Excursion 12v build, help and opinions needed.

east_tn_81

Adventurer
If this is the case and you are committed to doing the 12v swap, then it probably makes sense to pay the experts to do it. They will do it once and do it right, and have done many of the exact truck you have. Also, they may be a long way away, but in the bigger picture of how much you are spending to do the swap, shipping the truck there, or driving it and flying home would likely be worth the expense.

Wise man
 

MT6bt

Rock hound
Since when does building your dream truck make financial sense? Hahahaha :smiley_drive:

Don't take this the wrong way but your gonna spend alot more then this should cost you.
I know you have owned the rig since new but finacially this makes no sence.

You can pick up a clean deisel X with 4x4 for about what the cummins/allison swap is going to cost you.
From the sounds of it you don't need custom axles or lockers. Basically with your current truck you have a good body and interior that is all your going to use. That would be a great start if you wanted to run custom axles and suspention but for exploration and backroad travel a stock 4x4 diesel X with lift and tires will get the job done.

Its your rig man build it how you want I just think you would be money and time ahead to start with a clean diesel 4x4 X.
 

cattivo

New member
buy an old first gen dodge with the cummins and a dana60 up front with locking hubs and king pins and a dana70

swap the drivetrain over.... use the 4 speed auto with a decent rebuild (do not buy all the crap stuff for the auto just a good rebuilder)... Gear the axles put on the 35 and be happy.

You can buy the stock dodge with low mileage regular cab $4-5K. rebuild auto, clean up motor, others $5-10K due to inability to turn wrenches... maybe make a few dollars back on leftovers

DONE

If you need the 6 speed and 38s buy a school bus and swap the 8.3L over and see about surgery for other possible issues...:)

I found a 1996 3500 dually for 6k it has 366k miles on it. trans and rear end rebuilt at 300k. This might become the doner truck to get the build started.
 

blakeape

Adventurer
While buying a 7.3 4x4 Excursion would be easy its not the end all solution. As a 12 valve owner who put a 1979 Ford Dana 60 under my Cummins I say build what you want. All the Ex's came with Dana 50 front ends, so to run 37-38's and gear appropriately and maybe lock it up you'd want to swap a 60 in anyway. The 12 Valve is definitely the easiest diesel to swap into something and the Fords seem like they were made to have a Cummins between the frame rails. I sometimes wish I just stuck a 12 Valve in an OBS Ford Crew Cab instead of building my Dodge but whatever. Check out "Diesel Conversion Specialties" in Kalispell MT. They are the old "FordCummins" guys, I'd consider using a Ford auto too or going stick.
 

thedjjack

Dream it build it
I have seen stock regular cab dodges with 12V and king pin front end dana 60s in the 4-6K mark with under 250,000KM in BC...

Mechanical Diesel swaps are easy especially if you have a donor vehicle....

Stock auto was week however my friend had his 1993 rebuilt by a mopar only retired transmission specialist for around $700.00 and the guy said he would never blow it up... his shop had sign drag photos of every mopar drag racer on the west coast... The auto held up to turbo swaps, pump turn ups etc...

He sold it for $5500 with 330,000km eventually...

Personally I like a manual....but I am getting old I guess :)

Build what you want....

If I had the money a 5.9L would be nice in my RV, but for now the old 6.2L will stay..
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,533
Messages
2,875,597
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top