    1986 GMC 3500, 454 on propane, 4 speed, 4x4, crew cab dually......the welding truck
    1984 Toyota 4x4 pickup, 4.3 V6, 700R4, Toyota t-case.......transforming into 4x4 cage buggy

  18. #18

    Default

    You can easily make a 353 or 453 bolt to a chevrolet transmission, you have to swap the housing, but there is a housing that came of a 353 aluminum block that bolts to a chevrolet tranny, can be put on 353 or 453 engine, I'm not sure what the engine came in, maybe a GAMA goat?, I'm not sure.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    London, Ontario
    Posts
    1

    Default

    I've also been bitten by the 2-stroke diesel bug and now have the urge to put a nice high compression 3-53 in an old straight front axle F-100. I've done a little research and there is a company that makes transmission adapters for the SAE bellhousings to mate GM automatic transmissions. Look for http://www.phxgrp.com/transmission.htm and this should be what you're looking for. However, I would rather go the route of an NV4500 OR a 5 speed overdriven Spicer. If you can nab a transmission out of a medium duty stake truck then you have your solution. I saw mentioned somewhere that a stock Chevy SM-420 will bolt right up to the SAE #3 bellhousing. Also, regarding the 6V-53, if you really want that in your pickup then you'll have to beef EVERYTHING in the front end. The engine alone weighs 1500 pounds or so and if you want an Allison add another 5 or 600 to the front end. The 3-53 weighs just over 900 pounds, the 4-53 weighs just over 1100 pounds and the 4-71 weighs a whopping 1800 pounds. Coupled with the three and a half foot height, that 4-71 won't slide in like stock. Heres another good resource: http://www.imageevent.com/lyndsayautumn

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
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    Default

    this gets more and more tempting every time i check out youtube.

    just a question to everyone checking this out. I can't seem to find any 3 or 4 cylinder detroits yet. Are there specific trucks or pieces of equipment i should be looking for that would have these smaller engines in them?

    Also, having a lot of trouble finding an adapter, someone to make an adaptor or even the bellhousing for SAE to automotive. Any sites that i have checked out that claim to make adapters say they can't do it, or they never reply. Any more leads would be a great help. Thanks
    2011 VW Jetta TDI, pretty well loaded without leather.
    2006 GMC Sierra D-max, 4x4, 4 door, bumper, winch, Espar heater, and the HID lights are a nice touch too.....
    1986 GMC 3500, 454 on propane, 4 speed, 4x4, crew cab dually......the welding truck
    1984 Toyota 4x4 pickup, 4.3 V6, 700R4, Toyota t-case.......transforming into 4x4 cage buggy

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