454 to Cummins

[davejay]

Hey,
I thought of going diesal too, but the only gain I see, is a little better milage. I could put an overdrive in line and pick up maybe 3-4 miles to the gallon. A diesal will give you maybe 15-17 mpg. Lot of work for a little more lower end power and some gas milage. Throw a bigger cam and a good intake manifold, some big tub headers and maybe some performance heads. You may come out about the same. DJ

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by davejay

Hey,
I thought of going diesal too, but the only gain I see, is a little better milage. I could put an overdrive in line and pick up maybe 3-4 miles to the gallon. A diesal will give you maybe 15-17 mpg. Lot of work for a little more lower end power and some gas milage. Throw a bigger cam and a good intake manifold, some big tub headers and maybe some performance heads. You may come out about the same. DJ

A good diesel will give you longevity, ease of rebuild, as well as better torque and power at lower rpm's. My Isuzu is all tapped out at 2500-3000 rpm with most torque and power reached at maybe 1000- 1500 rpm's, vesus the 3000+ rpms the 454 is working in.

The other benefit to my Isuzu over the Cummins is that I have removable cylinder sleeves; so unless the block has a hole in it, the Isuzu is endlessly rebuildable; remove piston and rings; remove cylinder sleeve; install cylinder sleeve, install new rings on piston and install piston. The Cummins has built in sleeves so it can only be bored and honed only so much, just like your 454.

The other upside to diesel is that diesel is a lubricant oil, so it doesn't really break down over time and turn into varnish, like gas does; it is also not easily set on fire (requires a flame) and in most cases, cheaper to buy.

I don't know how well performance heads and headers will work on a motorhome, as I know there are RV specific cams, but each to their own I guess.

Cheers
Tony

[GCinSC2]

Originally Posted by davejay

Hey,
I thought of going diesal too, but the only gain I see, is a little better milage. I could put an overdrive in line and pick up maybe 3-4 miles to the gallon. A diesal will give you maybe 15-17 mpg. Lot of work for a little more lower end power and some gas milage. Throw a bigger cam and a good intake manifold, some big tub headers and maybe some performance heads. You may come out about the same. DJ

DJ,

No way to know if you've read all of Mel's trails trials and sorrows on this job. It's way too late to second guess Mel's decision it's become a machine vs man issue now and we're all betting on Mel's skills, patience, perseverance, pocket book and a lotta luck.

Mel, we're waiting for the next installment.

Gary

[Waipio Rim]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

DJ,



No way to know if you've read all of Mel's trails trials and sorrows on this job. It's way too late to second guess Mel's decision it's become a machine vs man issue now and we're all betting on Mel's skills, patience, perseverance, pocket book and a lotta luck.



Mel, we're waiting for the next installment.



Gary

Absolutely, I am patiently waiting for a video of Mel's coach belching black smoke.

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by davejay

Hey,
I thought of going diesal too, but the only gain I see, is a little better milage. I could put an overdrive in line and pick up maybe 3-4 miles to the gallon. A diesal will give you maybe 15-17 mpg. Lot of work for a little more lower end power and some gas milage. Throw a bigger cam and a good intake manifold, some big tub headers and maybe some performance heads. You may come out about the same. DJ

You won't see much increase in gas mileage with overdrive, just less noise. I changed from a 1-1 to a .72 overdrive and go kneel increase in mpg about 6.5. Pulled the 454 did a Comp Cam hydraulic roller, .25 stroke, .30 over 10.3/1(I think) pistons. It screamed down the highway getting 10 mpg....For about 2000 miles and dropped a valve.

5.9 Cummins with Allison 6 speed is my life project

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by Waipio Rim

Absolutely, I am patiently waiting for a video of Mel's coach belching black smoke.

Oh no! Just want a puff have smoke other wise the fuel wheel needs adjusting.

Working on rerouting the back heater/water tank hoses now. Those splices don't want to go in the old heater hose. Plus the end didn't end up in a easy place to get to.

[choctawmel]

Hoping I could get all the pumping done on the left side and get the front wheels back on tomorrow when I have some help.
BUT NO!
For some reason the turban oil drain tube is in the way of getting the oil filter back on! It's the same as before and the filter fit. Going to cut the tube and shorten the end.
So, back I go.
Took a couple pictures while I was progressing.

One step forward, 5 steps back. Can't find 1/8" NPT port for the EGT probe now. I hate taking these 3 month breaks!

[mtlagger]

Mel
I have been watching and reading every post you've placed on here. I'm glad you are feeling good enough to work on it again.
I have the same plan for my 93 classic 360. I have a 95 p pump motor with a 6 speed Allison to swap in.

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

...The other benefit to my Isuzu over the Cummins is that I have removable cylinder sleeves; so unless the block has a hole in it, the Isuzu is endlessly rebuildable; remove piston and rings; remove cylinder sleeve; install cylinder sleeve, install new rings on piston and install piston. The Cummins has built in sleeves so it can only be bored and honed only so much, just like your 454.

The other upside to diesel is that diesel is a lubricant oil, so it doesn't really break down over time and turn into varnish, like gas does; it is also not easily set on fire (requires a flame) and in most cases, cheaper to buy....
Cheers
Tony

"...remove piston and rings; remove ...sleeve..."

Yeah. Right. You left out a few steps. It ain't all that simple.

"...diesel is a lubricant oil, so it doesn't really break down over time and turn into varnish, like gas does;..."

Also not all that simple. Diesel will feed fungus resulting in a gelatinous-mass that will corrode the tank and ruin injectors and that very expensive fuel pump which diesels have. (When consuming fuel, atmosphere containing spores enter the tank to replace or "vent" the tank. The spores bloom into fungus which lives in water-droplets in the bottom of the tank and they eat the fuel for food. Their body-wastes corrode the fuel system and clog filters, injectors and pumps. An additive (such as BioBor, etc) must be put into the fuel when stored off-season.

And diesel is NOT less expensive than gasoline, at least not at the stations I've been seeing for the last several years. Diesel is at a premium and not always as available as gasoline.

[choctawmel]

Well, I getting close to the first start up. The turbo oil drain tube got modified.... again... Gave up on bending, cutting, welding this tube and just cut it and used hose.

The fuel pressure and booth lines better installed. Got the turban to air filter mounted and plumbed.
Maybe I found the problem with the cruise control. The blue(ish) wire is the power to the it.

Things are way too close to the exhaust manifold. So, I ordered 50' of 1" wrap. Then shape a piece of aluminum around the wrapped manifold.

Wrapping the manifold will put more energy to the turbo too, and help with the noise and heat under the dog house.
Got to find a husky guy to put the front wheels back on.

[GCinSC2]

Nothing sounds like a Cummins coming to life.

Com'on Mel!

[GCinSC2]

Watch your back with the wheels. I've used a regular flat shovel as a lever to slightly raise and position them on even the wheels on my dodge.

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

Nothing sounds like a Cummins coming to life.

Com'on Mel!

Need to get a can of diesel starter fluid to check for inlet air leaks when I fire her up!!!

[SpiceStream]

Originally Posted by choctawmel

Need to get a can of diesel starter fluid to check for inlet air leaks when I fire her up!!!

Just bleed all the way to the injectors and she will crack right off, no starting fluid needed.

I can smell the diesel smoke from here.
Curt

[GCinSC2]

Cummins with the heating grids doesn't need ether, bad combo.

I think Mel is describing using it to look for intake leaks, rpm changes with sniff of starting fluid?

I've never done that, no experience but I have pressurized the intake on a 12V and soap bubbled it.

Careful Mel.

[choctawmel]

Got the exhaust manifold wrapped today. Used 50' of 1" 2000 degree wrap from Summit Racing. Missed some spots. Next time I'll lay some 2" over each port to better cover.

Did me in!

Don't know why I didn't do it about 12 steps back. You know before I put air hoses, oil tube, inlet tube on. Still need to bend, shape, hammer a piece metal around the front half where everything is so close.

Got to install the turban blanket. Maybe tomorrow. Don't feel like getting on my knees anymore today.

[choctawmel]

I got the engine started today. Sprayed all around the intake with starting ether. No riving. Good!

Poured 1/2 gallon more in the tranny, checked for leaks and I have a leak. Because I have too much cooling capacity they sold me a cooler bypass thermostat. It's running out of a seam in the case of it.

Call them tomorrow.

I pushed on the brake when I shifted it to reverse, It went into reverse..... But the brake isn't right now.

The cooler bypass is in the right fender well. I didn't put that wheel back on.... The brake is in the left wheel well, got to take the wheel back off to get to the master cylinder. Need to bleed the lines anyway.

Should I chance it and put the front grill back on?

I think I'll just get a beer and call it a day.

[mtlagger]

That's great news.
Did you get the dog house cover on?
How does it sound inside?

Marty

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by choctawmel

....Should I chance it and put the front grill back on?

I think I'll just get a beer and call it a day.

Mel, great progress!

If it was me I wouldn't install the front grille until after a successful drive or two. I hate doing things twice

Brad

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by mtlagger

That's great news.
Did you get the dog house cover on?
How does it sound inside?

Marty

I've driven it with the diesel about 250 miles before I gave up on the 4L80e and swapped it for the 2008 Allison T-1000 6 speed. It wasn't any noisier then the 454.

Should be less now with the RV type exhaust manifold (wrapped, but need to redo), the turbo down under it and the Allison double overdrive putting the engine RPM at around 1800 at 70 mph.