class 'C" motor home

[83 crew cab]

any body look into puting a 6bt or a 4bt into one of the 70-80 dodge class C motor home was thanking that might make a cheap car hauler George

 

[Paychk]

You mean something like this?



http://www.fostertruck.com/cummins/



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[83 crew cab]

that would even be better but I was thanking of the van frontend becouse they are easier to come by

 

[Philip]

The Van frontend Class C's do not enough engine bay height to put a Cummins in. You would have to notch the dash a lot. I am not sure but I bet the windshield is mounted to low also. The engine bay is tight with a 360 in it.



The 360 has a measurement of 16" from crank center line to top of valve covers. With a M1 intake and a holley it comes to around 22". The vans can't handle a high raise intake. The air cleaner hits the engine cover.



The cummins measures 24". I didn't even try to measure the below center line mass.



I helped a guy put a 440 into one of these once. I won't do that agin.

 

[83 crew cab]

that is what I was thanking but did not have anything to measure



we had one with a 440 once it was really tight

 

[Philip]

I have a 64 Dart with a V6 Dakota engine in it. I grab the measurements off of it. The V6 is just a cut down 318/360.



The Cummins measurement came from my 1st gen. That measurement didn't include the air intake horn eather.



If you can find one of the older Class A Dodge chassis with the 413 in it. That engine set low in the chassis. You would have enough height for the Cummins in it. These chassis also had I beam front axles. So the swap would be easyer. Look around for a early 70's Class A. Most are cheap now. No one wants them because of the fuel milage. Most got around 4 MPG or so.

 

[fredflinstone]

I'm interested to see this thread as today we were sitting here considering the idea of putting a 4bt in my 2002 high top conversion van. I agree the dodge engine compartment is tight but I'm going to look into it quite heavily as the benifits would be great. Anyone with any ideas please speak up as I am very serious about looking into doing this. Back to the shop Seth

 

[Philip]

Hi Fred



The measurements for crank center line I gave for the 6BT will be the same for the 4BT.



I haven't looked at a chassis like you have so I can't help to much there.

 

[michigandon]

Originally posted by Philip

If you can find one of the older Class A Dodge chassis with the 413 in it. That engine set low in the chassis. You would have enough height for the Cummins in it. These chassis also had I beam front axles. So the swap would be easyer. Look around for a early 70's Class A. Most are cheap now. No one wants them because of the fuel milage. Most got around 4 MPG or so.

I'm in the process of doing this exact same thing right now! (see signature). It's a relatively easy swap. The motor mounts on the 1st gen Cummins bolt up to the original 413 mounts in the chasssis almost perfectly! (*emaphasis on the "almost" part they're a wee bit too wide, but can be made to work with some fanigalling). Front crossmember needs to be notched. Rear transmission x-member needs to be modified or custom fabbed. Exhaust manifold needs to be replaced to swing the turbo down and out of the way. Oil pan needs to be turned around to clear the front axle. If you are using a 518/47re/rh transmission the old 727 acessories (speedo cable, shifter, backup light, neutral safety switch) all hook right up. The newer alternator on a 6BT from a dodge will wire up to the old charging system. Some battery cables will need to be upgraded and so do the fuel line of course. Then you gotta have a shoe horn to stuff the radiator and intercooler into the front!



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[83 crew cab]

this is what I was thanking about to bad it would be such a tight fit

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6197&item=2478663257&rd=1

 

[Philip]

CC I would be afraid to try putting a Cummins 6BT into one of those. I have done some weird swaps over the years. That one is going to be hard.



On that early 70's class C I helped put the 440 into. We had major problems with the engine hole and engine cover. We didn't have to play with dashboard or cross memeber like this one would require.



The hardest swap I did was a 73 Datsun pickup with a 231 C. I Buick V6 and a 4 spd car trans. It made a good sleeper.