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74- Project K20 "Cummins Swap"

I was told the 12V Cummins would shake my little frame into pieces and that I needed to move everything to a 1ton frame if I wanted to go that route.
 
82355 said:
You were told wrong.

Martin
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He was told right , Blazers and 1/2 tons frames are thinner and shorter . Unless you spend the time to beef them up it will tear the frame up in a short time period. I have seen it in person.
 
Than a K20? Hmm. Aren't there a bunch of Cummins in K5's and K10's on here?

Martin
 
yellowK20 said:
He was told right , Blazers and 1/2 tons frames are thinner and shorter . Unless you spend the time to beef them up it will tear the frame up in a short time period. I have seen it in person.
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Would boxing the frame be sufficient or would moving up to a 1ton be better?
 
Stock cummins in a k10-k5 would be ok. A boxed k10-k5 frame would be more than enough. k20 frames are a little thicker than k10 frames IIRC. I think howidy had a thread about it. All i remember was he was talking about frame boxing. Somewhere in that thread there was a chart showing frame thickness differences in the different models. But to say a cummins is good to go in a k20 but will shatter a k10 is not accurate.

EDIT: WINNAR! I found it. Doesnt have all models but has good info none the less.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298637
 
Also on the frame debate, the intended use of the rig plays into this a lot. If you are building a serious offroader verses a street rig makes a world of difference as to how anything will hold up.
After lots of research, conversations with lots of people running Cummins swaps and some common sense, I ended up boxing the front half of my K5 frame, I will also be running a full cage tied into the frame and a pretty stout engine crossmember and trans crossmember. My rig will not be a hardcore wheeler (that's the K30's job) so I have zero concerns about the frame :whistle:..................and if I end up being wrong then whom ever likes can feel free to say "I told ya so" :D





The OP had a build thread on either CompD or Cumminsforum, I can't remember, but I haven't been on either lately to see if he's updated it.
 
I might just have to start boxing and adding some more meat to my frame (I'm not sure if you can fully cage a single cab pickup). I'm not a huge rock crawler but I will be on trails far away from civilization and I will be hitting, pushing and pulling stuff.
 
DrkZide said:
Would boxing the frame be sufficient or would moving up to a 1ton be better?
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yeah boxing and reinforcing the frame helps, what happens is the cummins will literally rip the the engine crossmember out of the frame, they crack the bolt holes for the engine crossmember similar to how the steering box breaks the frame.


Also, the trans crossmember will pull the bolts through the frame,
 
Does it use the stock crossmember? I wouldn't assume it would just bolt right in to the chevy cradle.
 
Depends on whose mounts you use , either way if you want to use a Blazer or 1/2 ton frame beef it up or you will have issues maybe not right away but it will happen
 
DrkZide said:
Does it use the stock crossmember? I wouldn't assume it would just bolt right in to the chevy cradle.
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I've seen some people use/ mod the stock x member, but I won't be. I'm using sort of a double crossmember that supports the factory trans mount and also mounts to the back of the 205 (like the 205 mount Kert has made for a few guys). This will help spread the load across a much larger area and also avoid having all the weight and twisting forces of the 205 hanging behind the 4500 trans. I've yet to fab it up but I'm planning on bending it up out of some .180 wall 1 3/4" DOM with poly bushings on the ends and a removable skid plate as well.

I do totally agree with yellowk20 about beefing up the engine x member and mounts or there WILL be problems.
 
my turn

Well it looks as if I've decided to go ahead and do a swap myself. Goin tomorrow and Saturday to look at a 77gmc shotbed and a 78 gmc shortbed both 4wd. I will drive either one if I decide to buy for a few months until I can get my hands on a 12v. Ill keep y'all posted
 
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