1996 diesel to gas swap

[K5-CJ5]

I have a 96 k2500 with a 6.5 td. My engine blew and my tranny was already having issues. I am considering swapping in a 350 and th400 but wanted to know if anyone has ever done this. I know the gas pedal will have to be swapped because the 96 is fly by wire, is it a difficult swap? I also have to consider the fact that the instrument cluster will prob have to be switched out. Im trying to decide if its more cost effective to do the swap or sell the truck and start with a gasser to begin with. Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[sweetk30]

96 gas is cable still

and if using 96 - up engine = pita if you ask me for all the trouble of swapping to gas.

and its more than just the motor and computer/wiring. also fuel sensing units and remove frame rail transfer pump and install filter. and add the gas sending unit with fuel pump.

if me find a 6.5 or even cummins and swap it that way. then if set on gas swap find whole donor truck to get every thing and have fun.

and i see you in ca does that now make it require full smog check as it would be gas motor. . . . . .

 

[K5-CJ5]

I have a 1993 sub that has a new motor trans etc, but is wrecked that I was going to pull parts from. I am trying to save money because a 6.5 or Cummins plus a tranny will be pretty costly. Been looking for a reasonable 6.5 with tranny but no luck so far. cummins would be ideal but still have most of the same swap issues as a gas motor minus transfer pump and sending unit.

Technically yes it would have to be smogged if re-registered as a gas versus diesel.

 

[longbedder]

I believe that you'll find swapping from diesel to gas is not worth it in California.

Diesel-VIN trucks bring a premium, even with a blown motor, because they are smog exempt. Getting that truck smog legal will be a major PITA (both time and money), and you'll have to get it refereed. You could not use your '93 motor, because if you do a conversion it has to be the same year or newer engine - '93 was TBI, and '96 was MPFI Vortec. The truck has to function with and throw no codes under OBDII.

You do NOT want to get caught running gas in a converted truck that hasn't been swapped on the title/registration. They've got passive sniffers in CA to detect such things, and the penalties are quite large.

If you look in the right places, finding a decent complete 6.5L should not be a problem. Try www.thedieselplace.com, craigslist, and govliquidation to start with.

Edit: You've got a mechanical injection pump on your 6.5L - those alone are worth a fair amount of $$$. Alot of folks don't like the electronic injection pumps that came out a year later.

 

[sweetk30]

well if same or newer then just 5.3 or 6.0 swap it bam. if you want a gasser that bad.