Van Gui1d3r #838
Free Thinker
i feel like I've done this thread before... o yea, right here, http://www.gmt400.com/threads/tow-rig-overhaul-need-answers.33946/
ok so the tow rig, it's awesome and all. the 454 has tons of tq and I love the power. but, apparently she's thirsty. it takes a lot of juice, to fuel this power.... yes I knew this before swapping it and I wasn't worried. then I bought a TDI Jetta and have discovered Diesel mileage and surprisingly, the power difference. that jetta chugs up hills without downshifting even with a full car. so I went for a cruise with my buddy in his DMAX and I was pretty impressed with that wide tq range. and then found out he gets 19mpg daily driving his truck and his towing mileage is still12-15 depending on how much he's hauling... my truck gets 8 mpg daily driving and well 8 mpg loaded... if I could get 12-15 average on my truck, I would be ecstatic and with the same or better power than I have now, EVEN BETTER!!!
so I really thought about it and the 6.5l is not an option. they sound like toss away engines. so I looked into 6.6 DMAX swaps. a lot of people complaining about those and the hassle they are with wiring. then my buddy said "Cummins swap it!"... we're no longer friends. plus that seems too easy. then searching I found an article on a C3500HD with a 7.2l cat straight 6 in it... i'm intrigued!!! the article is here, http://www.trucktrend.com/features/...owing-king-with-7-2l-caterpillar-engine-swap/ . problem is, I hear CAT engines are problematic so I searched for something different but close, in which I found a 7.8l DURAMAX (aka Isuzu 6H)... so I research it and struggle to find info but here it is....
1. this engine is massive! too big for my engine bay! 52.5" long... don't care, still want it.
2. they weigh 1400lbs... too much for my truck daily... don't care, still want it(more on this).
3. no aftermarket support besides a chip... don't care, still want it.
4. multiple power versions but they do make a 300hp 860ft-lbs tq version.
i'm in the works of acquiring a 3500HD. for all that don't know about these, it is my truck on steroids from the factory... thicker beefier frame, I beam front suspension leaf sprung(will handle the engine weight with ease). o and these trucks are 15,000lb GVW opposed to my 10,000... DANA 80 rear end... etc... these trucks were the definition of BEAST MODE before anyone ever used the ******* term before.
so my thought process is, acquire said 3500HD, toss the 6.5 on CL, acquire 7.8l take the cab and front clip off, make mounts, cut big hole in firewall for massive engine to fit into, flange floor and firewall for a cover or "doghouse" like in a van...
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? please, no thoughts on why not to. the reason to do this is because this engine was designed to haul weight. not to be in a pickup... well i'd like a pickup to haul weight so I guess I need to make it work. I don't get a choice. my fate was determined at birth and that was to always do **** the hardest way possible and then reap the benefits later after blood sweat and tears.
ok so the tow rig, it's awesome and all. the 454 has tons of tq and I love the power. but, apparently she's thirsty. it takes a lot of juice, to fuel this power.... yes I knew this before swapping it and I wasn't worried. then I bought a TDI Jetta and have discovered Diesel mileage and surprisingly, the power difference. that jetta chugs up hills without downshifting even with a full car. so I went for a cruise with my buddy in his DMAX and I was pretty impressed with that wide tq range. and then found out he gets 19mpg daily driving his truck and his towing mileage is still12-15 depending on how much he's hauling... my truck gets 8 mpg daily driving and well 8 mpg loaded... if I could get 12-15 average on my truck, I would be ecstatic and with the same or better power than I have now, EVEN BETTER!!!
so I really thought about it and the 6.5l is not an option. they sound like toss away engines. so I looked into 6.6 DMAX swaps. a lot of people complaining about those and the hassle they are with wiring. then my buddy said "Cummins swap it!"... we're no longer friends. plus that seems too easy. then searching I found an article on a C3500HD with a 7.2l cat straight 6 in it... i'm intrigued!!! the article is here, http://www.trucktrend.com/features/...owing-king-with-7-2l-caterpillar-engine-swap/ . problem is, I hear CAT engines are problematic so I searched for something different but close, in which I found a 7.8l DURAMAX (aka Isuzu 6H)... so I research it and struggle to find info but here it is....
1. this engine is massive! too big for my engine bay! 52.5" long... don't care, still want it.
2. they weigh 1400lbs... too much for my truck daily... don't care, still want it(more on this).
3. no aftermarket support besides a chip... don't care, still want it.
4. multiple power versions but they do make a 300hp 860ft-lbs tq version.
i'm in the works of acquiring a 3500HD. for all that don't know about these, it is my truck on steroids from the factory... thicker beefier frame, I beam front suspension leaf sprung(will handle the engine weight with ease). o and these trucks are 15,000lb GVW opposed to my 10,000... DANA 80 rear end... etc... these trucks were the definition of BEAST MODE before anyone ever used the ******* term before.
so my thought process is, acquire said 3500HD, toss the 6.5 on CL, acquire 7.8l take the cab and front clip off, make mounts, cut big hole in firewall for massive engine to fit into, flange floor and firewall for a cover or "doghouse" like in a van...
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? please, no thoughts on why not to. the reason to do this is because this engine was designed to haul weight. not to be in a pickup... well i'd like a pickup to haul weight so I guess I need to make it work. I don't get a choice. my fate was determined at birth and that was to always do **** the hardest way possible and then reap the benefits later after blood sweat and tears.