Cummins 2.8l TurboDiesel Crate Engine

[Diesel85]

It's not something I want to do now, but maybe in two-three years to start playing with my 2000 Dodge Dakota.

I live in Upstate NY, and for those that are familiar with old cars/trucks with NYS, emissions inspections drop (not safety!) at 25 years old. Next year the truck will be 25 years old, so after that I can start tinkering more.

I always dreamed of a diesel Dakota with a stick shift, and coincidentally this truck has everything I would want to have it be (at least to me) interesting with a diesel engine in it.

Right now it's spec'd as follows:
Regular Cab
3.92 Limited Slip Rear axle
2 Wheel Drive
6 Lug Axles
HD Front and Rear Suspension
4.7l Magnum V8
NV3500HD Manual Transmission
Air Conditioning

No cruise or anything fancy.

I want to convert it to diesel -- but conservatively. Not drop a 6BT or something gigantic in the frame. After doing probably many years of research (little by little), the holdup has always been at that NV3500 transmission.

So I was bored last night and I decided to see if anything new has come up, but I must've typed the right "Google Magic" words in and I found that Cummins states the NV3500 will bolt right up to the 2.8l and I can provision some A/C for it. Also includes a vacuum pump for the brakes, so I don't need to mess with a hydroboost setup.

https://www.cummins.com/engines/repower

Mind you, this is NOT a daily driver truck. Sits in my garage as a garage queen. No rust and I just keep up on it. My family is the original owner of the truck. I want to essentially make it into something "interesting" to bring to car/truck shows as I get older... you know, park it on the grass, open the hood, and let people marvel at it, while I sit in a $10 lawn chair sipping some crappy iced tea... (that's my idea of fun!)

Best of all, they are priced reasonable at $10k for a complete engine, ECU, throttle pedal, and other goodies.

When I do take on this project, I want to buy the engine, redo the cooling package, a freshly rebuilt transmission, redo all four corners, bushings, driveshaft (possibly do aluminum), and rear end job. Possibly a new paint job.

Rough estimate to do what I want to do looks like $25k.

I guess my nagging question is... am I out of my mind to do this? Or do I just leave it alone and leave it stock forever?

 

[AH64ID]

I’d love to put a R2.8 in something, but it would probably be a Jeep or older Toyota.

 

[MartyK]

I don't think your out of your mind. It sounds like a fun project.

 

[Diesel85]

Thanks for the input.

This thread is merely me thinking out loud. Not sure what I will do until I pull the trigger and start buying stuff.

I remember looking at this R2.8 several years ago, but thought it was a basket case with the transmission options.

I also have the option of putting other Mopar gas engines in too, including a built-up drop in Magnum 4.7l. Which if I recall isn't that much cheaper than doing this little diesel, but a LOT less potential fabrication.

 

[bcbender]

I always wanted to put a 4BT in my Bronco.. this may be the ticket when I get some free time... challenge will be getting the AUTO trans to work stand alone

 

[Diesel85]

I always wanted to put a 4BT in my Bronco.. this may be the ticket when I get some free time... challenge will be getting the AUTO trans to work stand alone

A Compushift standalone controller works nicely with the E4OD.

 

[jghflys]

I always wanted to put a 4BT in my Bronco

Here is my 1971 with a 4BT.

 

[petersonj]

I always wanted to put a 4BT in my Bronco

I did put a new 4BTA (1988) into a 1984 Ford E150 van with a manual 4 spd overdrive transmission. The van came with two factory fuel tanks - one 18 gallon and one 22 gallon tank. One time I drove just over 1,020 miles without refueling, netting just over 29 mpg. I lived in Leadville, Colorado at the time. I could cruise up 11,000 ft mountain passes (7% grades) at 70 mph in overdrive with no smoke.

In 1991, I purchased a new Ford F150 4WD with a 5 spd manual transmission. I drove the truck from Denver to Leadville and promptly removed the engine from both vehicles. The Cummins went into the new F150. Drove that truck for over 200,000 miles. It was an awesome combination and one of a kind for that era of driving.

- John

 

[Cummins12V98]

A guy I know who was with Piers threw a 4BT in a 23' GlasPly Boat. Hauled AZZ and had goof fuel economy.

 

[Tuesdak]

I guess my nagging question is... am I out of my mind to do this? Or do I just leave it alone and leave it stock forever?

Pick on another Dakota that has the V6 in it. This would actually be an improvement on the V6 but in TQ only as the V6 has 175HP and 225 Lb Ft. They should be cheap enough esp. if they need an engine. Oh, and with a diesel you will need the extended cab. RC pickups are rare now for a reason...

It'd be a shame to gut a V8 Dakota for something else. Esp. if you are taking that much HP off the table and spending that much to do so. 4.7L is 235HP at 295 Lb Ft.

R2.8 161HP at 310 Lb ft. When an anemic 6.5TD makes more HP and TQ I have a hard time imagining the R2.8 in anything. Do they make the 5.0 V8 as a drop in kit? At least it's 310 HP and 555 Lb ft would be "interesting".

Yeah the 5.0L Cummins was "interesting". As in interesting to know why the hood's up...

One of the few regrets I have is not looking harder at the V8 Dakotas when I got a 2000 GMC Sonoma with the 4.3L V6 (180HP 240 Lb Ft). I was rented a Dakota with the V8 once when the GMC was in service. Night and day what a V8 can do in those little pickups. Not a fan of the fuel guzzling 4.7L in a RAM 1/2 ton when worked towing though. Towing between Denver and Pueblo, CO is what that GMC unexpectedly wound up doing a lot of. Not as hard of a climb as Leadville but enough to wind it up and leave it wound up in places.

Recall projects are just that and have a risk of not being finished. becoming in the way, and sold just to get the space back.

 

[EDankievitch]

I had a 4.7 B8 Dakota was a fun truck except it couldn’t get past a fuel pump without having to stop. On rainy days it was a handful to drive, at least mine was. Too much torque to soon the truck would be sideways. I’m betting that 2.7 Cummins would make a really nice truck. I’ve currently got an F150 Diesel. That 3 liter engine has been just right. I’ve had no probl keeping up with my Brother in law’s 5.0 powered F150.

 

[bcbender]

Recall projects are just that and have a risk of not being finished. becoming in the way, and sold just to get the space back.

I did the frame off on my bronco in 18 mos... but understand you're point as my Camaro LT1 has been on a stand needing a rod replacement for a few years... As for me, the 4BT / R2.8 is not so much about more power as going to diesel. The OEM 351W has more HP and almost the same TQ... but sucks gas, I'd believe (in my usage) that the diesel would be the same performance, with slightly better FE with the low end TQ.. and then its just "cool" and not really about the money anyway... JM2C

 

[Diesel85]

Pick on another Dakota that has the V6 in it. This would actually be an improvement on the V6 but in TQ only as the V6 has 175HP and 225 Lb Ft. They should be cheap enough esp. if they need an engine. Oh, and with a diesel you will need the extended cab. RC pickups are rare now for a reason...

It'd be a shame to gut a V8 Dakota for something else. Esp. if you are taking that much HP off the table and spending that much to do so. 4.7L is 235HP at 295 Lb Ft.

R2.8 161HP at 310 Lb ft. When an anemic 6.5TD makes more HP and TQ I have a hard time imagining the R2.8 in anything. Do they make the 5.0 V8 as a drop in kit? At least it's 310 HP and 555 Lb ft would be "interesting".

Yeah the 5.0L Cummins was "interesting". As in interesting to know why the hood's up...
View attachment 139966

One of the few regrets I have is not looking harder at the V8 Dakotas when I got a 2000 GMC Sonoma with the 4.3L V6 (180HP 240 Lb Ft). I was rented a Dakota with the V8 once when the GMC was in service. Night and day what a V8 can do in those little pickups. Not a fan of the fuel guzzling 4.7L in a RAM 1/2 ton when worked towing though. Towing between Denver and Pueblo, CO is what that GMC unexpectedly wound up doing a lot of. Not as hard of a climb as Leadville but enough to wind it up and leave it wound up in places.

Recall projects are just that and have a risk of not being finished. becoming in the way, and sold just to get the space back.

I can get a drop in 4.7l that puts out a tad more than 235/295 too. I think 250/310 was some numbers I was seeing N/A. Not to mention some S/C options too.

And no fab required -- drag and drop. Gauges and all factory stuff works too without mods.

I really would want to do a diesel, but for $25k, I could get a 2500/3500 Gen 2 and build from that if I wanted a diesel. And it's actually usable.

This has been my thoughts over the many years of owning it. Sometimes it is very frustrating.

 

[Tuesdak]

I really would want to do a diesel, but for $25k, I could get a 2500/3500 Gen 2 and build from that if I wanted a diesel. And it's actually usable.

This. Great for what they are. However not hard to need more truck. I somehow found myself in that position way too often even with a 6x12' U-haul out back on that GMC.

Then again for a fun ride goal I'd put a turbo on it or stuff the larger 5.7L V8 in it. The S/C requiring higher octane expensive fuel may not be your goal. Again the 4.7L is plenty fun from the one I rented without anything really needed.

 

[Diesel85]

This. Great for what they are. However not hard to need more truck. I somehow found myself in that position way too often even with a 6x12' U-haul out back on that GMC.

Then again for a fun ride goal I'd put a turbo on it or stuff the larger 5.7L V8 in it. The S/C requiring higher octane expensive fuel may not be your goal. Again the 4.7L is plenty fun from the one I rented without anything really needed.

Still kicking myself for getting rid of my 2002 2500 Cummins. But it's water under the bridge now. No calling that one back...

I'm toying the idea of the 5.7l Hemi too or do a Dakota RT 5.9l -- as they say it -- "No replacement for displacement!". LOL

Trust me, throughout all these years of ownership, I've had plenty of thoughts and folks suggesting ideas for that Dakota.

 

[NIsaacs]

Here ya go, 1945 IH I think.

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[Diesel85]

Wow, that 2.8l engine looks so pretty.

I really love the looks of diesel engines and how the injection systems are setup and what not. Something that gas engines just don't cut for me, no matter how they look.

They are going to make that IH into a mighty fine truck.