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Thread: 1979 Chevy 3/4 ton with a Detroit Diesel?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Dayton
    Posts
    3

    Default 1979 Chevy 3/4 ton with a Detroit Diesel?

    I just purchased a very solid 79 3/4 chevy. Very clean frame, very straight body. She has no engine and no tranny.

    My plan is for the time being, Clean it up all nice, Coat the frame, fix up the interior.

    Once I get some money saved up I would really like to drop in a Detroit with possibly a 10 speed road ranger. Any thoughts? A twin stick would be sweet too.. I will post pictures soon.

    Also thought about a 6bt cummins.. But I would greatly prefer a 4-53t or even better a 6-53t but thats a pretty dang big engine.

    I want a challenge but I don't want it to be too incredibly impossible. Money isnt so much of an issue as this will be a long term project.

    Any tips, hints, thoughts, would be much appreciated!

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

    Default

    A 453 Detroit is all you will want to go. Back before there were factory diesel PUs there was a couple guys out of Bakerfield getting 453s out of rail road reefer cars and rebuilding them. Only they went with 1 ton Internationals single rear wheel because they could cary the wait of the Detroit better. With an automatic they got 18 mpg, standard they were seeing 21 mpg. If they could get traction they would climb a telephone plole.
    "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
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Dayton
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by a5150nut View Post
    A 453 Detroit is all you will want to go. Back before there were factory diesel PUs there was a couple guys out of Bakerfield getting 453s out of rail road reefer cars and rebuilding them. Only they went with 1 ton Internationals single rear wheel because they could cary the wait of the Detroit better. With an automatic they got 18 mpg, standard they were seeing 21 mpg. If they could get traction they would climb a telephone plole.
    Exactly what I like to hear! The more I think about it and read about it, I don't want a 10 speed however it would be very nice. With the engine being a 2 stroke I definitely don't want a 4 or 5 speed. Could possibly get a zf-6 but I still would like more than that. Maybe a 4speed with a 3 speed aux or something of that nature.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Dayton
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Ive made up my mind. I'm going with a ZF-6.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    363

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    I've got a 6BT and NV5600 6 speed manual in my 1990 Suburban so I'm kind of partial to this setup. Fuel economy with this setup is high 20's and it pulls like crazy.
    1990 ¾ ton 4x4 Chevy Suburban
    -Cummins Diesel - 12 valve - factory rebuilt
    -6 speed bullet proof manual transmission - NV5600
    -Gear Vendors Overdrive
    -Upgraded Holset HX-35 turbo
    -NP205 iron transfer case
    -3.73 gears

    1982 ½ ton Chevy Suburban
    -6.2L diesel - high nickle crack free 1982 block
    -Stans headers
    -Ported heads
    -Timing gear
    -4 speed automatic
    -3.08 gears
    -30 mpg on freeway

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