Mounting The Engine And Transmission
Many options exist for mounting the engine and transmission. Adam Cornell whipped up his own mounts with a level and some custom fabricating. If you're looking for an easier way out, check out this custom crossmember built by Avalanche Engineering to mount a Cummins into a '73 to '91 Chevy truck. The company also sells a universal crossmember for those who want to get creative. Transmission mounting is also a problem that needs a solution, but thankfully many adapter plates are available to mount the Cummins to any Chevy transmission, Ford E4OD, or even the Pontiac TH400 that is installed in Edward's '41 Suburban.
So You've Decided To Go Electronic
Even though we're focusing on the older mechanical 12-valve Cummins engines that were available in Dodge pickups between 1989 and 1998, '98-1/2 to '02 VP-44 pump-equipped trucks and '03 to '07 common-rail versions are also a good source for Cummins engines if you don't mind dealing with electronics. If you're a wiring kind of guy, it's best to find a wrecked stock version and rob all the necessary computers and wires. If you don't have access to a stock truck, Painless Wiring offers a wiring harness that makes an '03 to '07 common-rail conversion a breeze.
Advanced Alternators
PA Performance out of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, offers a one-wire alternator that doesn't require the Dodge ECU to regulate voltage. Its alternators also provide up to 125 amps at idle (versus 45 for a stock version) so you can run winches, lights, electric fans, or other accessories without worrying about killing your battery.
Swap Resources
To help out with any further questions you may have about Cummins swaps, we've compiled a list of Internet sites where you can do some more digging. Most of these companies are good sources for parts, knowledge, or both. Auto World and FordCummins.com also perform complete conversions.