454 to Cummins

[bkahler]

Congratulations Mel!

Nice install on the generator tank. Do you have any way of telling the fuel level in the little tank?

Brad

[GCinSC2]

Mel,

If you're seeing 1200 @ 27 WOT and if the EGT probe is before turbo right out of the manifold, I'd agree pour yourself a tall one and plan a shakedown.

How's the acceleration? It ain't a race rig I know but Cummins has a geterdone style of power.

Gary

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

Mel,

If you're seeing 1200 @ 27 WOT and if the EGT probe is before turbo right out of the manifold, I'd agree pour yourself a tall one and plan a shakedown.

How's the acceleration? It ain't a race rig I know but Cummins has a geterdone style of power.

Gary

It snaps right good till it hits 4th gear (1/1) then she knows it's pulling 16,750 pounds. Acceleration is not at all like the 454. At cruising speed I think it's less noise then the gas was.

The EGT probe is in the exhaust manifold down stream of 4-5-6. I had an 'RV' manifold where the turbo sets down against the block.

Shot a can of die in the a/c, but couldn't see where if came out. Got a leak somewhere cause I can't pull a vacuum. Need to find someone with good color vision.

[mayco]

Big thumbs up Mel!! You sure stayed with it, so cool to hear its on the road (a few miles on her anyway). And to think, back surgery right in the middle of the project, you're a stubborn rascal! You weren't gonna let it beat ya....GREAT WORK!

Mike

[GCinSC2]

Mel,

Confused, accelerates better than 454 or not as good as?

Gary

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Congratulations Mel!

Nice install on the generator tank. Do you have any way of telling the fuel level in the little tank?

Brad

The original fill was in the top. I moved it to the rear top. There is a bezel for a sender but I didn't put one in. Should have.
So a yard stick will do the trick.

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

Mel,

Confused, accelerates better than 454 or not as good as?

Gary

Not as good.
I'll say it is close till it hit 4th gear. I have no problem merging onto the interstate. I think it hold highway speed better then the gas'r did. But then I have a 6 speed transmission and was 4 speed.

Need to figure out how to up the shift rpm a little.

Still tweaking the fuel wheel. Need to get EGT up another 50 degrees.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by choctawmel

The original fill was in the top. I moved it to the rear top. There is a bezel for a sender but I didn't put one in. Should have.
So a yard stick will do the trick.

What about something like this?

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by bkahler

What about something like this?

One of them came with it, but now the fill is 4" long and out the side, so the gauge don't see any fuel. maybe they make one about 2'-6" longer?

Now the generator governor is not governing.... RATS!

Put new blinds in the kitchen/living and bathroom today.

Think I need help with the dash air Can't figure it out.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by choctawmel

Not as good.
I'll say it is close till it hit 4th gear. I have no problem merging onto the interstate. I think it hold highway speed better then the gas'r did. But then I have a 6 speed transmission and was 4 speed.

Need to figure out how to up the shift rpm a little.

Still tweaking the fuel wheel. Need to get EGT up another 50 degrees.

Where I used to work, our never exceed EGT was 1300 degrees. I would stop at 1250 for a little extra insurance.

Of course, that was on tractors. Pulling a plow, that was a long-term temp.

1250 would have been the number I recommended to you, too, so we agree.

The pistons shouldn't start to melt till well over 1300 sustained.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by choctawmel

One of them came with it, but now the fill is 4" long and out the side, so the gauge don't see any fuel. maybe they make one about 2'-6" longer?

My diesel powered steam cleaner has one that is about 12" or so long. I'll see if I can find where it came from.

Brad

[GCinSC2]

Mel,

Been a few months now, how's the Cummins doing?

Gary

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

Mel,

Been a few months now, how's the Cummins doing?

Gary

So far I've only gone about 240 miles pulling the toad (1999 Suzuki Vitara). Haven't refilled yet.
Dropped the generator tank and put the gauge in it.
Pulled the 3" turban down pipe and replace with a 4".... Still wanting the EGT lower. Think I cut and welded the Summit down pipe about 12 time to clear everything. Then I wrapped it and liked to never got the thing bolted back onto the turban.
Now I'm working on installing a new 3 view backup camera system.
It is my life project! I'll never be done.

[choctawmel]

Time for the truthful update.
Have gone 450 miles pulling the toad and I filled up today.
Got 9.6 mpg. Was hoping for a minimum of 10 mpg, but this is the first tank fill.
Still think I've got a inlet leak as the EGT is still going up to 1300 degrees.
I hope to talk to the real diesel mechanic this weekend as I plan to go on another (bicycle) trip with it.
I did replace the 3" turban down pipe with 4" which did help the EGT.
After this weekend my plan is to remove the caption's chairs and have redone then replace the carpet under them and add insulation/sound proofing. Anyone know if someone has pre-made carpet? I'm sure when I pull this carpet up I'll render it unusable.
I think I like what I did.

[Keyair]

Mel, you are the man, and I dont know where you find the energy!

Question about noise... is the Cummins a whole lot louder or different or what???

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by Keyair

Mel, you are the man, and I dont know where you find the energy!

Question about noise... is the Cummins a whole lot louder or different or what???

I've been at this for over 2 years.
I don't think it's any louder. It is a different tone of noise. I couldn't talk or listen to the radio with the gas motor and I still can't.
I am going to re-install the muffler. Now it's just 4" straight exhaust.
I need to re-wrap the exhaust manifold and do a better job of it and/or try a blanket.
The carpet needs to be replaced in the cockpit area, and the dog house cover insulation needs replaced. Of course to do that, the sofa has to come out. Then the dinnet, sofa, and captain's chairs all get redone. Now it's sounding like work!

[GCinSC2]

That Cummins makes its own exhaust tone for sure.

Cummins my name, pulling is my game.

[tevake]

Congratulations Mel, so happy to see your hard work and determination paying off! It's been a challenge of its own but dealing with the health issues at the same time could have derailed a lesser man.

Nice to hear that you are planning an outing with your rig, just reward 👍
Well done, Mel. Yep they are never really done but oh so fun once up and rolling.

Cheers Richard

[mayco]

Numerous folks talk about doing the Diesel swap but only a very few actually go there...definitely not for the faint of heart. (and down right stubbornness)
Nice work Mel, hope you get it where you want it. So just what is a healthy EGT for the Cummins? Are they hotter running motors than the factory Isuzu? At idle mine is about 300, on flat roads at 62mph and about 2700-2800rpm I run between 600-800 and on the steepest longest pulls it's been as high as 1100 and flirted with 1200. Ive never let it get all the way to 12. Coolant stays around 185 except for one time in the rockies, 100 ambient temp, looooong pull, got up to about 205 or so.

[GCinSC2]

Hopefully Mel's diesel guru can help get the EGT's down a bit.

Be nice to see a pic of the rig on some mountain pass overlook and Mel's got a grin you couldn't grind off his face.