Ok Guys

[msmtd]

I have a 78 crew cab Dodge shortbed truck, it has a big block in it now. I also have a 1995 Dodge dually with a cummins in it, well come to find out the frame on the 95 is bent... so I either swap everything to a new frame or... ..... I swap the motor and trans into the 78. I am looking for help and advice, what do I do for motor mounts? trans mount and crossmember? and anything else you can help or suggest.



I hate the 2nd gen trucks( due to the fact that I own this 95, I miss my first gens), the only thing that I really like about the 2nd gen is the 370 hp injectors..... I figure what better way to keep the injectors, and not have to do a head swap. . then to swap the motor and trans in the 78... ..... besides four doors are cool.



PICS would be ecspecially appreciated..... msmtd72@hotmail.com



Thanks for the help,MSMTD

 

[JIM S.]

Sounds like the thing to do would be to swap the goodies into the 78 and love it I am not good at figuring stuff in advance... so I would just get in there and when the time comes make the mounts and cross member to fit, shouldnt be TOO hard.

Jim

 

[cjohnson1]

First thing I'd do is measure the doner frame to see if the cross members can be transfered as well. You might luck out. After all It sounds like the frame is history anyway. Just move the motor mounts transmission cross members and all to the new frame. Even if you have to add or cut them down you'll be miles ahead. If you've got the time and space, remove the cabs and front clips from both frames and start swinging over the parts. Will make life a whole lot easier than stretching over the fenders trying to make everything fit.

CJ

 

[Hutchew]

Do this.......

That swap is too much work. Save yourself the effort. In fact, I'll come and take that mess off your hands, free of charge. Just gimme your address.



Seriously though, the swap is fairly easy, and there is a wealth of info here on the subject. The easiest way would be to find the motor mounts from a 89-93 Dodge, although you will get varying accounts of whether they are too high, too low, or just right. Personally, mine were too high. I later found out there was a front crossmember height change made in the late 80's, allowing for the diesel motor to sit lower in the frame, and using a spacer under the motor mounts to raise the gas motors to their original height. If I had it to do over, I would find a front crossmember from a diesel truck and swap it into the older frame.

I didn't catch whether your donor was an auto or stick, 2x or 4x, but if it is a 4x4, you won't be able to use the NP241HD transfer case, the output is on the wrong side. The easiest solution is to find an NP205 from a 89-93 CTD truck, although others here have had success in changing out the internals on other NP205's.

I know that's not a lot of info, but if you search the posts here, you will find all that you will need. I haven't updated my website in forever, but I do have quite a few pics up of my conversion, if you are interested.

Good luck, and I was SERIOUS about taking that mess off your hands

 

[msmtd]

Thanks for the help guys... . anymore help out there? Suggestions do's dont's?



Sounds like start date will be about a month off... gotta get a driveshaft built for the Dart.