the 24 valve engines flow and burn better than the 12vs, the reason everyone likes the 12s is that yes they are non electric dependent and sensorless, the "P-Pump" means to take a 24v engine and remove the electronic VP44 injection pump, and the ECM (engine Control Module) and replace the Injection pump with a P-7100 Bosch injection pump, or(wilder conversion ) a Sigma pump (european bosch inline injection pump) the P-7100 is used on the 12v from (I think)94-97, 98-2002 was the 24v with the VP44 electric injection pump. the conversion, (in short,)(there is a thread on this in the 98.5-02 pages of this site) basically involves, using the front cover off a 12v and installing it on a 24v, then using the P-7100 injection pump off the 12v, custom or made injection lines, and a camshaft that is ground to the tolorances and specs of the 24v, being supplied with the timing of the P7100. (tappets are a little differant thus the special cam....) another note, if your running a custom cam like mentioned above,,,, a lobe can be cut on the cam to utilize the mechanical fuel lift pump hole that was retained on the 24v block. thus you would then be able to use a mechanical lift pump to pump fuel from the tank to the injection pump and not be reliant upon an aftermarket electric fuel pump. with the p7100 conversion, the ECM and the sensors are now null and void.....you need 12v to open the fuel solonoid on the p7100 just as you do now with your afor mentioned 96 dodge.... the killer for your set up is the Auto trans.... while the world is going to the auto, this woods rat is still a die hard stick person. you can also keep an eye out for the Cummins to GM adapters found on the tail of the 4BTs ( the 4cylinder version of the 5.9 6BT engines) found in Frito-Lay and Doritos bread trucks, this adapter housing will made up to the back of the 12/24v Cummins engines and allow you to bolt up to a GM auto, or Manual (granted you will have to work out the the clutch and flywheel, but I have seen it done) as the NV4500 and the NV5600 manual trans, are just not as tough as the old rock crusher Muncie granny 4spds in the long haul...... I am a chevy repower as my Signiture says, I took a 2001 24v with all the electronics, and weeded out what I didnt want and wired up what I did. thus ive been smoken down the road for 30,000miles and cross country hauling 20k once. if you can think it,,,,someone has probly done it.... I like being an independent cuss myself and self sufficiant but this does sound a bit like too many episodes of Jericho.
