mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
:bigok:
MG Metalworks Van Build
- Thread starter mgmetalworks
- Start date
:bigok:
ElkinsEric
Observer
Just read through the entire thread (it's too cold for me to be in my tree stand bow hunting), and all I can say is WOW!
Your attention to detail is amazing and you defiantly go the extra mile to achieve the goal that you've set for your build.
Sub'd and carry on!
Your attention to detail is amazing and you defiantly go the extra mile to achieve the goal that you've set for your build.
Sub'd and carry on!
mgmetalworks
Explorer
Thank you for following along!
Arctic Travelller
Adventurer
So, now that you have had a couple days to recover from the SEMA van, you gonna get back to work here?
mgmetalworks
Explorer
This weekend I took the family to the Oregon coast for some relaxation. I thought I'd be sick of thinking about vans for a while but I ended up spending the whole drive there and back daydreaming about how to build out our interior. 
The Cummins has to go in first though. And then probably the pop-top tent. Work on those resumes as soon as I clean up the devastation left behind by hurricane SEMA. My shop is a disaster...and I'm way too orderly to leave it that way for long.
The Cummins has to go in first though. And then probably the pop-top tent. Work on those resumes as soon as I clean up the devastation left behind by hurricane SEMA. My shop is a disaster...and I'm way too orderly to leave it that way for long.
mgmetalworks
Explorer
I'll spend some time with the van in the Optima Batteries booth (not sure which days yet). Other than that, walking around looking at all the cool stuff.
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
This weekend I took the family to the Oregon coast for some relaxation. I thought I'd be sick of thinking about vans for a while but I ended up spending the whole drive there and back daydreaming about how to build out our interior.
The Cummins has to go in first though. And then probably the pop-top tent. Work on those resumes as soon as I clean up the devastation left behind by hurricane SEMA. My shop is a disaster...and I'm way too orderly to leave it that way for long.
Haha, I wasn't sure how long it'd take you to be back to vandreaming.
mgmetalworks
Explorer
Interesting news out of SEMA... Cummins is exploring the public interest in a crate motor program for repowering your ride with 4,6 or 8 cylinder diesels.
I imagine that if enough people complete the survey, we might see this program get some legs... Oh the possibilities!
www.cumminsengines.com/repower-survey
I imagine that if enough people complete the survey, we might see this program get some legs... Oh the possibilities!
www.cumminsengines.com/repower-survey
Bbasso
Expedition goofball
Done
Buy a wrecked or running truck for 3-10k, which is almost certainly less than what a crate motor would be from Indiana. Then you have the entire harness, all sensors, cross members, transmission adapters, etc. Additionally, you have axles, tires, seats and scrap metal left over to offset the cost of your purchase.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
There are some companies who offer "crate" diesels in various stages, but they are $$$$... I spoke with Scheid several years ago about a 550-600 HP ISC Cummins for a friends 5 ton military truck and they wanted $25,000 for it. Then again, NRE has $40,000 crate motors, so maybe that is not so bad....
Reduce, reuse, recycle
There are some companies who offer "crate" diesels in various stages, but they are $$$$... I spoke with Scheid several years ago about a 550-600 HP ISC Cummins for a friends 5 ton military truck and they wanted $25,000 for it. Then again, NRE has $40,000 crate motors, so maybe that is not so bad....
mgmetalworks
Explorer
Buy a wrecked or running truck for 3-10k, which is almost certainly less than what a crate motor would be from Indiana. Then you have the entire harness, all sensors, cross members, transmission adapters, etc. Additionally, you have axles, tires, seats and scrap metal left over to offset the cost of your purchase.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
There are some companies who offer "crate" diesels in various stages, but they are $$$$... I spoke with Scheid several years ago about a 550-600 HP ISC Cummins for a friends 5 ton military truck and they wanted $25,000 for it. Then again, NRE has $40,000 crate motors, so maybe that is not so bad....
Actually, from the conversations I've had with Cummins, the prices for these engines might not be that bad.
Buying a wrecked truck is certainly a viable option but only for certain folks. You have to admit that it's not as simple as just buying a wrecked truck. You have to have the space and capability of dismantling the donor rig plus the knowledge of what to keep and what to sell or toss. Then, after you have that pile of parts sorted out, you may need to do a lot of clean up...possibly rebuild...both the engine and trans. Then sorting out the wiring from a Dodge (assuming you're using a Cummins out of Dodge to go into another make of vehicle) is not a trivial task. The smart thing to do is to just trash can everything Dodge and start over but that takes a certain level of understanding of vehicle electronics and wiring, especially on the newer common rail engines (going into newer vehicles). All that time spent figuring out how to make used components from one vehicle work in a different make of vehicle isn't for everyone.
Cummins is contemplating making a "package" available that would essentially be like the GM E-rod crate engines or Ford Racing's plug'n'play Coyote harness/controller. That's a HUGE step forward in the diesel aftermarket in my opinion. One that makes is much more viable to do re-powers on a WIDE variety of vehicles, including vans. Having now seen the 5.0L Cummins in person, it would be perfect in a van, in a light truck, in my wife's G-wagen... :chowtime: I for one can't wait to see if this program takes off. I'm ********** in the middle of the "buy a wrecked truck" scenario and I can tell you that I'd absolutely bypass this route and go straight for a warrantied crate engine package if one were available. You might save a few bucks buying a wrecked donor but no way will you save time unless you know every single detail about each and every aspect of the swap.
Also, considering that I'd like to do more than one Cummins swap, it's a much easier sell to customers when you say that you can get new engine, ready to run, with all of the complicated electronics on the engine and trans side sorted, straight from the local Cummins branch vs. telling them... "let's buy a wrecked truck that may or may not have been hit hard enough to damage something expensive and we won't know unless we pull everything apart".
I get where you're coming from. I would just rather have the option of choosing between a wrecked rig and a factory direct engine package. Even if you don't care, you have to admit that it's kind of a big deal that Cummins would even consider a program like this. They're obviously watching the aftermarket closely.
ujoint
Supporting Sponsor
I spoke to some guys from Cummins recently and they're serious about this program. Any help is better than nothing and it will still require a bit of adaptation depending on what you want to put it in. We did the 5.0 Coyote swap on that Bronco and although the engine install kit came with a bunch of stuff to make install easier it was still a ton of work to make everything work properly.
I too have seen the 5.0 Cummins, both in the TItan and on a stand at SEMA a few weeks ago. It is a nice package and a welcome alternative to the larger pickup motors (6.6 - 6.7 liters). It will be interesting to see how electronics are handled on a crate engine made for swapping into "almost anything".
IMO, new diesels have taken a giant step backwards in fuel economy in favour of "reduced" emissions. You have not reduced your emissions at all, if you burn 40-50% more fuel to get to your destination.
Pulling a wrecked truck apart is not for everyone, that is true, but it's an excellent source of parts with the millions of diesel 3/4 ton trucks sold in the last 20 - 25 years.
EDIT: smaller diesel crate motors would be even more desirable IMO, something like a 22RE or 5VZ-FE replacement would fit quite a few applications that I can think of. (heavy towing and large overland vehicles excluded)
Ford had displays of their 2.3 and 2.7L Ecoboost four cylinder engines at SEMA as well. With the power those are putting out, small diesel crate engines have some serious competition, so I hope that Cummins does their homework and hits a home run with this program.
IMO, new diesels have taken a giant step backwards in fuel economy in favour of "reduced" emissions. You have not reduced your emissions at all, if you burn 40-50% more fuel to get to your destination.
Pulling a wrecked truck apart is not for everyone, that is true, but it's an excellent source of parts with the millions of diesel 3/4 ton trucks sold in the last 20 - 25 years.
EDIT: smaller diesel crate motors would be even more desirable IMO, something like a 22RE or 5VZ-FE replacement would fit quite a few applications that I can think of. (heavy towing and large overland vehicles excluded)
Ford had displays of their 2.3 and 2.7L Ecoboost four cylinder engines at SEMA as well. With the power those are putting out, small diesel crate engines have some serious competition, so I hope that Cummins does their homework and hits a home run with this program.
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