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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    311

    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
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Knoxville,Tennessee
    Posts
    2,639

    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
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    COLORADO
    Posts
    723

    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
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Posts
    311

    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
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Riverside, CA USA
    Posts
    686

    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
    Location
    Riverside, CA USA
    Posts
    686

    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

    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.

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