'82 Duramax diesel conversion

[Daniellane]

yeah how did you make the dash fit? more pictures

[JohnC]

That dash is sweet. Well the whole project is

[flamingbig10]

nice project

[Lonnies Performance]

The dash has actually consumed more time than making the engine fit.

Will try to finish up the fitment of the heater box & parts this weekend.
I'll post more pictures then.

[MrBeast]

This is gonna be a cool truck

[Damien]

any updates?

[Lonnies Performance]

Progress has been slow with the holidays & work related distractions, so I have not touched it in about a month.

Started mounting the steering column, & trying to find an appropriate seat type/location for the truck.

I really want a set of newer leather heated seats, but I will not hack the floor to install them. The ones in my Yukon are much higher, but I would like to find something similar that fits. Thinking buckets with a console/center seat like some of the pickups had. There are a few aftermarket ones out there, but either really expensive, or a little cheap looking. Anyone have any recommendations?

Here are a few more pics.

Heater box


Underneath

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by Lonnies Performance

Progress has been slow with the holidays & work related distractions, so I have not touched it in about a month.

Started mounting the steering column, & trying to find an appropriate seat type/location for the truck.

I really want a set of newer leather heated seats, but I will not hack the floor to install them. The ones in my Yukon are much higher, but I would like to find something similar that fits. Thinking buckets with a console/center seat like some of the pickups had. There are a few aftermarket ones out there, but either really expensive, or a little cheap looking. Anyone have any recommendations?

Here are a few more pics.

Heater box


Underneath

This is what I had to do to get my 01 Sierra seats to work.

[Lonnies Performance]

Yes, I previously saw your post with the newer seats & really liked them, but then saw you had to cut the floor. I will not cut anything on the truck as I am trying to retain an unmodified look. Your seats look like they are at a good height though. Not sure what to look for now....

[Lonnies Performance]

Any ideas?

[Lonnies Performance]

Made some progress today.

Got a steering column built. Added about 11" to the length & welded on some new brackets.

[k10shortbox]

I installed seats out of an 04 chevy pickup and i didnt have to hack up my floor but instead i cut off the tracks so i cant slide the seats back and forth but there isnt much room to do that anyways. after that you just have to make brackets to have the seats sit the height that you want. Trust me if you can make that dash and everything else fit in you can make the seats fit haha

[Lonnies Performance]

Do you have any pictures to see how they fit?

[k10shortbox]

I will as soon as i get home this weekend, i dont have any up here at school. to give you an idea the bottom of the headrest is right at the bottom of the back window. I am about 6' tall and it is right about perfect. basically once you get the tracks cut off you only need to make a couple brackets to accomadate for the floor.

[joe231]

Where do you get the MegaMat?
I tried google but didn't find anything

Edit: I found it, It is a FatMat product, no?

[ghettoluxury]

Originally Posted by Lonnies Performance

Made some progress today.

Got a steering column built. Added about 11" to the length & welded on some new brackets.

WOW that is AWSOME

[07HDClassic]

You've got quite a project going, but it looking good. Can't wait for some updates.

[D-Day]

This is an intriguing project to me, 'cause I'd love to put a Duramax in my '73. Besides the obvious and glaring fact of money, it seems a rather daunting task and not a quick swap...and I'd wanna do it to my daily driver.

[Lonnies Performance]

I originally decided to do this for a few reasons....

I went with the Duramax, since it is the closest thing to a Chevy engine out there. The Cummins would have been easier, but I have a thing for V8's.

I thought it would be different as a prime reason, but I also wanted to have a "fast" truck that did not get near single digit gas mileage. I already built a 427 that ran low 13's in a lifted, 35" tired truck, but never got over 11mpg.

I figure I can still get respectable mileage (hopefully about 18 on the highway), be able crack off some 12 sec drag strip times & still pull a trailer to take my car to the track at the same time.


Hopefully I will get there if I ever find the time to finish it.

[bm*]

wowsers

[Teck]

Awsome job so far. That dash bezel looks real good, howed you make it.

[fpjr0]

real nice project

[Pullin81]

if your looking for some leather seats check out trucknvans.com..i cant remember if you can get the heater option with them... but i bought a set of black leather buckets with a centerconsol/ jumper seat...comes with the brackets and each seat slides individualy even the center one...i have them in my 86 short box and there quite comfortable.

[mwooten92]

that red sure is pretty. love the dash/steering column already. subscribed!

[Lonnies Performance]

Originally Posted by Pullin81

if your looking for some leather seats check out trucknvans.com..i cant remember if you can get the heater option with them... but i bought a set of black leather buckets with a centerconsol/ jumper seat...comes with the brackets and each seat slides individualy even the center one...i have them in my 86 short box and there quite comfortable.

Any pictures? I'd like to see what you have. Thanks for the info.