Long story short I'm going to be putting a duramax in my 1985 c10. The truck I have for the swap is a 2002 2500 truck. The truck is in great shape runs and drives fine I picked it up for a good price that's why I'm using it. So the goal for the truck is to make 800 hp at the wheels, is what I will be shooting for once it's driving down the road and all the bugs are worked out of the build. Now the little problem/idea that came up today as me and my friend were ripping the wore out 305 out of the truck is should I just do a body swap and shorten the 2500's frame to fit my body, or put the duramax engine and Alison trans in my c10 original frame. My argument was that I kinda wanna keep the truck what it is and his point was that I'll have 4x4 for drag racing and won't have to worry about traction issues like I would with just being 2wd only. He had a good point. So I am curious as to what other people think and people that have done so thing like this, or maybe a build just like it
Duramax c10 swap...looking for opinions
- Thread starter Chubs
- Start date
I would use the newer frame simply to have the stronger frame if it was mine. I know I put an 01 into my 95 BURB, and I've rippled the factory frame. I'm only arou,d the 400hp mark and damaged the factory frame, so at your goals you're going to have to do some serious frame work to hold up.
Beans Diesel cummins swap seems to make pretty good traction
If your going to keep the original frame plan on boxing it in fully and supporting it with a proper roll cage. 800 RWHP in a 2wd c10 is going to be a hand full and good cage will keep the frame from twisting and more importantly keep you safe, while herding 800hp down the road.
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If your going to keep the original frame plan on boxing it in fully and supporting it with a proper roll cage. 800 RWHP in a 2wd c10 is going to be a hand full and good cage will keep the frame from twisting and more importantly keep you safe, while herding 800hp down the road.[YOUTUBE]ItydMAzeFPE[/YOUTUBE]
I wanted to do this with my 80 c10 and I was gonna use the old frame for weight savings, plus 2wd would save weight as well. But depends on the final goal.
It's all up to you and what you're looking to do with it. I'm building a 69 short bed 2wd with an LGH bottom end with LBZ top end to drive and to drag race. I bought a frame from Brett Deutsch's truck and he had done a great job boxing and fitting the D-Max but I mangled the firewall to fit it. If you're looking for a low-slung cruiser, use your old frame, add a narrowed 9" or narrow your 11.5 and buy good axles and change your tail housing on your Allison 4wd trans, four link, etc. If you are looking for a 4wd, bad looking, fast monster, and don't mind looking at the wide frame hanging down under the body, put your body on the newer chassis. If you'll pm me your number, I can send you a couple pics of my pitiful attempt at a swap. Good luck, and start stacking coins.
I chose to keep the original frame on my 83 c10 being I didn't have a donor truck and being 2 wheel drive I didn't see much advantage going with a newer frame. I boxed the frame to just behind the cab for now because it may get a 4 link. All in all it was pretty straight forward cut the trans tunnel and firewall to make it fit. Firewall doesn't need much depending on how far back you want to set the engine. Making the trans tunnel removable makes things nicer for getting to up-pipes, bell housing bolt and etc. Whenever you start if I can help out pm me. I learned a lot from the here and found good deals on parts. Good luck and like sawmill said these projects take a turn for the expensive side fast.
Where did you ripple your chassis at? Any pictures of the damage?
Beans Diesel cummins swap seems to make pretty good traction
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Ryan Tucker also specifically left flex into this truck to make it hook on the launch, i.e. left certain areas unboxed to let it twist. Then Bean's bought it, put 4 digit power in it and started dragging the bumper. I'm not sure the end result is what was envisioned when it was built but it seems to work well enough. :spit:
No pictures, but pretty much the 6-8 inches in front of the rear leaf spring front mounts got rippled got rippled on the lower portion of the c channel. In pics it doesn't look bad, but in person it looks pretty rough. I've shown other people, and they all just shake there head. Happened the day I did my burnout video, needless to say I don't do those anymore.