Diesel engine swap

[ruralcarrier4x4]

I always dreamed of owning a full size 4x4 van since I was a teenager and finally got my chance to buy one. It's a 79' E250 Quadravan W/460 V8 and 4x4 by Pathfinder with the extra extension on the back. It also came with a propane heater built in, table and bench's and a snow plow with power angel and only 65,000 original miles !! But it only gets 10 mpg. It's a really cool van sitting on 33" tires, blaze orange.I really wanted to do a diesel conversion, like a commins diesel with dodge overdrive tranny, but my wife say's she doesn't want to spend the money to convert it and on another forum I've been on I've been shown how it's not a sound economical decision. I spent $5800 for the van total and still think a diesel conversion would be worth it but I may be totally wrong. What kind of gas mileage do you get with your diesel van ? I really don't know what to do and have even thought about selling it, but if I sold it what would I get then ??

 

[eggman918]

I just finished a cummins 4BT swap in my '68 F-250 4x4 CrewCab 5 speed manual trans 32" tires with 3.55 gears the truck weighs 7,500# and I get 20 mpg +/- high way and 13/15 on trails pulling a 3,500# trailer.
With the 390 gas motor I was getting 9/10 highway and 7/8 on trails,the swap cost me aprox $8,000 with me doing all the work.As we plan to use this truck for all our travels when we retire it will be cost effective in the long run.

 

[ruralcarrier4x4]

I just finished a cummins 4BT swap in my '68 F-250 4x4 CrewCab 5 speed manual trans 32" tires with 3.55 gears the truck weighs 7,500# and I get 20 mpg +/- high way and 13/15 on trails pulling a 3,500# trailer.
With the 390 gas motor I was getting 9/10 highway and 7/8 on trails,the swap cost me aprox $8,000 with me doing all the work.As we plan to use this truck for all our travels when we retire it will be cost effective in the long run
Wow that sounds really cool !! My problem has always been that I like vehicles that are "different", Not that I want something to show off, not at all. I just like to be different. The main reason for the 4x4 van was to be able to take my kids camping in it and have room to sleep in it (which it has, very much so-I just sometimes wish it had a high rise roof that you can raise up like the Sportmobiles). Plus I can plow snow with it, haul my trailer-it works great as an all around type vehicle. But you bring up a good point in that the longer you have the vehicle the more it justifies the conversion. I'll let you know what I decide to do. Do you live near Reading, Pa. -I'd love to see your truck. What kind of mpg. do you get ? The other thing is even though my van is a 79' it has zero rust.
I too am retired, retired under a disability- 5 years ago I had surgery for Tethered Cord syndrome where I had my spinal cord disconnected from my tail bone. It left me with nerve damage (the condition, not the surgery) and constant pain. So I have one of those electric wheelchairs to use only when I go to car shows and such which is another reason for the van. Thanks

 

[ExpoMike]

Do the math, if the cost of the conversion is $8000. Currently you're getting 10mpg and lets say an average of $3.50 per gallon, you would need to drive 22,800+ miles to just break even on the conversion cost. I don't know how many miles you drive but since our truck is for camping only, it would take me close to 5 years just to cover that cost. That's doesn't count the cost of diesel fuel over that 22,800+ miles.

Hopefully this will give you a better perspective if it makes sense.

 

[shortbus4x4]

You will be better off keeping it gas and trying to get another mile or two out of your mpg's. Diesel fuel costs quite a bit more than gas now and I doubt it will ever go back down. The cost of the parts to do the conversion will be quite a bit too. If you can't fabricate, cut and weld then labor to do it is going to be alot too. When its all said and done you could buy a lot of gas with what you spent on the conversion. There is a reason some of the big fleets that used to be all diesel power are switching back to gas power and its $$$.

 

[bfdiesel]

Doing the swap just for mileage is not sound economically. However if you just want to do it that is different do it. You could pull and build that 460 put in a overdrive tranny and still be under the typical diesel swap price. I say keep it and do what you want with it, as it is something you have always wanted.

 

[matt s]

Costs are relative to the power plant of choice and how much labor you are willing to put in. If you find a donor it can be far less expensive. I picked up a donor vehicle for $500 and if all goes well I will finish in the next week with another $1000 put in.

I will make that up quickly.

~10mpg at 3.50 a gallon. So 35 cents a mile
~20mpg at 4.00 a gallon. And 20 cents a

Saves $150 every 1000 miles.

Note: maintanance cost for diesel are more, I mitigated that some by staying with a NA mechanical engine (6.2 Detroit). For me the savings if realized will be nice but I did it for the range and fun of it.

 

[ruralcarrier4x4]

Costs are relative to the power plant of choice and how much labor you are willing to put in. If you find a donor it can be far less expensive. I picked up a donor vehicle for $500 and if all goes well I will finish in the next week with another $1000 put in.

I will make that up quickly.

~10mpg at 3.50 a gallon. So 35 cents a mile
~20mpg at 4.00 a gallon. And 20 cents a

Saves $150 every 1000 miles.

Note: maintanance cost for diesel are more, I mitigated that some by staying with a NA mechanical engine (6.2 Detroit). For me the savings if realized will be nice but I did it for the range and fun of it.

I've done the math and yes I'd have to drive it ALOT to make the conversion justifieable. But if you consider the fact that if I were to sell the van and just buy a diesel pickup I think most of you will agree that they cost a premium too and I'd spend anywhere from $12,000 to $50,000 and so taking that bottom number $12,000 and subtract what I paid for the van- $5,000 that equals $7,000 and I think I could easily do a conversion for around $7,000 or maybe $8,000, which would only be 1,000 over, and then end up with the vehicle I really want ! I think I'm gonna do the swap, I'm just trying to figure out what year Cummins to use, then look for a donor vehicle that's been in a wreck. But I thankyou all for all your responses !!

 

[truck mechanic]

if I was me, and most of the time I am, I would look for a van with a 6.9 or a 7.3 and swap it in from there, I think ( and I could be wrong ) but I think the addapter on the engine to go to a ford trans if for the big block bell housing. So it could be bolt in from a 2 wd van and you would have all the parts with a doner I think it would be cheeper in the long run that way.
just my .02
Paul

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I'd say if you really want a 4x4 diesel van and you can't fab, this is a hard price to beat.

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3523910891.html

I've contacted a few van conversion companies before I got my F-250 FWC and they were all around this price to convert a van that I provided them.

Screenshot added to preserve the ad.

 

[bob91yj]

^^^^That is the correct answer!

 

[Wyowanderer]

I'd suggest you think about noise. The Cummins 4BT/6BT engines are pretty noisy, and your van will need extensive sound proofing to mitigate it. Or it may not bother you at all: just someting to pay attention to before you commit to a conversion. Personally, I'd like to install a 4BT in my '84, but it's not worth the trouble to me.
Maybe Eggman can chime in with his experience.

 

[eggman918]

I'd suggest you think about noise. The Cummins 4BT/6BT engines are pretty noisy, and your van will need extensive sound proofing to mitigate it. Or it may not bother you at all: just someting to pay attention to before you commit to a conversion. Personally, I'd like to install a 4BT in my '84, but it's not worth the trouble to me.
Maybe Eggman can chime in with his experience.

I did a lot to keep the noise out of the cab dynamat,carpet and padding it helps but it is quite a bit noisier than the gas motor was.But I can still hear the stereo and it dose not have an amp so it could be worse,the noise outside the truck what I notice most and for some reason it is loudest from idle to about 1,100 rpm at normal operating rpm's it is not too bad.I am planning to cover the valve covers,oil pan and lifter cover with dynamat also to see if that will help.On thing about the 4BT is it sounds like a tractor and the truck gets a LOT of looks and comments my Wife is amazed at how many people stop us and ask questions,she cant understand how a truck as UGLY as it is can have "groupies" but after all the time,money,blood and sweat I have invested in it it is kind of nice to get noticed:victory:

 

[deserteagle56]

diesel prices!?

Some of you folks are mighty lucky if you are able to buy diesel at only a $.50 premium over gas. Around here it's been running anywhere from $.85 to $1.00 a gallon more over the past year. Right now it's $.98 a gallon more than regular.

My poor Cummins Ram is spending a lot more time resting in the garage!

 

[dragogt]

If you're looking for an engine, check out the International DT360 its .5" bigger than a 5.9 Cummins and 3 times the engine.. (jmo)

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