85 suburban 2wd 454 to 12valve

[hdepech]

good advise I will remember. I figure I will use the dodge set up all the way. I may use the dodge condenser not sure to pick-n-pull and got driver doors to replace the camper mirror style that are rusted and cracked. doors 30 bucks each. got a tan head liner in good condition for 7 bucks and went to fabric store found tan headliner 50% off. seeing that my burb is missing a head liner. no engine work today rain rain go away.



I live in the Vancouver area

 

[hdepech]

engine out, boy a big block is hevy trying to pull up and out up a slight incline



next up steam clean, sell engine trans and front clip to dodge.



cummins I hope will be out Saturday, do the needed rapairs:

KDP, exhaust manifold gasket, tune up, fluids and filters.



not bad the front clip took about 2 hrs and the engine took about 2 hrs. :-laf

 

[hdepech]

engine bay cleaned and ready for a dry warm day of paint. wiring next. Saturday cummins will come out of the dodge.

 

[EWalshak]

Looking good! Which trans are you using?

 

[hdepech]

I think 518 or 47rh not sure of the differance. it has overdrive still reading more about dodge transmissions. i figure I will either build this one or get a reman? not sure any advise. I am not a dodge guy. I know GM stuff and alison duramax and powerstroke and cummins just not Mopar.

 

[EWalshak]

If you decide to go with the dodge trans. Make sure you keep the computer box from the dodge. It is inside the drivers fender. (if your not planning to buy a stand alone controller) I learned this the hard way. Luckily for me the guy that bought my donor has agreed to trade it back to me in exchange for some parts. I decided to go with the 518 that was in my donor. Although it does not have lockup, I believe it is a better trans. The 4L80E would be easier as far as wiring goes, It will also be more expensive if you cost in the adapter.

 

[EWalshak]

The trans in your donor is a 518. The main difference between it and a 46rh or 47rh is the lock up feature. A 46rh is the same as the 518 + lock up. The 47rh is a little beefier. From what everyone tells me lockup is only going to make a diiference of 200-300rpm. The lockup feature is not very strong by nature anyway. My trans man tells me that it only uses one clutch plate. (not much)if you measures accross the friction disk area it only measures about a half inch.

 

[hdepech]

I understand better now. I was looking at the dodge and noticed a trans cooler installed back under the bed of the truck. I has the thermal switch and a huge fan on it.

I figure i will use the GM 14 bolt diff and change the drive shaft. use the dodge drive shaft and adapt the rear yoke? looks like the cross member for the GM carrier support will have to be removed? the trans mount will change location as well.



the GM to dodge trans shifter will need some good magic.



any ideas for:

cluster

fuel tank

engine mounts?



Patrick

 

[EWalshak]

The dodge driveshaft was a wee bit short in my case. I seemed like it was pretty close but the splines inside the yoke dont come all the way to the end. I had to have a new one made using the front yoke from the dodge driveshaft, a new tube and on the diff end they used what was called a crossover or adapter u-joint, to go from the 1-1/2 ton on the dodge to the 1ton on the burb rearend. I used the burb crossmember but had to move it back 4-7/8in. The 518 trans uses the three holes in the rear of the trans to mount. If you look at the bottom of the 518 trans there should be two holes in front of where the mount is located. These hole are only about 1/8in away from fitting a gm trans mount. I opened them up a little and was able to get it to fit. For engine mounts call Scott Oswalt @ Tennesee Diesel Conversions. He has mounts for what you are doing. He has a world of knowledge concerning this conversion. It is worth the price of the mounts just to be able to call him for info. As far as guages go, search the internet for Dakota Digital. For your fuel tank. You only need to run a return fuel line from the motor back to the fuel tank. If your tank has some kind of vent on it you can plug into that. On the cummins the return fuel line is toward the back of the motor just below the place where the head sits on the motor on the drivers side. If your burb has an inline fuel pump like mine did, just take it out replacing it with a section of steel line and use the one that is on the side of the cummins. Hope this all makes sense. If not pm me if I can help at all

 

[hdepech]

understood thanks very much. for fuel line I will install a davco unit I got from work it is a large paper filter that has a sight can to see fthe filter ( like the semi trucks have)

I will adapt into the factory lines about alf way down the truck. I have all the GM wiring labeled and the chassis is preped for a trial fit of the cummins. Again like you sugest I will call Scott. Do you have pictures?

 

[EWalshak]

Tell me what you want pics of and I will post them later this eve. Ive been meaning to continue on with the progress ive made on my thread anyway.

 

[hdepech]

cummins out!

 

[hdepech]

pullled the haness out of the dodge truck and labeled all conectors. took apart dodge and GM clusters to get idea of a my driection I want. The cluster looks easy. I will use all GM oil, coolant,volt,fuel gauges. a little dremmeling of the center of the housing and the dodge speedo will fit right into place. I will stand alone wire in the speedo. Straight from the dodge wiring. Need to adapt to the engine for GM oil,coolant sensors.



I have found the girls like the empty dodge cab as a play house so I may need to figure a way to move that in the back yard.



I will lay out harness and get to work. Steam clean the cummins do needed repairs and paint.

Anyone know the price for the GM engine mounts?

paint burban chassis and under hood.

start first install for a trial fit I hope first time is a charm.

the rest of the week is packed so i will be lucky to get to is buy Saturday!

 

[hdepech]

went to baxter auto parts ( I get a freightliner discount) picked up engine paint and undercoating. they also have this cool sound deading heat absorbing pad that is 4 feet by 6. its stout and looks very good. I will install that on the fire wall and hood.

Preping the burban for engine. I did some rough measurements and the 2wd dodge trans will almost go right to the GM trans cross member. also making my own engine mounts to cut back some cost. I have free scrap steal at work

 

[EWalshak]

How much was the sound deadening mat? I need some for the inside of my burb.

 

[hdepech]

the mat was $22. 00 No work today I did yard work and also fixed a neighbors wheelchair van that had a dead battery.