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joepospisil · 06-24-2002, 08:51 PM

We repowered 82 310 Turbo with a 5.9 Cummins. The unit is very user friendly with plenty of power. Anyone else doing such a thing?

LKappenman · 06-25-2002, 08:32 AM

What is the $$$$ for the swap?

joepospisil · 06-25-2002, 05:42 PM

Hello Dave
The engine and trans I used came from a 96 Dodge 4wd and cost about 3600 including the transfer case. This included the charge air cooler and the accessories. This pretty well covers the expenditure for parts for the swap. You will like it.
Joe

PeterH-350LE · 06-25-2002, 08:57 PM

Joe,
I don't own a diesel, but I am curious to know how involved a swap like that is. Do you have to relocate the motormounts, modify the driveshaft, what about the radiator location? I read your posts before on another forum and you made it sound like it was fairly easy. I bet it is pretty involved and not that simple for the average mechanically inclined person.

joepospisil · 06-26-2002, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PeterH-79MH
Joe,
I don't own a diesel, but I am curious to know how involved a swap like that is. Do you have to relocate the motormounts, modify the driveshaft, what about the radiator location? I read your posts before on another forum and you made it sound like it was fairly easy. I bet it is pretty involved and not that simple for the average mechanically inclined person.

Hello Peter
This swap was made easier by the fact that we had bought the 310 with a broken Isuzu engine. Our option at that point was to redo the Isuzu or do a repower. If you are planning to hire all the work done the labor cost will propably be as much as the parts I expect. The engine mounts and transmission mounts are the largest item. The stock radiator is used. If you are replacing a functional unit the expense would seem like a lot but if you are replacing a broken unit then the expense will seem a lot less.
We are about 4000 miles into this swap and are having a great time with it. I dont have mileage figures as of yet but I did a Travco last year and that unit made 17 mpg on a trip to Alaska.
I expect that the Airstream will do about the same when I learn to slow it down.
If you need some details or want to talk about it I will fill you in as best I can
Joe

TRAPEZE · 07-12-2002, 10:05 AM

Joe,
I am getting an 85-325. It has 100,000 on the original 454. I love the Cummins 5.9 idea. When it comes time to rebuild, I wonder how involved it would be to make the change to the cummins in my unit?

joepospisil · 07-13-2002, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TRAPEZE
Joe,
I am getting an 85-325. It has 100,000 on the original 454. I love the Cummins 5.9 idea. When it comes time to rebuild, I wonder how involved it would be to make the change to the cummins in my unit?

Hi
We are about 5000 miles into this swap and am very well satisfied with it. I estimate about 4000 for parts and about a week labor to do the job. It makes this unit very user friendy and will propably double your fuel mileage. This is not an issue if you are unless you are putting a few miles on it. The ideal situation is to do the replacement in lieu of doing a large repair on the gas unit. I am on my 3rd 5.9 diesel and they have ranged in mileage from about 125,000 on a 89 engine to 580,000 on a 96 engine. These engines run very well. If you decide to do the job I will help you with a parts list and a few tips on doing the job. This is my second one in the past year and a half so I am getting the hang of it. Our first one was a 69 Travco. We drove it about 25,000 miles in a year including a trip to Alaska last summer. This unit weighed about 12,000 and we drove it about 65 mph. This unit did a constant 16 mpg on the trip with no mechanical problems at all. The Airstream is a 310 and out weighs the Travco by about 2,000 lbs. This one has been doing about 13 mpg so far but I am driving it a way too fast. These things really cruise. I expect it will do better when I learn to slow down.
Joe

Don B · 11-05-2003, 03:08 PM

Joe,
Your Cummins conversion sounds like what I would love to do. I have a 1974 Argosy 20 footer with a 454. The MH only has 69,000 miles, but all the gaskets have dried up and leak...valve seals, rear main seal etc. I am pulling a trailer with a Jeep CJ7 on it and that old carb engine just doesn't get it. I’m going to put fuel injection on the old 454 first and see if that will get me by. I know it won’t pull like the Cummins will but it is cheaper.
I do have a lot of questions.
Did you use the Dodge intercooler? How many wires were there to hook up the computer? Did you leave the transfercase on for a lower first gear if needed? I wonder if the motor mounts out of one of those P30 bread trucks that have the smaller Cummings would work.
Do you have any pictures?
Any and all info would be appreciated.
Thanks, Don B.

Don B · 11-05-2003, 03:16 PM

OOPS
I read my post and I didn't mean wires on the computer to the engine. I meant wires from the engine/computer to the MH.

joepospisil · 11-06-2003, 06:25 PM

Hi Don
When you use a 97 or older 5.9 there are no electronics involved except for the fuel shut off and the alternator wires.
Our 82 310 uses the original manual shutoff and only one wire goes to the alternator. You will need to incorporate a Dodge voltage regulator into the system but that is a 5 minute job.
I used the intercooler from the 96 Dodge pickup and installed it in front of the radiator. The motor mount idea seems good to me. I had not thought about the P30 with a cummins but it might make it a bolt in.
The transfer case takes up very little room. I installed it anticapating a parking brake to be installed on the front output shaft of the transfer case. The benefit of the box is a set of lower gears if you ever need them. The 4.56 rear axle is a nautral for the Chrysler trans with the overdrive and lockup. The engine turns about 1600 at 60 mph. just an estimate but I think it is close.
Joe