5.9 to 86 Chevy 1 ton Army Truck

[NWhitney]

Ok our Local Vol. Fire Dept that I am on is getting a '86 Chevy Army Truck donated to us. Currently has a 6. 2L POS in it with an Auto (I think a TH400). It is 4x4 and has good body. Currently has 24 Volt charging system in it. We can get a hold of a '97 12 valve that we can put into this truck.



Question #1

Will the TH400 hold the power of the cummins stock, and if I play a little



Question #2

Will I need a new TQ Converter for the TH400 (lower stall speed)



Question #3

Were is the best place to buy a bellhousing adapter for the 5. 9 to TH400?



Question #4

Already having the engine and truck donated how much do you think this project will cost?

 

[autoworld]

there is no adapter avail for that anymore that we know of and no, it will not stand up to the cummins... (been there, done that -ate it for lunch). find a newer dodge one that was with a cummins if you insist on an automatic, otherwise an nv4500.

costs will still be around $2000 misc depends on what all you have (ie: intercooler, exhaust, double batteries) and about 250 hours of someone's time, if you are a first timer.

dawna

 

[JUeckert]

if you are suffering from power withdrawls put a turbo on the 6. 2,it will turn it into a whole new animal,or stick a 454 in it. either would be a much simpler chore. the prob with the mentioned truck is that they generally came with 4. 56 gears,which quickly throw a diesel out of its powerband,especially a cummins. with no od and a cummins,it would be a very slow boat to china. i have seen turbo 400 trannys live behind a un modded cummins,but as mentioned finding the adapter would be difficult. if you have a engine and truck donated,what about the transmission in it?

 

[NWhitney]

I am not sure but I think either the rear end in the '97 dodge is out or the trans. Not for sure yet but hope to find out this week. Ok so TH400 is out and maybe so is the Cummins. Maybe I will just have to work on more power out of the sick 6. 2 and the 24 volt system that is going to give us fits.

 

[GMcLeod]

the only thing 24V on the truck would be the starter, and the glow plugs are 12V. I had a CUCV truck that I fixed up and found lots of ideas for conversion on the internet, sorry but don't remember where. Try a search using CUCV in it you should pull up lots of info.

 

[Jed]

If you rebuild the pump and the injectors and put higher gears in the drive line the cucv will serve you well within its limitations. It will not tow heavy but it will haul some weight and it will haul it straight up hill if you need that. It is simple to convert to 12 volt you can even use the same starter if you convert it to 12v. There is a thread about a member that put a 12 valve in a cucv but he used a nv4500 and dodge cooler and radiator. I plan to put a 4bt in mine as you can get the setup out of a bread truck. So far the 6. 2 just keeps running along so as long as it does I will stick with it.

 

[PKirby]

Here is the link to convert to 12 volts.

http://www.roscommonequipmentcenter.com/news_notes/nn10.pdf



I bought a 12v gear reduction starter on Ebay and a new brace from the Chevy dealer back when I first got my M1008 . I sold my 24v starter on Ebay for $80.



I installed a NV4500 behind the 6. 2 using an Advance adapters bellhousing. That was a simple swap because the GM NV4500 bolts directly to the factory transfer case and you don't have to modify the prop shafts. I turned the pump up 1/2 turn and the truck did great except for towing. I could even pass other vehicles on the highway when I needed to.



I bought a turbo setup but I never installed it. I converted to the Cummins instead. The Cummins does not rev as high as a 6. 2, so if you convert it without using an overdrive, the 4. 56 gears will need to be changed.



That J code 6. 2 the truck has is not a bad engine in my opinion.

 

[Dieselnutz]

A Cummins conversion would be very cool but I don't think it would worth the effort. Too much time and money. Enjoy the truck for what it is! I had M1028 and it is a good truck just don't expect to go fast or run down the Interstate. The 4. 56 gears make feel powerful but 55mph with stock tires is about it. I did run 50 miles down the interstate at 70mph but that was with 38. 5's! Never tried it with the 42's! They are good trucks and parts are cheap and available if you where to look. I picked up a waterpump at Advance auto in stock! I got the truck from the local VFD.

 

[NWhitney]

Our Vol Fire Dept wants to make this truck into a GrassFighter/ backup rescue. It will have a Alumium flat bed with some alumium boxes, a 210 gal poly water tank, a honda trash pump, and a 50' hose reel on it.

If we change the Elec. sys to 12 volt, and fix the bad glow plugs that are in it,

#1 will it have enough power to haul what we want up and down a few SMALL hills, and mostly over flat ground?

#2 what will the max speed be on good flat road? at least 60?

#3 will it accelerate at a speed great enought to get out of its own way?



Guess Dieselnutz answered my questions while I typed them.

 

[JUeckert]

i would think 60 is about it with 4. 56 gears. i have the same set up with a 4spd and 4. 10 gears,75 is about it. i have another with 3. 73 gears and a 4spd transmission[2wd]even before i installed a turbo it would easily bury the speedo. shame your set up dosent have a 4spd,it makes a difference in power. as for power enhancements to your rig advance the timing to the pump a tad,get rid of the stock mufflers they are very restrictive ,glass packs work better and are cheap. bump the pump about 1/8 turn on the fuel screw,anything over this is a waste of fuel and can raise egt's,if possible get it rebuilt. a well built inj pump can make a big difference in how she runs,the military was known for useing jp8 fuel [i think its called that]in the vehicles,the fuel has very little lubricateing quality ,so the pumps are short lived. as mentioned a turbo would also make a world of difference. good luck,a 6. 2 can be a very good little engine...

 

[MMcCallie]

If you're still considering the TH400, there is a guy down in Georgia who used to sell a conversion to run a GM transmission behind a Cummins. I believe his name was Jamie Avant, Avant Salvage. The 4b series were used in some GM bread trucks & the like.



The back end of the 6b will swap with the 4b so you use the 4 cylinder starter & other parts & the GM transmission will bolt right up, or so i'm told. It will be clocked however, so either the engine or transmission will have to be mounted about 10 degrees leaning to one side. I think the whole kit was around $400.



I've been considering the 4L80. TCI claims it's strength is comparable to the 4R100. If the TH400 is not strong enough, same should apply to a 4L80. I would think that with a totally manual valve body it would be strong enough. Maybe not? I've been trying to find some way around running an electronic automatic behind my 12 valve project.



After trying the turbo, you always have other power enhancements like propane or water/methanol injection, even nitrous. The 6. 2 may not be a Cummins, but it has a fairly strong fanclub.