'72 chevy suburban cummins conversion

[83sx4eagle]

hey folks. im new to this forum. LOTS of great info for the 4 cummins trucks we have at the ranch.

im looking for TONS of info. my sister wants to build a '72 chevy suburban with a 6bt. how hard is it to fab up for the installation? (i am pretty good at fabrication as im a life long AMC guy, and have plenty of experience fabbing odd stuff) as for 4x4 options. i know the dodges are left side drive. iirc, the old chevy's are RIGHT front axle drive arent they? if thats the case, i was thinking say a '92 or so dodge solid front axle. its LEAVE sprung, and has the hubs you can unlock. how much heavier is the cummins drivetrain than what would have been in an early burban? im sure it will need stiffer springs ect. i THINK this would be a fairly easy swap. as long as it will fit in the fraim rails without alot of cross member mods. if anyone has ANY sperience with an early chevy/cummins conversion, i need help. thanks for letting me steal your time good folks.

[cornman369]

93 and down dodge are pass side drop, and 73-87 gm is also. 72 idk.
My buddy just finshed his cummins swap into a 72 gmc 10. 2wd. he said it was easy and helped alot having the donor truck.
Imo it looks like it belongs in there

ch

[Renntag]

Also looking to do something very similar with a Cummins swap into an early truck. I havnt heard anything about this being very difficult. I wonder what to do about a tranny, adapt to the unit in the chebby or borrow from the dodge? 2wd should be a little easier of an install. I am leaning toward 4x4, but would consider a 2WD truck.

Suggestions?

[cornman369]

My buddy's gmc used the cummins and dodge trans (727) and gm 12 bolt rear end using the drivrshaft as the conversion piece.

My next project is swapping a cummins in my international, but ill be using axels from a 70s power wagon and devorcied t-case. With a 2wd getrag.

If i were to retain gm axles like if thought about a cummins in my 88 square body, id get a gm nv4500 swap the bell and input shaft and use that as the conversion piece so you can keep the t-case back gm...

ch

[Renntag]

Good info. Thanks. I have heard several others using the NV4500.

[CanCritter]

few folks buillding these at fullsizechevy.com lotsa info there re the build

[83sx4eagle]

this project is for my sister. she wants a 12 valve, and either 5 or 6 speed manual. 4x4 is a must. we live in eastern oregon where its some rough country around the ranch, and (on a normal winter) the snow is measured in FEET. she is currently in kenya till march. in the planning stages right now. just looking to see the best route to go so i can start searching for parts. would the t-case for a pre 94 bolt to the nv4500 and the 6 speed? that way it could be right hand drop if needed? (will depend on what she gets for her burban. if she gets a 2wd, i think it would be easiest to find a pre 94 for a doner. use the axles, motor, and t-case. find a 5 or 6 spd truck to swap that trans in. IF the t-case will bolt to the other trans. i know the splines are different manual vs auto on the 5/6 spds. this might become known as the frankenburban. LMAO!!!

[cornman369]

The nv4500 was 94 up, and the t case youd want is 93 down from a stick (getrag) they should bolt up just fine.enuf of the 1st gen guys have swapped them in....

What year motor? 89-93 will need 94-98 adapter plate, flywheel and starter to bolt up the nv4500. 94-98 12v it will just bolt up.

ch

[83sx4eagle]

so, the bellhousing is different on 94up, and 93 down?? so maybe better off to find a 94-98.5 12 valve with 5 speed, and a 93 down doner truck? are there any differences between the gas and diesel 250/350 trucks 89-93? if not, then a gas 92 or so would be EASY to find for the axles and t-case.

[cornman369]

The gas trucks of 89-93 didnt get dana 60 front ends or the big tcase unless it was was a actual one ton(350) iirc, all 4x4 cummins got 60s and 205s till 93 when the drivrshaft changed sides. Then idk the tcase model and the 60 got ball joints and coils
ch

[Cumminpwr11]

I would find a donor first gen truck. Mine is a W350 donor. You have all the right hand drop stuff, same as the 67-72 suburbans did for the era. You also get the perk of having a NP-205 transfercase. The input shaft of the transfercase will bolt to a G56 same spline counts so that will make one less hurdle.

P-pump conversions are pretty easy. I am taking my 12v VE and rebuilding it to a 24v P-pump just for something different. Just for your notes you can body swap onto a W350 and only shorted the frame 4" to make it all work.

Also a HUGE perk of an older right hand drop is your front Dana 60 is a Kingpin setup vs balljoints.

Feel free to PM me, I am on my first redo, fixing the things I don't like, so I have loads of info. If you get stuck let me know. Its an awesome rig. I ditched my 07 megacab cause I like this more.

Chris

[83sx4eagle]

hey folks, we got the suburban now. picked up a really nice '70 5 door 2wd c10. i didnt realize exactly HOW long they are i guess. i got to thinking about this thing being a 2wd and only 1/2 ton. would it be easier to drop this body on say an extended cab 94-98 frame, or take the that suspension/drivetrain and put in the chevy's frame. looking for a rolled truck. if the frame needed extending, not a big deal. who knows the wheel base lengths on 94-98 trucks? extended cab longbox and all.