question for crew guys

[mazdarotary]

Hey guys,



I think I screwed up about a year ago,and instead of buying a crew,and swapping out my drivetrain from my 92 d250 I sold the 92,and bought a03 1500 quad cab 2wd hemi. Now I think I may be headed for a crew,and eventually a cummins swap. My question is for the guys who have made the swap,but drove the truck with the gas engine in it before doing the swap.



I am looking at a 84 W350 crew short bed with a 360cid,and a 3 speed automatic w/4. 10 gears,and dana 60's front and rear. My question is will this truck be just a complete pain in the butt as far as driving it,and towing a 5000lb trailer with the gas engine for a while?I don't drive much,and I may have to wait a year or so before I get together all the tsuff to do a swap. My usual week involves only using my truck about 2 days a week,and then it is only local trips around 50 miles round trip or so each day.



Also is it smart to find a manual trans donor if that is the route I want to go(I want another NV4500 like my 92),or could I get any donor,and buy a transmission/pedal set used?Will the wiring,and computer be that much different between an auto,and manual donor?Is it possible to change the gear ratio in a dana 60 to 3. 54's like I had in my 92 D250?



My biggest concern is that I will only get in the single digits gas mileage with the truck with the gas engine before the swap,and I worry it will be turning way too high of rpms on the highway towing at 60mph. Sorry for all the questions,and thanks in advance.



Chris

 

[83 crew cab]

check the sale adds if you can do some body work mine might be a cheaper way to go

 

[rumblefish]

It will tow just fine. I've towed 5000 lbs and more with my Ramcharger with a 360/727 and 4. 10's. Even with the stock 3. 23 gears and 33" tires it did alright. Your crew should do better since it has more wheelbase and stiffer springs. Only downside was using too much gas due to the giant fuel leak called a carbeurator.

 

[Simplysmn]

crewcab gasser

As for gas engine I started with a 360 and went to a 440 before swapping in the cummin's motor yeah it will pull just fine slow as hell and the only thing you wont pass for sure is a gas stop . As for the swap if you find a first gen everything from dash foward fits right into the cab so its a easy swap . any more questions I will try to help . should have mine back on road in a few weeks got the new body back in place now just have to finish it up and I will post a few pic's.

 

[Shadrach]

I have been driving my 84 D350 crew 360 V8 727 , 410 for 5 years now. It sucks in the mileage dept. My truck is on propane so it is cheaper to run and I have is set as a singlr fuel only and tweaked for max power. Because I don't pull every weekend and it's not practical to have a third vehicle I live with the bad mileage. At highwya speeds of 110kph or 65 mph I am turning about 3000rpm. I consider anything with 2 digits good mileage, and our gallons in Canada were bigger than yours. Until I get the CTD in there I have to live with it. Shadrach

 

[MTownsend]

My 85 crew cab was 2wd had a 360, 4:10 gears and a quadrajet carb. I got 11 miles per gallon running 75 mph empty, 8 loaded with fire wood and 4-5mpg towing 16,000 pounds with my 38' fith wheel flat bed. :--)



Now my crew cab is a 91' 4wd, cummins with 3:55 gears. I get 20-21 empty, 20-21 loaded with fire wood, 11-12 pulling 16,000 pounds.



with a couple of trips it's paid for!

Man I wish I had done this a long time ago. :-laf