V10 To Cummins

[Excessive Force]

Can someone tell me what is involved in swapping a V10 to a CUMMINS in a '98 4x4? from what i have read the auto trans is the same. is this correct ? i assume i will need the wiring harness/computer. what about the fuel tank? probably cheaper to trade trucks but i like this one and besides you can't get intense blue anymore. new member with many questions. thanks

 

[LSMITH]

Right off the bat you would need the PCM, the harness, intercooler with plumbing, and engine. The motor mounts and radiator could be different, and I would imagine that the springs are different given the huge weight difference between the engines. You would also need a complete engine with acessories as I am quite sure that the alternator and PS pump etc are different as well. A 96-98 12V out of a Dodge would be the perfect donor, but it is going to cost dearly I think. If you like the truck it is doable, but I don't think it would be cost effective.

 

[LarryB]

Best way to convert would be to buy a wrecked doner truck with all you need. Probably cost $5K+. If you try to round up everything you will need you will have payed between 10K & 15K by the time your done. Plus a bazillion hours of work



Sell yours, buy the one you want, have it painted.

My opinion only, having done my conversion.

 

[Excessive Force]

V10 TO A CUMMINS

Yes, that would be a lot easier in the long run. thought i could recover some of the cost from the sale of the V10 and its components. with all of the engine failures they seem to have i'm sure someone would be interested in an engine with low miles. the engine was replaced at 67,000 miles ! truck now has 81,000 miles on it. hard to believe the truck is on it's 2nd engine.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

There is a salvage yard in northern Wisconson that has a bunch of late model Dodge Cummins trucks including an 2001 24V, talk to Paul, 800-338-4002. I have had him ship me everything from a seat to doors to a radaitor support.



You might ask about trading in your V10 and upgrade to a 24V Cummins



Kyle

 

[Hutchew]

AAAAAAAAhhAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

So you're the one who got that core support:{



Still looking in New Mexico,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Sorry James ,

Just talked to paul yesterday, he is just starting to part out another early 91 Dodge Cummins W/5 speed, might try him again for the radiator support

Kyle

 

[Excessive Force]

CORE SUPPORT ?

Well, it looks like another question has been answered... . the core support is different huh. :--) I guess i'm looking for one too. Thanks for all the input guys. :{

 

[Hutchew]

No biggie..............

I put mine together with one from a wreck... ..... was crunched on the driver's side, but we beat it out. Still doesn't line up quite right though. Had problems getting the fenders/hood/doors to fit together. Will serve me till next fall, when I plan on tearing it back down again to reslove that and a few other problems.

If ya come across one, let me know.



Still fiddling with the website, haven't had much time to mess with it. Wolves scratching at the door at work and has been consuming all my time... ... ... ... ... ... Will be in touch w/you soon on it though



Cheers, buddy

 

[Hutchew]

Excessive, you're in luck.......

Actually, Crewcab and I are talking first gen... ... ... ... BUT

I have a complete early 98 core support/radiator/intercooler/ac condensor if you are interested.



PM me if you are.

 

[Snow man]

Excessive force,I honestly feel you would be better off in the long run to sell your truck outright,and buy a used CTD. By the time you find the donor truck,and get all the parts that its missing,and do the swap,you will have the same money into it as if you sold it,and bought a factory CTD. You'll still have a warranty if you buy a factory one too,not sure if that matters.

 

[LarryB]

Hey, those last few posts got me thinking. Did you guys use the first gen intercooler like I did? I'm running into slight egt problems at 325hp on long pulls and am thinking the smaller 1st gen cooler may be a contributing problem as it is smaller. I'm not sure if I could fit in the 2nd gen cooler though.



Just wondering.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Excessive force,

Go for the Cummins upgrade, You like your truck then KEEP IT ! I would have to believe that with mass producing the Ram, things have to be interchangeable. (My 1985 Dodge Crew Cab D350 with a 360 V8, auto, became a 91 Cummins, 5 Speed, 4X4, AC, Power Windows/Locks/tilt/cruise. and 99% of the conversion was BOLT IN !) My first thing I would buy is a OEM service manual for your 98. I would also spend some time at the dealer looking at part #s of your wiring harness and the one with a Cummins. I hate to throw a wrench into it but have you thought about going with a NV5600 6 speed ? . More power and will hold up better behind the Cummins.

:--)





Kyle

 

[Excessive Force]

6- SPEED....

The 6-speed would be cooool !!

 

[Snow man]

Dont you guys agree that a cummins motor,six speed,all the small stuff,and radiator,intercooler,etc will run at least 10K in parts alone?From an economics standpoint it doesnt make sense,I can understand wanting to keep your truck,but what is your truckworth,i know its a 98,V10,auto qith 81K,its gotta be worth 12500,kick the other 10g's in,and get a99-2000 loaded with same or less mileage.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Sorry Snowman,

Don't know where you can get a low milage 99/00 Cummins ram for under $26K let alone $22K. Your missing the point, he likes the truck he has, so why not upgrade it ? I think once he gets the stuff he needs to build the truck and sells off the V10 and trans, the price won't be that bad. And on the upside the long term reliablity and resale value will be MUCH higher than a V10. On the down side, the bombing cost can run more than the conversion

 

[Hutchew]

The ONLY way I'de do it...........

Is if I had a complete salvage or wreck to rob the parts off of.

Of course, I said that about the one I did do, and I ended up using parts and pieces anyway. Guess it all depends on how bad you wanna do it.

 

[Snow man]

Crew cab, I bought my 2000 this spring with 50K,loaded quad,auto,Cummins 4x4,BFG285's,everything but leather,and power seat,for 22K. The truck never towed a trailer until i bought it. Ive got 5500 in extra 's in it. If i could get 27000 for it,id sell it in a heartbeat. My truck is set up already,needs very little. I do understand him wanting to keep it,I have seen intense blue used CTD's for sale. hey,if he;s going to swap as engine in,might as well put an 8. 3C series in it!Bigger is better.

 

[Excessive Force]

V10 MONEY PIT...

You've got a point snow man. . I shouldn't get any deeper in this truck than i already am.....

 

[bluthndr]

My Twin

I'm actually about 1/2 way through the EXACT same thing - but my truck has 38K. My truck is even the same color! I was looking through the forum for used parts places for 2nd gen trucks...



I bought a 94 CTD before I knew the trans differences (between 95-95, 96-98. 5). Anyway - I am having a horrible time finding a 97 or 98 engine harness to run my trans. I could make something, but then I lose all my OBD II (self diagnostic) stuff, my gauges (factory ones anyway) and various other things, so I've decided to do it "right" and not have it too far custom that I can never sell it.



Anyway, I've gotten pretty proficient in all the details and interchanges. The truck is not running yet, but so far I'm up to around $2900. I still need about another $1000 to get it all done I think... As far as what needs to be changed: fuel line(s), fuel sender/pickup, torque convertor, PCM, engine wiring harness, engine accessories (got mine with the engine), trans cooler lines, exhaust, and add a second battery. As far as I can tell so far the trans is the same - with the exception of the convertor. I can't find anyone who can say what (if any) difference the valve bodies have, and with it being an electronic trans, I'm betting the PCM controls the shift points, etc - and that's how I plan on trying it initially.



The core support does NOT need to be changed, but you have to make or buy the two little "ears" that bolt on the front of it to locate the intercooler. Obviously the intercooler and plumbing is necessary. The A/C condenser needs some brackets but can be reused, as can the radiator (the only difference is the gas engine has the trans cooler in the radiator "tank" - the diesel has it on the rear pass side of the block. You'd need to change the heater hoses and radiator hoses of course.



The A/C lines from the compressor on the diesel look like they snap into where the V10 ones came off, the power steering lines appear to be the same bolt-in set up. Engine mounts are the same.



Hope this helps anyone trying something similar. As far as engine swaps go this is pretty easy and straight forward.



For those of you wondering WHY? - did you know a new V10 short block from Chrysler sells for over $5K - and that's just the block, crank, rods, pistons, and bearings - no oil pump, no cam, etc. Now THAT'S expensive. Other than it being cheaper to convert it, I bought my truck new and know how it was taken care of - and I like it. Besides, the temptation of 400-500hp, 1000 lbs of torque, 20 mpg, and 300,000 mile durability got the best of me... and SMOKE IS COOL