I have a 1969 F600 and I'm looking into a 5.9 Cummins conversion. I've looked around rebuilts in my area and all I can buy is long blocks. The question I face is, after the long block, what else do I need under the hood for it to run. I figure hook up to the radiator, electrical connections to thw guages, air intake and batteries. Turbo as well maybe?
I saw a video on YouTube of 1956 f600 fire truck with a Cummins conversion and a dual transmission setup so I know it's possible. I'll post on this thread as I progress, but any help I could get would be more than appreciated.
Tom

 

In my neck of the woods a complete early 90's truck goes for a few grand and comes with everything. It might need a lot of work but it's all there.
Eric

 

Check out the 4btswaps.com forum, they have all the Cummins swap info you will need.
I would avoid buying a longblock, it's a lot of money plus a core charge plus all the additional bits you need. Donor trucks are a good way to go, pick up a Dodge and throw away the wrapper.

 

I looked at an F700 today with a 5.9 and an Allison AT-545 for $3K…

 

Just like post 2 and 4 say get a whole truck.
What I bought in 2010 was a 94 F700 5.9L Six speed trans had 107K
Air brakes, double frame, 10K Front, 22.7K REAR axles. Budd wheels
Cab & chassis was all that was there. Had 2 good tires.
I paid $2500 for this



I will say this, pick one that is Pre-computer (up to 1997)

 

I saw a video on YouTube of 1956 f600 fire truck with a Cummins conversion and a dual transmission setup so I know it's possible. I'll post on this thread as I progress, but any help I could get would be more than appreciated.
Tom[/QUOTE]

The 56 Cummins conversion you mentioned is mine, and I also recommend you get a donor truck ... I paid 2k for a 94 f700 .. all I used was the engine, fuel tank, batteries, fan shroud, tires.

 

Start with a medium truck donor. Any brand truck will do as long as the powertrain layout is suitable. Pickups may have smaller radiators and lower fan centers than medium trucks, in addition to light duty transmissions.

 

The 56 Cummins conversion you mentioned is mine, and I also recommend you get a donor truck ... I paid 2k for a 94 f700 .. all I used was the engine, fuel tank, batteries, fan shroud, tires.[/QUOTE]

Awesome, your just the man I wanted to talk to. What is the 4sp spicer aux? Is spicer the brand? Do you figure the dana 80 would work on my wheels and bolts on the frame? Sorry if imw questioning too much. I'm basing my build on yours, your video is what got me started on this project.

 

Sounds like a deal. Where did you see that at?

 

[QUOTE=

Awesome, your just the man I wanted to talk to. What is the 4sp spicer aux? Is spicer the brand? Do you figure the dana 80 would work on my wheels and bolts on the frame? Sorry if imw questioning too much. I'm basing my build on yours, your video is what got me started on this project.[/QUOTE]

The auxiliary trans. Is a Spicer 6041... yes Spicer is the brand.

I am assuming that your truck has the six lug bud wheels...if that is correct, I would recommend a medium duty step van like a snap on tool truck, laundry truck, some of them use a Freightliner mt45 it has the Cummins ,manual or auto trans. And the rear end with the six lug wheels ... some of the Cummins powered f700 also have the six lug wheels. Try to find a donor that has engine and trans that you want plus the six lug wheels .... that would give you every thing you need to do the swap.

 

MT45s are not 6 lug*, look for an IH chassis for the 6 lug.

*none that I've seen since 1997

 

put a 391 FT in there with od and rock. 4 bucks a gal diesel ya right.

 

Diesel round my parts is for around $3.60. Plus, the old 5.9 Cummins could get up to 21 mpg in a 1 ton dually with 4.10s if you drove it right. My 2 ton doesn't weigh too much more than one of those trucks. With my choice main and aux trans and rear end I may be able to get tall enough gears in double over to get the same mpgs in a 2 ton so long as those giant tires don't drag me down. Just thoughts..

 

Mine now gets 9.5-10.0 MPG towing the Jeep & trailer @ 65MPH.
Total 20,000 weight. That is with 3.58 rear axle.

Not towing when it had the 3.70 gears @ 13,000 lbs it got 11.7MPG on a 50 mile interste test run