Engine advice...

[Crash_AF]

Hi all,

After careful consideration of my vehicle situation, I have just purchased an 83 Chevy Suburban to haul the family around in. It's a 3/4 ton 4x4 with 350/4 speed manual and rear heat and A/C that I picked up for $1800. My question is, what Cummins do you think would be the best to transplant into it?



I am leaning towards finding a wrecked 94-98 12V 5 speed 4x4 since I'll get an NV4500 and P7100, but I'll need another transfer case with the right side output to match the front axle.



If I could find a wrecked intercooled W250/W350 SRW, I would get a Dana 60 front (to upgrade from my Dana 44) and an NP205 transfer (to upgrade from my NP208), but I get a Getrag.



Any advice would be helpful... 12 MPG with a good stiff tailwind is getting hard on the wallet.



Later,

Joe

 

[Ray Torresdal]

4BTA/3.9

I wonder if the 4 cylinder version wouldn't be entirely adequate, and less weight and room to deal with. Unless you do a lot of towing with your suburban, the 5. 9 would be excessive in my book. Ray

 

[Hutchew]

A few thoughts.......

Unless you come across the deal of the century, any way you go is gonna be time-consuming and expensive. If you want top performance, then a 97-98 5 speed motor is what to look for. Otherwise, second choice would be a 94-96 motor, followed by 91 1/2- 93. Motors before 91 1/2 were not factory intercooled, but any of these motors can be made to run better than stock, they just have various limitations. You probably already knew all of this. I don't think a Dana 60 from a Dodge will stuff under a Chevy due to spring perch differences, but I may very well be wrong. Seems to me the Chevy (frame) is a little wider, though.

So, in my opinion, I would look for a 97-98 motor with an nv4500, and an NP205 transfer case from a 89-93 CTD 5-Speed truck. The dana 60 front I think you will have to scrounge from a chev or gmc truck.

A lot of folks here recommend reliable diesel in Arizona for conversions. You might give him a call for probably better advice than what I have given. A search in this forum should round up his phone number. There is also a wrecking yard up in Wisconsin that has a lot of CTD parts, but I don't have the number handy. It has also been listed here several times.

Good luck with your project, too bad you aren't closer to Albuquerque, I'de give you a hand. Ever thought about transfering to Kirtland AFB???

 

[backroad]

Keep in mind that your Suburban front differential is on the right (passenger) side of the vehicle. Starting in 1994, Dodge placed the front differential on the drivers side (like the Ford). You could still use a transfercase from a 1993 or older Dodge, 'cause they still had the front differential on the passenger side like the Chevy(that's spelled shoveitorleaveit I believe).



Good luck,

Dennis...

(backroad)

 

[backroad]

To add to the comment I placed earlier, it might help to know that the transfercas used in the 1994 and newer Dodges was an NP241, which is chain driven. The transfercase used in the 1993 and OLDER was, I believe a stronger unit, an NP 205 all gear unit.



Any swaping of the Dodge and GM front axles needs to be looked at very completely. The spring pads can be moved. Look at the steering setups for both axles for modifications necessary. Don't forget to look at clearance for the center pumkin to the frame crossmember. I know on my Ford the crossmember was definitely

in the way and to much trouble to move. My steering components were completely different style as the Dodge used a front to rear type of box to steering arm and the Ford used a crossover type steering.



Hope this helps a little,

Dennis

(backroad)

 

[pcorssmit]

The (pre '94) Dodge front axle will work in a Chevy, the spring perches aren't exactly the same width but close enough. As for steering, just bolt on a Chevy arm, or if you are lifting the truck, consider cross-over steering with an aftermarket steering arm.



Chevy went to the 241 t-case in the R/V series trucks (same body style as your sub) around '88 or '89. IF the case is similar to the Dodge ones, you may be able to do some parts swapping to make one work. Not sure, though. But the Dodge 205 would definitly work.



Also, particularly if you're going to be running a strong motor, check which rear end you have, I suspect it may be the semi-floating 9 1/2" 14 bolt. If it is, I would upgrade it to the full floating 14 bolt, if you get one out of a 3/4 ton (not a 1 ton) the spring perches line up and it is a bolt-in deal. I've bought/found several for $100 or less. Alternatly you could swap in a Dodge rear, you may even be able to find one with the right spring perch spaceing. FWIW I have a friend that put a 3/4 ton 14 bolt in a '77 Dodge 1/2 ton and the perches were close enough.



Pete

 

[Crash_AF]

Yea, I'm not a big Chevy fan either (my Stepfather is and is giving me so much I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER right now... ) but my choices for preassembled 4 door fullsize SUV under $4000 was either a Sub or a Travelall... and my wife wasn't too keen on the sparseness of the Binder... .



Yes, you are correct in that the diff is on the right side in the Chevy and early Dodge. That's why I am considering a 91 1/2 to 93 W250/W350 because it'll have the NP205 with the front output on the right side, but since I currently own a 93 2wd I know about the problems with the Getrag and would prefer not to get into that again unless absolutely necessary.



A 4BT might work in my Bronco, but the Sub weighs considerably more and the current 350 4bbl is barely enough to move it at an acceptable pace. Since the mods required are going to be basically the same regardless of which engine I choose, I'd prefer to go with the 6BT.



Anyhow, thanks for the input. .



Later,

Joe

 

[tplewis]

engine advice for Joe

I have a 1995 cummins turbo with nb4500 transmission that has 208 GM transfer case on it that would all hook up in your Suburban. If interested in any of the components or have any questions about conversion, feel free to give me a call or email me at -- email address removed --. My number is 870-554-2235.



I have did a similar conversion in a 1/2 ton chevy pu. I've even mounted a dodge air to air aftercooler on this same project. I have since then changed it to a 2wd short bed pu from a 4wd long bed. Ongoing project...



Tony Lewis

Powerhouse Performance Diesel

Mt. Holly, AR