MG Metalworks Van Build

[mk216v]

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".

Bingo, you nailed it right there!

 

[WUzombies]

I don't know what the details would be, but would it be easier to put a reman'ed 7.3L Ford into an E-van? My guess would be most of the harness from the firewall back would be similar or the same.

 

[DzlToy]

deleted to reduce clutter

 

[WUzombies]

7.3 liter Powestrokes came in E-series vans from the factory. So unless you have a gasser chassis or a 6.0 that you want to ditch, it will absolutely fit and there should be little if any issues with harness or firewall or anything else. Maybe I am missing something....

That's the point, it's a solid motor and seems like an easy swap, but I haven't seen or heard of people doing it. Maybe I'm not paying attention?

 

[mgmetalworks]

I don't know what the details would be, but would it be easier to put a reman'ed 7.3L Ford into an E-van? My guess would be most of the harness from the firewall back would be similar or the same.

I apologize for my bluntness but for that question, you'd have to ask someone who is interested in 7.3Ls... I am not that guy. That's blasphemy in this forum I know but I'm just not interested in going back in time...and I don't want my build thread devolving into a pros and cons of this or that engine. :coffeedrink:

 

[WUzombies]

Sorry, I was asking more for the "ease of the swap" in the context of the possible Cummins "kit." I'm learning these vans as I go as my biggest mechanical background are aircooled VWs...these are slightly different, they have some sort of goofy crap up front for water and the motors are on the wrong end.

 

[why3zx]

Survey done! And I've done the "buy a wrecked truck" thing, even though it was 1000x times less complex than the one you are pulling off (P-Pump 6bt into a 73 Scout) it was still a major PITA.

 

[mk216v]

That's the point, it's a solid motor and seems like an easy swap, but I haven't seen or heard of people doing it. Maybe I'm not paying attention?

Most straightforward for this would be to buy an E-Series with the 7.3L already in it.

Let's talk about some more Cummins goodness.....

 

[mgmetalworks]

Just finished up a 1518 mile trip to the bay area and back. 13 mpg.

Last big road trip before the tear down for the Cummins transplant begins...

 

[spearwarrior]

I drove my 2014 e350 5.4 from Atlanta and got 14 mpg...

 

[mgmetalworks]

I drove my 2014 e350 5.4 from Atlanta and got 14 mpg...

Yeah, I've never done better than 14 with our van. Using it for a commuter is more like 12mpg.

 

[mk216v]

Ok...so....why do people even buy the 5.4L; simply a reduced initial cost?(unless the maintenance for a 6.8L V10 is that much higher than the 5.4L, although I can't imagine so).

 

[tgreening]

Ok...so....why do people even buy the 5.4L; simply a reduced initial cost?(unless the maintenance for a 6.8L V10 is that much higher than the 5.4L, although I can't imagine so).

Had both. Similar issues/ maintenance costs. In anything resembling a work or heavy duty vehicle, the V10 hands down.

 

[DzlToy]

^^ that motor is quite de-rated from the factory. A chip and a blower will turn it into a beast. A mate of mine had one in a Superduty and it hauled ***....

 

[mgmetalworks]

^^ that motor is quite de-rated from the factory. A chip and a blower will turn it into a beast. A mate of mine had one in a Superduty and it hauled ***....

The 5.4L is not a bad engine, it just gets bad fuel mileage...no matter what you do to it or how you drive. I did the eye roll in my previous post because we did the exact trip last year and got over 14mpg. Our van is great and awesome for family travel...as long as gas prices are low.