8.3 Cummins into a Ram

[FL70CAT]

Anyone attempt this swap??

Hey Dodge why don't you step up to the plate and wipe out the competition!!

 

[FL70CAT]

I can't believe nobody here has done this or knows of someone who has... ...

 

[bigkid59]

Hello FL70CAT!



Part of the reason could be the weight difference between the 6BTA and the C8. 3. According to a Cummins publication I have comparing various engines, the 6BTA weighs 905 pounds compared to 1335 pounds for a C8. 3.



This is enough difference to make it a difficult swap to do. It could be done, but physical size and weight would really be working against you.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

NOPE, T'aint just the WEIGHT of the 8. 3 - it's the lack of a transmission that will bolt to the engine and still fit into a medium duty truck - as I understand it, the only viable transmission is the Allison 6-speed, and it is nearly the same size as our B-5. 9 Cummins!:--)

 

[baby.driver]

Someone HAS done it.

I don't remember where I read it.

It may have been a newsgroup alt. auto. dodge maybe.



Jay

 

[Wirenut]

C-series Man from this site put one in a ford.

 

[FL70CAT]

I have seen the 6 speed Eaton syncronized trannys behind the 8. 3 in bussiness class freightliners.

 

[JohnE]

Use both ISC and C8. 3G+ (CNG) engines. Allison, Voith, and ZF all make a bolt up auto trany.



-John

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It isn't that their AREN'T trannies to use, it's just that they aren't as plentiful as the engines, they're big, they're heavy, and they're expensive - all add up to a pretty formidable swap for the vast majority of us...



Yeah, you MIGHT squeeze 2 full-grown elephants into a phone booth too - but somewhere along the line, yer likely to start wondering WHY... !

 

[JohnE]

I am referring to <em>compact</em> transmissions. An Allison B400 is not large compared to the beast in front...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

In any case, from what *I* hear, it's an awesome engine, the BASE HP is what many of us would drool over AFTER bombing our stocker Cummins... PLUS, I understand that in actual use, the 8. 3 when used in lighter trucks such as ours, the fuel consumption is dern near the same as the B-5. 9!



LOVE to have an 8. 3 in MY '91...

 

[kcjayco]

There are some transmissions for the 8. 3. Fuller makes six, sevens and eight speeds for the 5. 9 as will as the 8. 3l. You can check their website at roadranger.com. It lists all the transmissions for weight, torque ect. I saw a 3500 ram with a roadranger six speed. Used a flywheel housing for a F/L with a 5. 9l. He had the engine juiced up also. It was running around Las Vegas when I was living there. He bought the transmission outright for $3600. 00. If you price an NV4500 its well over 4K. The flywheel housing was about 1k. It was a nice setup though. I believe the flywheel housing is the same for the 8. 3 and the 5. 9 depending on flywheel size. His had a 14" Spicer dual ceramic disk. No slippage at all.

 

[Amianthus]

Drool!!!

An 8. 3 with injectors and LPG? Someone get me a bib!!!

 

[Todd G]

If Banks can put a 5. 9 in a Dakota, then someone should be able to shoehorn a 8. 3 in a Ram. Can you imagine a 8. 3 Ram towing a trailer with a 5. 9 Dakota to May Madness. Oo.