Hey guys hows it going. Brand new to this board and this is my first post.

I'm going to be starting to build a new truck for 4x4ing soon. A rather large truck.
I'm planning on buying a dodge cummins engine for this truck... with the nv4500 and x-case. I was wondering which engine you would recommend more. The 24 valve or 12 valve? I was also wondering about how well this engine will fit into my project truck. I haven't actually bought one yet. But I'm either going to use an 80's full size chevy pick up or a 90's ford f-350 or 250. Anyone know of someone who's done this swap before?
Also will I be able to use the stock fuel lines from a truck that was once gas powered for my diesel?
I'll obviously need a fuel sending unit or pump from the donor truck....
Any ideas or suggestions you have would be great...

A little more info on what will be done to the truck....

Unimog 404 axles with flang conversion and disc brakes all around
Hi-steer
Hydro assit steering
4 link or radius arm coil front end
Twin stick the x-case and possibly add dual t-cases
and either 42" or 44" tires with hummer run flat bead locks

Thanks!

 

I have the 12 valve and I love it for it's durability. The 24 valve seems to flow better and gets better mileage but it has more parts that can break.

And when you say Cummings instead of Cummins it's like nails on a blackboard.

Edwin

 

also i think with less electronics of a 12v putting them in anything is easier oh that and they came in just about everything also

 

go with the chevy. you will have more room under the hood in the chevy. my brother just put a 12v in a 92 ford and has little room under hood, my 88 has plenty of room under the hood. i could put twin in and only haveto worry about my heater/ac box. if those arenta big deal to you then you would enjoy the room the chevy provides. and the 12v will be easier to do. no comp=less work. if i could get the pic to work i would post one of each if you would like i could email you just pm me. and with the fuel lines mine are stock and rubber hose but i need to fix that. any questions just hollar. and welcome to DTR!

 

you can send pics to craigbwired@hotmail.com

My friend also recommended I go with the 12 valve... so sounds like that'll be my choice.
How did the engine mounts line up in the chevy? Did you have to make custom ones or did you manage to make the stock ones work?

 

Go with a 12v I'm working on putting one into an 85 GMC right now.

 

the guy that put the engine in my truck before i bought it home made them out of like 1/2" steel plates. im not to sure but you might be able to use the dodge mounts. i think my brother di in his ford with some minor fabrication. and ill tr y to send pics asap. But you will most likely need to go with an electric fan as there is only about 1.5-2" between pulleys and radiator.
Nick

 

I believe the 12 V is a more durable apllication and definetily gets better mileage if you have the pump set right. Good luck, go with the bowtie

 

EASY C check this site out http://www.fordcummins.com/

 

Only go to fordcummins.com if you feel like being ripped off and get extremely low quality parts. I spent 500 bucks there and only used a small part from them, a upper coolant neck, that I had to modify to make work right. Many others have had a similar experience. For your own sake do not use them.

They wouldnt take back the other parts because of their no return policy even though they were in my opinion defective and a horrible design. If you saw a picture of the mounts you would not believe they were 275 bucks. its 3 peices of steel and 2 shotty welds. Not even pre drilled. You could make the same thing for about 10 dollars.

If you decide you really want their mounts I'll sell you mine for half price , new unused condition .

 

lol well I don't have any problem fabing stuff up so I think I'll just make my own mounts by the sounds of it Right now I have a 1993 4runner that we cut the whole front IFS off and made up our own solid axle swap


and then on my buddies truck.. this is the one we're proud of right now. We figured out how to mount two toyota transmissions together and fabed that up as well.... 25 forward gears... 5 reverse. You can let the clutch out in 1st,1st, and 4lo, without any gas, holding the brake down as hard as you can... and the tires will still spin




I'm probably going to go with this truck....

http://www.buysell.com/root/detail/B...to_d44_14.aspx

So is it going to be an internal pump or external pump on the tank?
And are the stock fuel lines going to sufice for the diesel?

What guages should I add to the truck as well? I know I'll need a boost guage... and a pyrometer....

When I'm doing this swap I'll try to do a write up on it and take lots of pictures for you guys... maybe post it some where on here for other people that are thinking of trying the swap

 

Cummings?????....whats a Cummings ...
welcome to the site

 

Good looking truck you want to swap it into. Its got a good rear axle, and you probably already know the front axle has got to go. Once you rip out the front axle and the motor/trans/transfer case, you should be able to make a little bit of money back. I'd vote for 12v, I'm dreaming of doing this to a truck also, but not until I get my current 03 paid off fully.

Anyhow, welcome to the site, and I hope to see some pics of this beast when you're done.

 

STAY AWAY they dont know what they are talking about and dont really have anythnig for chevy's. i called looking for a tach senesor or some idea of how to go about doing it and they didnt know what i was talking about. and my brother actually used ford mounts and fabbed them and im working on the pics and you might want to think about a lil body lift to make the engine sit in it straight mine is a little crooked but that is what the 3" is going to be for besides the tranny issue. and external lift pump although mine still has the in tank pumpws if i really wanted to use them. and if you can find a NP205 they are the best to get. but good luck finding a dodge one.

I posted pics they are pending approval. enjoy

 

I've been reading a bunch of the posts on here about axle ratio's. lol... people say 4.10 is too low with 31's. Hopefully the 6.89 axle ratio I have won't be to low with 44's!! hahaha... if it is I'm going to reverse mount a np203 so it acts as another over drive. And yes I am going to be using a np205 as my normal t-case
As for exhaust size... I'm going to have to weld up my own custom exhaust.... what size pipe do you guys recommend for the 12 valve... 3" ?