Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 6bt engine weight...

[EKoster]

as some of you may know, i'm getting things ready to swap a 12v into my '76 gmc pickup. What i'm trying to find out now is if my dana 44 front axle is going to hold up to the added weight of the cummins. I think the complete 350 in there weighs about 400-500 lb's. Anyone have any figures on a complete 12v? Thanks



Eric

 

[Scot]

Mine with accessories, sitting on a pallet was #1100.

 

[1dslram]

Cummins says the complete engine weighs 1980#.

Bruce

 

[redram]

The 6BT weighs roughly 905 dry so 1100 is realistic.



Where did you find a 1980 listing at Cummins? That does not sound realistic.....



Regardless, the weight of the engine will kill your springs not the differential. What is going to kill your Dana 44 is the high torque which is why the Dana 60 was chosen for the 4X4 Dodge Rams with the Cummins.



Actual weight of the motor affects your front suspension - engine torque is what will break your Dana 44.



Cheers

 

[ronco]

I have read that the 6B ready to run (wet) weighs in about 970 pounds. That would make the 905 pounds dry pretty close. By comparison, a small block Chevy with iron intake and cast manifolds weight about 575 pounds and a big block Chevy with iron intake and manifolds weighs about 685 pounds.





Ronco

 

[JGheen]

Don't even bother with that Dana 44 and a Cummins. I have seen many and broke one myself with just a stock 350 Chevy in my old '71 1/2 ton pickup. Got tired of breaking and paying for a wimpy Dana 44 and never had to pay anything again once the 'ol Dana 60 was put in. It is worth all the money you will pay for that mighty Dana 60.

 

[T. Baker]

Remember you only use the front axle when you are in 4 wheel drive. How much power are you using while in 4 wheel drive? I have been doing fine with the 44s behind my cummins. I drive it pretty fast too. I'm not towing big trailers though. I have shreaded the clutch and nothing bad has happend to my axles. My truck only weighs 5K lbs though.

 

[JGheen]

Yeah, I tend to take my trucks wheelin' a lot and when your climbing a hill and you need that extra power to turn those big tires, the Dana 44 knuckles aren't going to last long. Haven't broke any Dana 60 knuckles yet(knock on wood).

 

[BV]

shipping weight of mine with AC pump, PS pump and starter (no fan or flywheel) was 1,025# on the pallet.



Ditto what JGheen said about the knuckles.

 

[Kirwin]

Dana 44 with a Cummins

I have a 85 Dodge Ramcharger that I put a 160 HP Cummins diesel in in 1992. I have 114,000 miles on the clock since the conversion and so far the Dana 44 has held up well. I did put snow plow springs for a 1/2 ton Dodge pickup under the Cummins when I did the conversion. I'm not hard on the vehicle and don't do hard 4 wheelin like others on this web site but I use 4 wheel drive occasionally, (usually to pull my 2WD 89 Ram out of the front yard while moving the travel trailer). I just had to replace the non-disconnect side axle shaft seal at nearly 200K on the axle. The oil still looked new! I think that as long as you take care of the axle it will take care of you. I have the NP-208 transfer case which is what I believe is the weak link in my particular drive train on the 4WD side. So far no issues. I posted my problems with the axle seal replacement over on the Off-roading part of the TDR if you are interested. Ken Irwin

 

[JGheen]

I am just one of those guys that would rather have the Dana 60 for it's brute strength and not worry about breaking anything than having an axle the will potentially break under certain load conditions of 4WD and be stuck out in the middle of some snow drift or mud hole on the side of the road with a broken knuckle. No pun intended.