Cummins into 99 2500 Burb

[4Birdman]

I can buy a wrecked mid 90s Diesel Ram cheap, wondering how hard it would be to swap the drivetrain into my 99 454 Suburban. I love the truck and the engine is great, but I love a diesel more. I wanted to find a diesel Burb, but they are impossible to find. Might as well make my own!

I've swapped different engines into cars before, but never swapped to a diesel. I'm sure I can do it, but just wanted to be sure it fit without major modifications.

[GM Guy 1]

there happens to be a 99 suburban on e-bay right now (last check late yesterday) It started life as a 350/4L60E and it looks stock from the outside, so I would at least contact the guy to see how he did it. I believe he went 1995 12 valve and 48RE.

good luck!

[mindset]

I'd imagine you could. Just need the custom mounts. And transmission wise, I would just get a custom bellhousing made and use the drivetrain in the chevy already.

[Macedawg]

theres been some similar swaps out there..are you dead set on a cummins?..i recently read a thread of a OBS suburban with a duramax conversion that looked pretty cool..not sure if thats a possibility you've considered as well but its a good read either way :dunno:

http://www.thetruckstop.us/forum/showthread.php?10142-95-SUBURBAN-to-a-01-DURAMAX-ALLISON

[4Birdman]

I prefer Cummins, I used to be an Assembly/Test Engineer for them so I know a bit about them. Plus they are a ton cheaper.

I'd probably run the transmission from the truck too, my 4L80E has 170k miles on it right now. It'll probably have a lot more when I am actually able to do the swap.

[kstephens1223]

well if you go for it, let me get the 454 from you

[mindset]

Yeah keep us updated. I'd like to see how this turns out. In the future I'm interested in swapping in a Cummins too. Same trans as you also so it'd be good to get updates from you and what you end up doing.

[454Cowgirl]

I'm putting a 12V cummins in my 92 CCLB SRW 3500 in probably a month or so. Just bought the motor today actually. Hey I've got a 2-horse with quarters GN trailer that weighs 3200lbs empty. I my like my 454 but I'm a diesel gal to the day I die (worked in it for 5 years before current job), plus I can get any parts cheap for the Cummins.

GM actually does have a bell housing adapter that will take it to the 4L80E but they are hard to find as they were used on the 4BTs(fits the 6BT also) that GM used in some larger trucks. Bellhousings can be had on line, but look at paying just as much for it as the wrecked truck. Building your own or getting one built is the smarter move. You will need you computer though to run your 80E or get the computer from a 92-93 6.5TD (basically when they were mechanical). You dont need it to run the motor, but it is needed to send the proper inputs to the trans to know when to shift.