1972 K20 Cummins swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

young.gun · 02-02-2015, 05:26 PM

Hello everybody so I've been restoring a 1972 C20 for about a year and I was just getting ready to put my TJ 396 425hp/TH400 combo in but I have a 69 Chevelle project as well for down the road and it pains me to see that turbo jet in anything else

anyways the whole LS swap idea crossed my mind and a few other ideas but then I was thinking what makes lots of streetable power and a good amount of pulling torque and has good fuel mileage as well hmmmmmm oh yeah a 12 valve Cummins exists so I did alot of research on swapping it in and I found mosesburbs story and it really got me going but I didn't trust my own fabbing to build the engine cross member so a certain fabricator who was interested in my 1967 small window body wanted to trade the body for some labour and the body needed way to much work for me anyway so he's building me my bolt in adjustable crossmember

I know I want a second gen so upon some digging I've found a 1997 engine complete with a 215hp pump and only 200,000kms and its in my town it came out of my friends forge project and being that my dad is a huge diesel mechanic and owns his own performance shop this thing won't be stock ill be fully rebuilding it and she'll make about 700hp at the crank

ill also be going with a built 47re/205 combo and a 1978 ford Dana 60 front end my truck already has a Dana 60 in the back so some nice diff mods and they'll be strong. Yes you did read that I said C20 up there and I found a kit that's just a perch drop and hanger for the front and a shackle flip in the back it will give me 4 1/2 inches of lift overall with stock 73-87 4wd front suspension and stock leafs in the back and hopefully that'll be enough to clear that massive oil pan. I don't want to run a silly vacuum pump so ill be going with a hydro boost kit, I also do powder coating on the side so as much chrome as possible into this build

ill be doing the same intercooler idea as mosesburb with the banks first gen one, it just fit way to nice and a be cool rad combo with electric fans. I am still a little puzzled on how I'm going to make the front steering hook up but I seen one on YouTube with the same idea so I believe it is doable ill post pics soon of everything and ill be starting the 4wd conversion first in the spring and then the summer is dedicated to the Cummins swap

1972RedNeck · 02-02-2015, 08:16 PM

Just FYI, Auto World in Great Falls makes a cross member for stuffing a Cummins in a K10 or K20.

http://www.cumminsdieselrepowers.com/

young.gun · 02-02-2015, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

Just FYI, Auto World in Great Falls makes a cross member for stuffing a Cummins in a K10 or K20.

http://www.cumminsdieselrepowers.com/

Yeah I looked at those crossmembers, the one this guy is building me will be for a labour trade on a truck body I got for free that needs a couple grand of sheet metal and its adjustable so its gonna fit the 12 valve nicely

02-02-2015, 05:26 PM	#1
young.gun Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: smithers B.C. Posts: 11	1972 K20 Cummins swap Hello everybody so I've been restoring a 1972 C20 for about a year and I was just getting ready to put my TJ 396 425hp/TH400 combo in but I have a 69 Chevelle project as well for down the road and it pains me to see that turbo jet in anything else anyways the whole LS swap idea crossed my mind and a few other ideas but then I was thinking what makes lots of streetable power and a good amount of pulling torque and has good fuel mileage as well hmmmmmm oh yeah a 12 valve Cummins exists so I did alot of research on swapping it in and I found mosesburbs story and it really got me going but I didn't trust my own fabbing to build the engine cross member so a certain fabricator who was interested in my 1967 small window body wanted to trade the body for some labour and the body needed way to much work for me anyway so he's building me my bolt in adjustable crossmember I know I want a second gen so upon some digging I've found a 1997 engine complete with a 215hp pump and only 200,000kms and its in my town it came out of my friends forge project and being that my dad is a huge diesel mechanic and owns his own performance shop this thing won't be stock ill be fully rebuilding it and she'll make about 700hp at the crank ill also be going with a built 47re/205 combo and a 1978 ford Dana 60 front end my truck already has a Dana 60 in the back so some nice diff mods and they'll be strong. Yes you did read that I said C20 up there and I found a kit that's just a perch drop and hanger for the front and a shackle flip in the back it will give me 4 1/2 inches of lift overall with stock 73-87 4wd front suspension and stock leafs in the back and hopefully that'll be enough to clear that massive oil pan. I don't want to run a silly vacuum pump so ill be going with a hydro boost kit, I also do powder coating on the side so as much chrome as possible into this build ill be doing the same intercooler idea as mosesburb with the banks first gen one, it just fit way to nice and a be cool rad combo with electric fans. I am still a little puzzled on how I'm going to make the front steering hook up but I seen one on YouTube with the same idea so I believe it is doable ill post pics soon of everything and ill be starting the 4wd conversion first in the spring and then the summer is dedicated to the Cummins swap



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