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CA Diesel Conversion Smog

dhcomp

dhcomp

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Ok, so I've posted a number of times about duramax conversions.

I tow frequently, in the mtns, and the 350 burb isn't cutting it.

I'm a burb guy, and don't want to go to a truck for security reasons.

I've been eyeing Duramax Suburban conversions. Who wouldn't want a newer 3/4 ton 4x4 burb that gets over 15mpg, and has the towing power of a dmax?

There is a guy in CA that does them with salvage trucks, and keeps the price pretty reasonable.

The issue is, he doesnt' communicate well via email, and basically says "good luck" with CA Title and smog.

I've heard if it is first registered out of state, then it is easy to transfer to CA and not have smog problems.

Anyone have better info than that?

Most recent truck in question:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GMC-Yukon-S...a3ed1658e&item=181442536846&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Not actually going to buy this one, but should have bought the last couple white ones he posted on for $10-15k.

I guess if i HAD to, i could register through my family's vacation home in NV, but that makes things complicated.

Thanks guys!
 
Chevy305 said:
Check these guys out:

http://duramaxsuburbans.com
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link.

There are quite a few companies out there doing it, but most end up pretty expansive.

The ones that appear to be the best "value" seem to be the ones that start with a salvage title. Obviously something i wouldn't' do without a serious pre purchase inspection, but for such a specialty vehicle, i'd be open to a salvage title.
 
What generation truck are you looking for? IFS rig?

I don't understand why an out of state truck would be any easier. The cars I've brought in from out of state needed a smog and a tail light/safety BS check too.

If you want an IFS rig buy one with a diesel and swap over the Duramax, no smog required at that point.
 
Im essentially going to go for what's out there, as i don't really want to do the swap myself. If i was up for the swap, i'd probably just put a 6.0 in my burb.

I like the 92-99's the best, but finding one in decent shape / low mileage is impossible. Even tougher to find a diesel with less than 300k on it.

So, the 2000+ come into play. They seem to be holding up ok, plentiful, etc....except they never came with a diesel from the factory.

So, we're back to square one.

I agree that out of state should be just as much trouble, but someone posted otherwise recently.

We shall see if i can look into it further.

Thanks!
 
My Dad is thinking of a newer truck with the Duramax, but from what I saw in some cursory searching, the most powerful 454 and the most powerful Duramax are pretty close in terms of torque. While the mileage won't be there, the cost and hassle of a duramax swap might make a 454 swap more viable?

Is the duramax swap into this body viable? I know the 4/6BT motors require a lift to clear stuff, will the duramax fit our body style with that not being necessary?
 
Pretty sure the 454 and dmax torque numbers are no where near each other, but i might be wrong.

I've owned 2 97-99 454 burb's for short spans of time. The first one was at the wrong time for me, and the second one was a worn out POS for the $ I had into it.

Never towed much with either. But, I have been considering that option too. The other thing, is if i'm going to move on from my current truck being my tow rig, i want it to be an AWESOME upgrade (Dmax power + Mileage) rather than a mediocre upgrade (aging 454 truck with power and ****ty mileage). I've got a lot of time and emotional connections to my burb now, and it'll be hard to move into something that is more of a mess, you know?

Really not looking into doing a Dmax swap into my truck, but buying a swapped truck where it would be swapped in such a way that it "could" have come from the factory in that configuration. Same vintage truck/motor, etc.
 
Maybe I only saw a specific period of the d-max's history, but I swear that both were in the mid 400's? I was kind of surprised at that, but again, maybe I was only getting a partial picture. I would agree, that seems awfully strange, as I thought most were up around 500+ ft lbs at the low end nowadays. Edit: Went and checked wikipedia, one Duramax version was 460ft lbs, the rest were 520-650ft lbs, so not close to a stock BBC)

I can understand wanting it to be a real upgrade. You can find some d-max trucks online in the $4000 range, but I don't think that is really an upgrade, those trucks are 200,000+ mile rigs. Not bad for the diesel, but bad for everything on the truck that wears out/needs replacement. I wondered what you could do with a $4000+ budget on one of these older rigs without having to lift one, etc.

Modern gas powerplant swaps are relatively easy, I've just not seen much on the diesel side other than the BT's.
 
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Yah. The issue I have is downtime. Not only can i not have my truck down for more than a few days, i really don't have all that much time to work on projects.

Hell, i sold my 95 540i that i LOVED in order to buy a 2008 that will require less of my time to keep on the road. I HATE taking on car payments, but it is what is is.

As much as i want to put a 6.0L in my 91 burb, its a downtime thing. Id also love to SAS a 99 2500 burb with a 454, but thats a cost and working time issue. A nice stock 99 series burb would be sweet too, but most have enough mileage on them that the WHOLE front end will have to be replaced, with much of the interior fixed. I'm too anal about how these drive to tackle that project without tons of time.

Which has led me to the 2000+ trucks. I hate how the interiors wear, but the rest seem to hold up ok. Considering just getting a 6.0L, and being done with it.....but they get the same mileage as the 454's. I don't DD this vehicle, but i've put 15k on my burb in the last year since the motor swap, so they get driven quite a bit.

So, if i could get a reasonably priced Dmax conversion, i'd be dialed.

There have been 2 decent ones in the last year to sell under 15k.
 
Honestly as cool as these things are, a '00-'06 2500 Suburban with an 8.1 will tow circles around a square body 350. It'd probably end up getting similar mileage too. These can be had under $10k in good shape too.

Either way, I'd say stick with the '00-'06 body style as they are a nice upgrade over the '92-'99.
 
Chevy305 said:
Honestly as cool as these things are, a '00-'06 2500 Suburban with an 8.1 will tow circles around a square body 350. It'd probably end up getting similar mileage too. These can be had under $10k in good shape too.

Either way, I'd say stick with the '00-'06 body style as they are a nice upgrade over the '92-'99.
Click to expand...

And truthfully, a 6.0L would do it too.

And they'll both get the same or better mileage than what i have.

I've ALWAYS wanted a white 99 2500 with or without SAS swap. Love that body style. But, in terms of finding one in decent shape, i'm better off going 2000 or newer.

A 2000+ with 285's, towing mirrors, etc. would definitely look decent, and get the job done.
 
The lowest torque duramax produced is like 525, while the new ones are like 770. No big block comes close for towing capabilities.
 
Cili said:
The lowest torque duramax produced is like 525, while the new ones are like 770. No big block comes close for towing capabilities.
Click to expand...


What he said. After owning my durmax, I will never tow again with a gasser.
 
Doesnt hurt that you can slap on a multi position programmer and gain a couple hundred ft.lbs without hardly turning a wrench. Cant do that with a gasser.

I dream of the day when im a big boy and need a durmax.

If it makes you feel better Darren, pinsco63 who has a 91 suburban with a 6.0 swap, and my '12 drag raced a few times the other weekend and i took him out with ease. I feel like the new truck having variable valve timing and the deep first gear of the 6 speed makes it. Both trucks are stock with the exception of him having the 6.0 out of an 02 Denali. He even has 3.73s while i have 3.42's.

My point is that, while his truck is no slouch and will actually squeal the tires off the line, the fact that its on par with a 1/2 ton with a 5.3, means that as you said you want an awesome upgrade, you would have to step to 8.1 or Dmax stuff to get the awesome upgrade.
 
It may be sacrilege, but if you're looking for a newer model diesel full-size SUV that's turn key, The diesel Excursions aren't bad. It may be a Ford, but you won't have to worry about smog issues, and you can probably get one for a decent price. I'd just be leery of salvage titles and conversion work, and if you're dealing with California, smog is always a headache. If I had a Burban and could score a Duramax powertrain for a good price, I'd probably give it a go, but I'm not in CA either...
 
paratrooper307 said:
It may be sacrilege, but if you're looking for a newer model diesel full-size SUV that's turn key, The diesel Excursions aren't bad. It may be a Ford, but you won't have to worry about smog issues, and you can probably get one for a decent price. I'd just be leery of salvage titles and conversion work, and if you're dealing with California, smog is always a headache. If I had a Burban and could score a Duramax powertrain for a good price, I'd probably give it a go, but I'm not in CA either...
Click to expand...

The diesel excursions are way over priced out right now. Also California smogs diesel from 98+
 
The later Duramax trucks are fine and all, but why the hassle/cost of swapping one?

A 12V Cummins has almost every edge on that. WAY easier swap, much easier to work on, stronger platform, doesn't have injector or head gasket problems, arguably more efficient, etc.

I saw some comments in relation to a big block, my '93 12V (the weakest Cummins they put in light duty trucks) made more than double the torque of a co-worker's built 454 (supposedly identical to an engine they had on an engine dyno at 480/520).

We ran on the same dyno, same day. Corrected for altitude etc. which gives more advantage to the NA big block on paper, it may have taken 2-1/2 of those 454's to make the same torque as my 5.9.

Slightly bigger injectors, regular VE pump mods, pump maxed, $200 turbo (stock HE351CW from an 05-07, wastegate welded shut). 310/665 on a Superflow dyno at the rear wheels on 37's (the brake dynos are supposed to be ~15% lower than the inertia Dynojet type dynos)

The big block has it's place, but for towing, especially at altitude, forced air is the only way. The gas motors will do it, but slowly and less efficiently.

Unless you want to be unique, the Cummins is by far the best bang for the buck.

BIG tangent off, I guess I don't know about emissions for CA, I would assume that the Cummins engines are about the same difficulty to get through CA referees but I have no experience with that.
 
No doubt the Cummins is a great motor, but a Duramax is a direct bolt in using factory parts. Once installed properly you could take it to any dealer for service or repairs.
 
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