CDT swap in my '79 W150.........any good advice?

[debull19]

New to the sight and looking for some "good" advice. I've been looking around the internet and through most of this sight but am either not looking in the right spot or it just hasn't been done. I have a '79 4wd w150 swb truck. Its in pretty good condition but..........to me stock is boring. I would like to swap out the old 318 for a cummins. I really like the old body style but not so much into the powertrain/running gear. So does anybody know if buying a doner for the motor(deisel) and running gear would be the way to go. That is, swapping doner parts to my frame and body or go the other route and swap my body onto a doner frame. So to put it shorter, all I really want is all the power and durability of the CDT in the great body of a '79 shortbox w150. Shouldn't be too much to ask for

[Ron in Indiana]

Not having done a swap like this but have owned a number of Cummins trucks a few things to consider. First your 150 is to light in the front and rear axle department along with the light weight springs. You'd be better off putting your body on a donor frame much like the boys on the TV show TRUCKS swapping a Ford on a Dodge frame. You may find that the mounts are close to fitting in places. Anything can be done with enough time and $$$$$.

[debull19]

my 78 w10 ctd swap

Thanks for the answer. I was pretty sure the running gear would be to wimpy. Thats why I would be leaning towards my 79 body on a doner frame. Hoping to find a gen 2chassie. so with that in mind, is there a year doner that may work better then others? time, more then money and the lack of understanding what will work. I have a 65 coronet that I would like to sell to get me started. I found a 66 426 wedge that is slated to go in it. Or atleast with it. Any takers? Trades?

[712edf]

Well easiest would be a frame/drivetrain from 89-93 W200.... but those are all longbeds.

Cummins wasn't (still isn't) available in half-tons, but only half-tons had short-bed regular cab configuration.

94 later Rams are a different frame/drivetrain animal.

Bucky

[MoparFreak69]

If you are up to it you can put your body on any frame. I am putting my '59 Power Wagon body on a 97 Ram 2500 donor frame. It is a gas engine, but the results for a CTD powered one should be similar. I will cut the frame down to fit the body and bed. It basically amounts to how much work do you want to do, how much time are you willing to take and how many tools and how much experience in fabbing do you have? Its quite a bit of work but if that is your goal it seems like that is your most viable option.
As 712edf mentioned, the 89-93 donor frames are you best choice. More than likely the body will bolt right up and you will only have to deal with shortening the frame and making minor adjustements/parts to fit everything together. I think the basic cab was the same throughout all those years, up until the major redesign for the 94 model year.

[KRB64]

And the '89-91ish weren't intercooled so you don't have the "longer" hood/grill deal to make work.

[MoparFreak69]

They went intercooled in '91. I cant recall what they changed to add the intercooler, but it did involve core support changes in order to put it in front of the radiator.

[debull19]

Thanks for all the replies and sorry for not getting back sooner to thank all of you. Looks like I will be in the hunt for an '88-'93 w250. And like mentioned earlier, preferably a pre '92. I think I found a good candidate in Oregon and there is a great diesel shop here locally, DK Diesel that would be willing to assist in the mods that are out of my experience level. With a pocket full of cash of course. But it sure would be nice to have an earlier Power Wagon Cummins Turbo Diesel short box 4wd. If anyone knows of anybody that has done this that I could talk with it would be much appreciated.
I'll keep you all posted as move forward.

Thanks again,
Darrell

[712edf]

Go to www.ramchargercentral.com there are several guys who have stuck Cummins in Lifestyle era trucks.

also www.pirate4x4.com has excellant technical info, just BEWARE this site is saturated with obscenities/vulgar language..... disgusting to read & dangerous to try to post there & get information w/o getting cussed out.

Bucky

[KRB64]

Go to www.ramchargercentral.com there are several guys who have stuck Cummins in Lifestyle era trucks.

also www.pirate4x4.com has excellant technical info, just BEWARE this site is saturated with obscenities/vulgar language..... disgusting to read & dangerous to try to post there & get information w/o getting cussed out.

Bucky

Man that's what I LOVE about this site. We can just talk trucks and calmly dissagree if need be, no other crap going on. My other frequent site is a sea ray forum and its good but a bunch on there always have to flaunt their politics. Funny how I can enjoy a poster and seemingly agree until they start putting plitical banners in their sig and I realize we are way apart in that arena...

[Ggg6]

Having done a few diesel swaps etc. and being a fan of the old Dodge trucks, I would find a 89-93 CTD W250/W350 and swap your hood and core support/grille on and shorten the wheelbase to use your 79 bed and call it done.

[JeffTheMarine]

I have done a swap in a 1981 crew cab truck. Really easy and I am located outside of Portland. Feel free to give me a call with any questions.

Jeff
503-329-4015

[PapeCAT]

I recommend you study this conversion as well. The documentation is superb.

http://www.monsterhorsepower.com/ret...Swap_Site.html