6.5 to 350 swap

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Chevyaddict83

Newbie
Joined
Feb 11, 2011
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
I have a 93 c3500 with a bad 6.5, nv4500 trans still good. I just got an 89 with a crate 350. Other than wiring and actual swap, anything else i have to look for?

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk
 

great white

Retirement countdown!
Joined
Jan 21, 2012
Messages
6,266
Reaction score
210
Yeesh, can be done, but its pretty much a gut and replace job electrically.

The clusters are different although less so when talking an ODBI gasser and an OBDI diesel. But that's the least of your troubles.

93 6.5 is mechanical injection and the 5 speed has no TCM.

The 89 will have an ecm to run the fuel injection and it will have some control of the transmission if its an auto (lockup is pretty much it).

So, pretty much all the engine and cab wiring is going to have to transfer over. The 5 speed will work just fine without input from the 7477 ecm, but you will likely have a check engine light since the ecm won't see the auto transmission. You can either live with it, find a chip from a similarly equipped truck or have one custom burnt.

The engine bay is also pretty much strip it out down to the engine mounts and swap the gasser stuff over.

Fuel system from the tank forward will have to change. Diesels don't have an in tank fuel pump, just a low pressure lift pump on then frame rail. Not enough to run fuel injection. You may be able too get away with a high pressure pump in place of the lift pump and figure a way to hook up the pressure and return lines at the TBI. Finding an external fuel pump that can pull form the tank as well as push to the injectors might be a bit of an issue. OEM fuel pumps are "in-tank" mounted so they only have to push. Aftermarket pump should be able to fix you up for an external.

There's so much that needs to be done, you're just going to have to get into it an do it.

Line 'em up side by side and start moving stuff over is about the best advice I can offer....take pictures as you take things apart. Not so you can post 'em, but so you can reference them while putting stuff back together.
 
Last edited:

Scrufdog

Pork chop sandwiches
Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
326
Reaction score
5
running a carb on it will save tons of time and money
 

Chevyaddict83

Newbie
Joined
Feb 11, 2011
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
I figured it would be swap everything. That doesnt scare me. Time consuming yes, but gets the truck back up, and i save money. The dually is geared low enough (4.56 and an nv 4500) that the 350 will do ok. Now my one lingering question is the flywheel. The 350 has an automatic attatched, and is going to be bolted to the nv4500. Is that an issue?

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk
 

98_k1500

strange noises are normal
Joined
Jan 21, 2014
Messages
3,927
Reaction score
78
Location
Starkville, MS
I have no idea if a 6.5 flywheel will fit a 350, but if it won't, then yes, that is going to be an issue.
 

TylerZ281500

Yukon Ridin High
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
5,861
Reaction score
254
Location
Clinton Township, Michigan
flex plate vs flywheel, pretty sure they have different names between a stock and a manual but its one of those things i never remember like starborad and port side, or camber and caster i just never remember which is which
 
Top