12 valve in an 06?

[Edge]

Anyone put a 12 valve in a 3rd gen dodge?

 

[DPashko]

I sure did!

 

[Edge]

O. K. How easy was the conversion? I have a 12 valve, my mechanic and I were thinking about putting it in an Excursion with an allison but I am not sure that I want to handle driving a Ford, think I would rather have a 6 speed dodge, there is a crew cab 06 for 7K locally with a blown engine. Wow, just read your list on your truck, sounds like what I am thinking, A totally built 12V

 

[HBarlow]

Almost any conversion can be done if you have adequate skill, determination, and resources. Members don't know how much of those characteristics you have so it's hard to answer.

Consider that the '06 and later Ram uses CANBUS electronics. I don't know but would assume that the 12 valve ECM will not be able to communicate with the PCM or remainder of the truck's electrical and electronic systems. Things like transmission shifting and alternator operation will be more difficult.

 

[Edge]

I have a great mechanic that I am sure can handle pretty much any of the technical difficulties, I should be asking about cost of the conversion to see if it is worth it.

I have had 1st and second gen dodge's, really wanting to go to a 3rd, do people really seem to like the common rail engines and can they be made to get good power and great fuel mileage. I have owned 3 12 valves and one 24. the 12's all got very good mileage, one over 22, the 24 was around 17. after getting stranded several times in the 24 valve, that thought was always in the back of my mind, I take a lot of 500 mile trips, hence the thought of putting a 12v in a later model truck

 

[rscurtis]

"... . I should be asking about the cost of the conversion and see if it's worth it". That is the crux of the whole issue. Personally, I think your effort would be better spent rebuilding/repairing the original engine. I would compare this conversion to taking a modern fuel injected car and saying, "I want to go back to points and a carburetor. " I venture to say that a far as the reliability of the CR engine is concerned, you're going to be stuck on the road due to mechanical failure long before the electronics stop you. If you were doing this to replace a 6. 0 in a 2006 Ford, now that's a different story.

 

[DPashko]

"... . I should be asking about the cost of the conversion and see if it's worth it". That is the crux of the whole issue. Personally, I think your effort would be better spent rebuilding/repairing the original engine. I would compare this conversion to taking a modern fuel injected car and saying, "I want to go back to points and a carburetor. " I venture to say that a far as the reliability of the CR engine is concerned, you're going to be stuck on the road due to mechanical failure long before the electronics stop you. If you were doing this to replace a 6. 0 in a 2006 Ford, now that's a different story.

Now I beg to differ, that CR left me on the road several times, and everything on it is run through the ECM which is electronic, one thing is not satisfied you will be in limp mode or not starting. The 12v no electronics... . got dead batteries, short in wiring or alternator acting up, wire open fuel shut off solonoid, get a pull start and away I go. Save yourself a tow bill!



Now as far as the conversion goes anything can be done! its alot of work, wiring, making brackets and modifying little things. I put in all new gauges wiring was too much to figure out due to I needed the truck back on the road. It wasnt by any means a cheap conversion either, but I did a complete engine rebuild and added many performance parts. I spent close to $25,000. 00 on the 12v and I did all the labour but some costs were recovered from selling parts from the donor truck and selling the CR. Yes it would of been cheaper to fix my CR at the time,(Dropped a valve seat took out #1 piston, smashed head, injector and ate the trubo) but after 4 sets of injectors, fuel pumps, tow bills, and a couple wiring issues and sensor change outs... the descision was made, I had already spent about the same in repairs as it was to build the 12v. It has just over 100,000Km on the 12v now it is an awesome engine with no problems. I recommend the conversion if you have the time and money!

 

[Shadrach]

I thought about doing this myself and actually talked to DPashko as I know him. For me I just didn't have the time, as I need my truck running for this summer. It was tempting as I have a 97 engine and all the parts to rebuild it and my buddy is a diesel electrical man. I wasn't going to go as wild as he did. In the end I rebuilt the 03. See my thread on it.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...007/220792-rebuilding-my-5-9-common-rail.html



Shadrach

 

[BHanna]

Make sure you'll be able to register it when you're done. I think lots of states require a replacement engine to be from the same year vehicle or later.

 

[Edge]

good advice here everyone, thanks

 

[rscurtis]

Another avenue to consider if you really want the 12 valve is to find a clean 2nd generation, and update it with third gen. running gear. Much easier, cheaper, no electronics to fool with, no trouble registering or inspecting it, etc.

 

[ENafziger]

Although you may have gotten 22 - 24 mpg with your older 12 valves, it's probably unrealistic to expect the same thing transplanted in a vehicle that's 2,000 - 3,000 lbs heavier...

 

[FDavid]

Although you may have gotten 22 - 24 mpg with your older 12 valves, it's probably unrealistic to expect the same thing transplanted in a vehicle that's 2,000 - 3,000 lbs heavier...

Ain't quite following you there. My 98 12v weighs in at 7200lbs.

 

[Shadrach]

Make sure you'll be able to register it when you're done. I think lots of states require a replacement engine to be from the same year vehicle or later.

We don't have that problem up here. I could go into the motor vehicle office at plate renewal time and "tell" them to change my registration to read diesel instead of gas and change the color from red to blue without them even asking to see the vehicle as an example. A color change would be more of an "offense" than an engine swap would be, and only because my registration papers would read wrong if I got stopped by the cops. I could take out a 318 and put in a 440 and nobody would ask or ever know. If the vehicle is from another provence or another country then it has to have an inspection and maybe a few updates, like daytime running light if it's from the US. AHH the joys of living in Alberta :-laf

 

[ENafziger]

Ain't quite following you there. My 98 12v weighs in at 7200lbs.

Right. And the older (1990 - 1993) 12vs were 1k lighter than that. Most of the 3rd gens are upwards of 8k. My '06 SRW with a couple tool boxes and bumpers is 9,100. These trucks have progressively gotten heavier when comparing an early 90s (22 -24 mpg) rig to a '03 - '10 pig.

--Eric