Swap A Cummins Into Anything

David Brooks from Berlin, Wisconsin, built this ’54 International R170, which started life as a fire truck for Brooklyn Township, or as the hood still says, B.T.No 4. After collecting parts for a few years, David put it together in about three months. The chassis is custom, and it has an air suspension (Mustang II up front and Ford 9-inch with 3.50 gears and a spool in the rear).

David Brooks from Berlin, Wisconsin, built this ’54 International R170, which started life

Every day, we see an increasing number of diesel engine swaps. Why? Simple: The automakers have never built enough diesel-powered vehicles. So each day, more and more enthusiasts are converting their vehicles to diesel power. And when it comes to repowering any vehicle with a diesel, one of the most common engines to use is the Cummins B-Series four- or six-cylinder engine.

Through the last six years, Diesel Power has featured some of the best repowers in the country. The various models of 5.9L, 6.7L, and the 4BT are all finding new lives inside the framerails of all sorts of vehicles that never had a Cummins from the factory. With a little ingenuity and hard work, all the owners of these featured swaps enjoy the durability, power, and economy that come with a Cummins conversion.

Although those engines were fun, Travis Meyer has never regretted switching to diesel power.

The compound turbos are an HX35 on the bottom and an S300 on top. The 4BT Cummins diesel engine was balanced and blueprinted by Scheid Diesel, which also provided the camshaft. The engine also received head studs and head work. Other pieces included in this conversion include the vacuum-assisted brake booster, electric fan, radiator, and intercooler. David would like to thank Shane McCormick for helping with this project.
The compound turbos are an HX35 on the bottom and an S300 on top. The 4BT Cummins diesel e
This 4BT is fueled by an inline P-pump. This injection pump has 13mm plungers providing 850 cc of fuel. The injection lines measure 0.093 inch in diameter.
This 4BT is fueled by an inline P-pump. This injection pump has 13mm plungers providing 85
The seats are from the HandMade Seat Co. in Meridian, Mississippi. The transmission is a four-speed 47RH automatic.
The seats are from the HandMade Seat Co. in Meridian, Mississippi. The transmission is a f

Kacey Elkins is from Sanford, Kentucky, and he built this ’57 Dodge D-100 rat rod and repowered it with a 5.9L Cummins diesel engine. This truck’s chassis is from a ¾-ton regular-cab longbox ’97 Dodge Ram. The frame was shortened 19 inches and the driveshaft was also shortened. The rims are from U.S. Force and measure 20x10 inches. The tires are STS 275/45R20 Kumhos in the front and 305/50R20 Kumhos in the rear. A local friend who had the correct year donated the front Kentucky license plate.

The six-cylinder 5.9L Cummins has a P-pump and is connected to an NV4500 five-speed manual transmission with a South Bend clutch. The clutch master cylinder for the throwout bearing was mounted to the firewall. The power steering pump powers a hydroboost brake booster. The aluminum radiator is 19x21 inches and was purchased from Jegs.
The six-cylinder 5.9L Cummins has a P-pump and is connected to an NV4500 five-speed manual
The spring-under conversion in the rear set the ride height perfectly and also created a more desirable driveline angle. The wood for the bed floor was sourced from a local barn. The front cab mounts were custom fabricated, but the rear bed mounts fit surprisingly close—even with the 40-year difference in age.
The spring-under conversion in the rear set the ride height perfectly and also created a m
The original seat was reupholstered and seatbelts were added. The tunnel cover was fabricated and allows easy access to the transmission (notice the location of the shifter came out in a favorable location). The center glovebox made a convenient place for mounting gauges. The ’97 Dodge steering column was reused by shortening the steering shaft and fabricating a custom mount under the dash.
The original seat was reupholstered and seatbelts were added. The tunnel cover was fabrica

Cummins Repower 2000 Ford F 450 Front Three Quarter

Gary Vereeke is from Zeeland, Michigan, and only got 36,000 miles from his 7.3L Power Stroke before it threw a rod. He decided to swap in a common-rail 5.9L Cummins from an ’04 Dodge Ram. From the looks of it, one wouldn’t think this truck is an ’00 Ford F-450 Super Duty. That’s because it’s got the front end of a younger ’05 Ford. The ’09 mirrors feature power folding and extending as well as built-in turn signals. The 19.5-inch Alcoa rims, LMT460 225/70R19.5 General tires, and Bilstein remote reservoir shocks also add to its more modern look.

Painless Performance provided the wiring harness, while the motor mounts were purchased from Destroked. GOS Performance had the parts to make the more compact Ford alternator work. It also had what was needed to make the Ford mechanical fan function, which helps make the Cummins swap look factory. The hydroboost brake system only took a few different hoses in order to hook it up. Gary is a tool and die maker by trade, so he used those skills to fabricate the dual battery tray and turbo piping.
Painless Performance provided the wiring harness, while the motor mounts were purchased fr
The compound turbos are an S475 and an S300. Everything that’s blue was powdercoated. It’s easy to see why this truck won Best of Show at the Scheid Diesel Extravaganza.
The compound turbos are an S475 and an S300. Everything that’s blue was powdercoated. It’s
This Cummins conversion required no adapter plate. Instead, the 48RE four-speed automatic transmission from the Dodge was connected to the Ford NV271 transfer case. The only thing that had to be switched out was the transfer case input shaft.
This Cummins conversion required no adapter plate. Instead, the 48RE four-speed automatic

Cummins Repower 1993 Chevy S 10 Front Three Quarter On Drag Strip

Travis Meyer bought this ’93 Chevy S-10 12 years ago when he was 16. Since then, it’s been powered by both a 355 and 434 small-block gasoline engine. And although those engines were fun, he’s never regretted switching to diesel power. Car shows on the East Coast have showered this Chevy with awards. With help from his father, Louis, the body now has a 2½-inch cowl hood, shaved wipers, and a clean engine compartment. The firewall was pushed back 9½ inches along with the reformed transmission tunnel. Mike Lowhorn of Palmyra, Indiana, did the Red Fire Pearl paint.

The 6BT 5.9L Cummins diesel was sourced from a ’90 Dodge Ram. It has 60-pound valvesprings, a 4,000-rpm governor spring in the VE injection pump, fuel pin from PDR Diesel, and 150hp injectors from Dynomite Diesel. The killer dowel pin modification was also performed, along with the addition of ARP head studs. Travis also added the S300 turbo and Snow Performance water-methanol injection system. Travis’ father machined the alternator mount, water neck, and power steering pump mount. The fuel system consists of an Edelbrock pump and braided lines.
The 6BT 5.9L Cummins diesel was sourced from a ’90 Dodge Ram. It has 60-pound valvesprings
The bed was tubbed to accommodate the large rear tires and back half rear ladder bar setup with QA1 coilovers. Up front, there are tubular A-arms and QA1 coilovers. The front brakes are from SSBC, and out back Strange discs are mounted on the Ford 9-inch with 31-spline Moser axles and a Strange spool.
The bed was tubbed to accommodate the large rear tires and back half rear ladder bar setup
The interior has a custom bench seat, Auto Meter gauges, and shift tower. In this picture, the transmission is a Powerglide automatic, but it has since been converted to a Muncie four-speed manual.
The interior has a custom bench seat, Auto Meter gauges, and shift tower. In this picture,

By Jason Thompson

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jason.thompson
1/4/2012 at 9:10 PM Hi Diesel Power,

Thanks for the page with the IH with the twin tubroed 4bt in your great magazine. The only thing wrong in it was Scheids diesel did not do any engine work, I only purchased there camshaft from them. Fair Valley Performance in Sauk City, Wisconsin did the pump work and designed the motor, turbo's and I assembled it. Is there any way we can give Fair Valley credit.
Thank You
David Brooks

Cummins Repower

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