1/2 ton Drag Truck conversion

seven3smoke

seven3smoke

Track Rat
Aug 28, 2009
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Denver, CO
Has anyone looked at transplanting a Dmax and Ally into a 1/2 ton 2wd truck? I found a 2005 1/2 ton work truck with a bad motor and tranny for cheap. Would this force me to race in a higher class? I realize I would need to meet the weight requirments but would the 1/2 ton chassis bump me out of the street classes? I run a 2004.5 LLY so the swap looks possible? I would use my rear end, fab the motor mounts, transplant the motor and tranny, shorten the driveshaft and :thumb:

Thanks for any insight you gents might have on the conversion.
 
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Big Block 88

Big Block 88

Multiple choice muscle
Nov 3, 2008
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Kansas when I am home
I can't remember his name but there is a guy the place who has a built back halfed dmax, I am not sure if he is a 1/2 ton or not someone here will know his name and truck
 
Noreaster

Noreaster

Active member
Jun 13, 2007
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Cape Cod,MA
seven3smoke said:
Has anyone looked at transplanting a Dmax and Ally into a 1/2 ton 2wd truck? I found a 2005 1/2 ton work truck with a bad motor and tranny for cheap. Would this force me to race in a higher class? I realize I would need to meet the weight requirments but would the 1/2 ton chassis bump me out of the street classes? I run a 2004.5 LLY so the swap looks possible? I would use my rear end, fab the motor mounts, transplant the motor and tranny, shorten the driveshaft and :thumb:

Thanks for any insight you gents might have on the conversion.
Click to expand...

No, as long as its a factory frame your good.
Nice part about a 1/2 ton 2wd is coilovers instead of torsion bars & power rack instead of steering box, steering arms & centerlink.
Duramax will bolt to 6.0 mounts but don't know about 4.3, 4.8 or 5.3
Probably better rearends out there than our heavy ass 11.5, 10.5 or maybe 9.5 if built probably
 
1lowdiesel

1lowdiesel

<- wish i was there
Sep 18, 2008
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it's possible of course. You will just need to cut the cab floor out so it will sit over the trans w/o having to lift the body. You can switch everything over to 8lug too pretty easily.
 
minisub

minisub

6-5/6-6;Whatever It Takes
Sep 11, 2006
474
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Cleveland, OH
Jim Bigley of the dieselpage put a Dmax in a previous generation 1/2 ton. There were a bunch of articles about it, although if you go there you will probably get the standard "buy the reprints" BS about older articles. There might still be stuff on the forums (they are free) and while it was the previous body style, many of the issues would be the same...
 
Noreaster

Noreaster

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Jun 13, 2007
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Cape Cod,MA
1lowdiesel said:
it's possible of course. You will just need to cut the cab floor out so it will sit over the trans w/o having to lift the body. You can switch everything over to 8lug too pretty easily.
Click to expand...

I don't know if there is a difference between 1500 & 2500 body height to the frame but I know a dmax/alli swap has been done in a 2500 with any mods to the floor.
Why would you want to have 8 lugs anyways? Not like its going to be hauling or towing anything heavy. Dodge 1/2 tons have 5 lugs would be nice if you could use the hubs from them.
 
1lowdiesel

1lowdiesel

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Sep 18, 2008
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the 2500s come with a body lift in order to clear the allison. also the 2500 frame is taller than a 1500 frame. There is also a difference in frame depending if the 1500 was 4wd or 2wd.

I made mine 8 lug for the "just because" factor. You can do older style GM 5 lug parts on the front, you will just have to do different ball joints or control arms to get it all to fit together.
 
1lowdiesel

1lowdiesel

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Sep 18, 2008
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I'm pretty sure there is no height difference between the 2 anyway.

I would think the height of the frame has something to do with it as well, meaning i think the motor sits a little deeper into the frame.
 
BombDocDiesel

BombDocDiesel

Army Bomb Squad
May 20, 2009
368
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Belcamp, MD
The front of the 2500 and 2500HD frames are the same. Mounts are the same also. I just cut my 2500 in half last month.

The 1500 is a different world like the pics in Kyle's build thread shows.

My motor sits really low in the frame being a 2WD so I didn't need to do anything to clear my Allison.
 
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