The old Detroits have a sound that stands out from the rest. The only down side is. If there’s no oil under them there’s no oil in them. What a cool swap. Sounds great.
@@user-ff5ge7hx2c Never run the airbox drains back to the pan.:) I drain mine into a canister and drain it every 10,000 miles. A healthy Detroit should have a dry airbox. I collect mostly water that fallen out from the water meth injection.:)
Well despite what some say, blower box drains, from factory, in later years were drained back into the pan. So don't argue. I might add that they only worked at idle so that they didn't make a mess on the parking lot
@@user-ff5ge7hx2c This is true, but Detroit later changed this practice as they were getting coolant in the oil and wiping out the bearings. They now recommend using a collection container which works great.
Negative I do apologize but I am a Mopar girl through and through. =) I have had too many problems with GM products, much less with Mopar. I am a mechanic for a landscaping company and we have switched primarily to RAM and have far fewer problems than with our GM or Ford products. =)@@seandeterman2499
@@seandeterman2499 No, I like Detroits. None of those engines fit the bill.:) Detroits burn veg oil and is almost free to drive.:) 40,000 miles on veg oil now.:)
@DetroitGarage. I thought that I would ask. I was curious if you had any videos on how the swap was done? I was curious how you beefed up the front suspension and the frame to handle the weight of the Detroit.
I worked at a storage freight company that had a beautiful 1978 GMC 9500 hydraulic ramp truck that was rated for 8 tons. It was a Sierra Grande cab with all the crime, met dark green with aluminum deck and Alcoa wheels, chrome grill and huge aluminum push bumper and grill/brush guard, that was ordered by the owner when new, 21 years before I came along. It had a tight 4/71T, 190hp @2100, 525lbs ft tq@1400 stock, but it had been rebuilt and tweaked before we got it. All through a 5 speed low hole, with 5:88 posi rear. We used that for all kinds of deliveries, from 28’ sea containers to lumber I would slide off the rear. One time I had 6,000 lbs of 20’ rebar, that I would raise the body and let gravity take over. Well at this site of a huge 12’ deep basement the excavators built a ramp the dump trucks and cement truck could back down. They asked if I could drop it as close to the hole as possible, I said how about IN the hole? They said sure if you can do it. I figured what the hell if I get stuck the loader could pull me out. So I’m backed all the way down already looking up at the sky, as soon as I popped the straps loose the whole wired bunch, all 6,000 lbs of it slid down into a wall and not going anywhere else! So I had no choice, I locked up the rear, put it in granny low, hit the fuel pedal and popped the clutch! WOW that beast dug in and screamed out of that hole standing up on the rear wheels in a wheelie all the way up out of the hole with the front end crashing down as soon as the bundle was off the bed! The guys standing around watching were all clapping and laughing at the spectacle, the Forman actually got a picture!!! Man that truck was fun to drive and sounded awesome, with more than 190 hp with the bigger turbo and cranked rack.
LOl, awesome.:) The GMC 9500's were a nice rig, lots around still earning a keep. A few guys have these that had 6-71's in them and swapped 8V92T's and that made them very responsive.:)
I love your perseverence, bless you for all the time you spent making this project work. I'm a Ford guy with an '89 F250 7.3 IDI. Personally, I'd have bought a turbo'd 7.3 if the 6.4 blew. Nice sound, too, although I wouldn't want to hear it all day. Thanks for sharing.
The 7.3 is always on the back of my mind as it's a great engine as well. I have a 2000 Excursion V10 and the 7.3 would be a great option.:) I did see an idi 7.3 in a 6.4 swap and that was pretty nice as well, but I'd rather the 7.3 Powerstroke. I've been tempted many time to buy one but have resisted.:)
Man I would suggest looking up the Diesel Podcast with Patrick Ellis. I bet he would love to have you on to discuss your build, given the fact that you probably have the only Detroit powered Super Duty. I've been following you for quite some time, and overly impressed by your work!!
That idle is so nice! Cool to hear the 5r110w is such a good solid tranny even for swaps. I had an 05 6.blow psd (loved it) but needed a dually for our camper and purchased a 2004 3500 Cummins manual. My dream swap is to do what your buddy did. At the end of the day even with all of that work, that detroit sounds incredible. Very cool build, sir and I hope you can enjoy many more miles to come with it! Cheers
I think it’s worth noting that the Jimmy likes a free flowing big single turbo just like it came from GM. I loved the compounds, but I wonder if they contributed to its demise in original green form and the silver with coated pistons. I can’t help but wonder if the K27 was too small and keeping heat in the engine that led to the rings losing their tension on the first silver build. Cheers!
That's very true, I never mentioned that in the video, but that's why I took the compounds off. I really had to get back to basics to eliminate all the contributing factors. The K27 was too small and you're probably right, too much heat.:) With the compounds I was seeing 1000-1100 on the egt's and now I can't brake 950 with the Garrett.:) I've swapped the K27 over to the 3-53T and will soon by dyno testing that. I Think it's probably the right size for stock injectors, so it's going to be interesting to see how it performs.:)
The 4-53 is nice but if you have the room, a 6v-53 is about the best hp to weight ratio of a Detroit, or so I've been told. The tranny (electronic controlled) combo must have been interesting... Sounds good. Admire your dedication to problem solving and NOT giving up.
Thanks, yes the 6V53T would be a nice swap, but I never had one when I did this swap. I've got this one turned up to 240HP and the next bump is 280HP.:) That's enough for me, had I done a 6V53 I'd easily be at 350HP. Maybe someday I'll do the swap, but for now I'll run the 4-53T.:) Too many other projects to complete first.:)
Goals for my next truck, buy a blown 6.4 with a beauty interior and stick something old school in there. Nicely done sir you have skills that can't be bought only earned
Thanks, If you haven't already done so check Fummins Tech on Face Book. Covers all the Ford Cummins swaps and a huge knowledge base there. Have fun, you'll love the truck.:) facebook.com/groups/1404763913118051
I've seen a lot of videos about those old Wisconsin engines that were in every tom dick and harry's balers, forklifts, and combine harvesters, sitting for years and some crazy redneck with some time and plenty of beer fires them up with a bit of elbow grease and some basic knowledge. Kinda want to swap the 60hp variant of the Wisconsin V4 into a Yugo, or some similar eastern european economy car that had very little horsepower. I would say a Trabant, but 1, they're quite rare in the states (even rarer than the yugo), and 2, it's probably a bad idea to put that much power into a car where the body panels are made of cotton and resin. They made what, 30 horsepower with the factory 2 cylinder?
Goddamn that is a cool rig! Sure, you could've swapped in a Cummins and gotten a nice, perfectly respectable truck, but this has so much more personality!
I figure since it bolts to 5 you can put a zf6 behind it, yknow just a couple more days of work haha! Nice work on getting that auto to work with it AND HUGE PROPS to keeping gauges ALL working!!!!!!!!!! EDIT: Still watching you just talked about it haha! Would be awesome!
Omg that thing sounds so great.. Diesels sounds have been so neutered in the past decade.. They keep bragging about how quiet the new ones are.. Like that's a good thing?? But that 2 stroke sounds like music even at just cruising speed.. Amazing build!!
Awesome swap, gotta love that Detroit sound! Never been a big fan of Cummins swaps, i like the Cummins just fine... its the weiners that drive them i don't much care for.
Thanks, yes there's lots of those guys out there. They're attracted to the Detroit because it sounds like I'm trying to race them.lol So 9 times out of ten they slam their foot down and race off down the road. They usually have the fuel turned up way too high so you can't see anything but black smoke.:)
As a guy who bought a 12 valve for reliability... I understand the hate completely. XD I knew a bit about the engine, but not the cult that it came with. I'm just happy mine doesn't smoke! Love my white brick, but I hate the stigma.
@@jamesgizasson There are definitely some cool Cummins swaps out there, guy near me has a 75 Chevy half ton 4x4 with a 12 valve and it's really nicely done and looks good. It's the same as the rice rocket guys from the 90's, some are actually cool but most are hack jobs driven by the wiener king himself.
@@dieselbronco9247 That sounds awesome! I love those old squarebody pickups! Honestly, my Dodge is an absolute hack job. There's no recognizeable interior, and the body is from four different trucks. I love Frankenstein builds! It's the attitude of most cummins guys I can't stand. X3
@@detroitgarage9430 My most affordable way forward may be to swap the hurt 12v for a 24v. Have to get the head off and see how bad it is. It puked the head gasket pretty impressively too, it was under 40psi of boost when the cam stopped turning... Might just have to build the VE pump 24v I've been wanting to for a few years now.
I remember a super old video of a guy putting a old Detroit in his 04 Silverado 2500. First time i saw that i was in love with the idea. I dont drive my 14 Ram 3500 6.4 hemi enough to justify an engine swap. Probably going to put a cummins in it if the engine goes one day.
Still the coolest build on YT. I'd have found and put one in my obs F150 by now if they didn't weigh almost a ton. Probably end up doing it anyways one day, front axle be damned...
@@detroitgarage9430 Oh jeez I couldn't imagine having LESS power than I already have lmao The old 300 in it right now makes about -0 HP and somewhere around 12 ft/lb of torque. Surprisingly close numbers to a stock 4-53 too, just without the sound. Not sure I'd ever be able to reach highway speeds with a 3-53 haha, even though those are very cool engines as well.
That thing is sweet. Super Duty is great platform but so many junk engines went into them. Be nice to see a video with a little closer look under the hood and underneath! Maybe how you got the Ford trans to bolt up.
Thanks, here's a video I just did showing all the details of the swap. The second one is the adapters I made for the 5R110. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nRMQtos_EWc.html 5R110: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7I_6tH4UOrY.html
Please do a full in-depth and detailed video on how you got all the modern electronics to work with the old-school engine. I come across newer trucks like you are running now and then with junk engines for cheap (especially blown-up diesels) and I'd love to pick them up and do full custom refits to old-school engines and still keep everything modern working correctly.
I know a gentleman with an old international 6 pac crew cab looked like a travel travelall if he left his canopy on it He was a journey level diesel mechanic by trade then became a diesel mechanics instructor at a community College any he fabricated and modified his internal 6-53 turbo charged engine and after trying many different transmission he finally landed on the one. He put a Clark 5 speed in with his 6-53 in his international. It was hopped up the school had a dyno I don't remember actual numbers but it put enough power and torque that he felt it can't be daily driven like that nor reliable if anyone else besides himself drove it. He built a stronger front and rear driveshaft and set power and torque at safe level that Dana 60 and 70 could handle a jimmy and Clark 5 speed out of medium duty truck. I also know a guy with 1979 Ford f350 with 4-53 with Clark 5 speed put together 20 years ago daily driven for many years still has same engine and transmission and same clutch the whole time it's been in the f350. Maybe think about a CLARK 5 SPEED
Thanks, I've looked at the Clark 5 speed as an option but have settled on either the ZF6 that I currently have in the shop or a Spicer 7 speed. The Clark gear spreads are not well suited for the Detroit and really need an aux trans to match them well. A lot of those Clark's were matched up with a two speed rear end and that worked well.:)
So just wondering do you not have emissions testing where you are? Cause I called the dmv in my state where I live cause I know with semis you could do glider kits and then it goes off the year of your engine and not the cab but the dmv was trying to tell me with my pickup they'll go by the cab year still if I put an older cummins in
Anybody can put a Cummins in it. But a Detroit in a ford your going to Hell! It’s awsome I love it ! Thanks for doing it you maybe starting a new trend
I use auto motive lead on the valve covers and oil pan and for the firewall I used 1/16" lead sheet and bonded it. Goes from the top of the firewall to just under the lip of the transmission tunnel. Cab noise is just about perfect, can just hear the Detroit. More noise comes out out the exhaust than the engine.:)
how hard is it to swap one of these into any gasser? I know you have a lot of time into this swap...i love these motors and would love to have one for a DD.
Hey Matt, average fuel mileage is around 11-13 mpg towing.:) Here's a playlist of the different tow videos. Cars, boats, utility trailers. ru-vid.com/group/PLsdSpc8sBphA1Bb0kczQFNaFavxSIQgdG
Have you done a vid on the process you use to make veg oil compatible + reliable to use with this engine? As well, are you living in an area with a colder climate and how does that affect the process to veg oil usage? Sorry, Lots of questions, very familiar with the engines, military mechanic who worked on 6v-53 for years and looking for a project...
I'll link the veg videos for you. The Detroit loves veg oil and I now have over 40,000 miles on veg. I did a year single tank and blended with 10-30% gasoline depending on the temperatures. Spring to Fall on a single tank works great, but not winter. After the first year of running single tank I made a heated two tank system and it works great. I recently did a 400 mile trip with temps down to -40f with no issues. The veg oil is collected from three restaurants and basically settled, then filtered when I fill my truck. I do run water meth to basically steam clean the combustion chamber and it's keeps everything really clean.:) Here's a link to the veg system: ru-vid.com/group/PLsdSpc8sBphCGE_wVa42EqgMBCnMF5Dmz
Is this one of those things you’d consider a labor of love over anything? Would you recommend a different starting vehicle to somebody who just wants to make a tow pig for hauling his car to the track? Love detroits always wanted one.
It's certainly wasn't easy to fit the engine, but it's dialed in now and is used and abused like any other truck.:) If I were to make a tow pig, I'd go with an older 90's Chevy or Ford. I say this because they have less electronics, easier to work on and cheaper to buy.
Considering a 4-53 or 6V53. Is the mpg anywhere close to a Ford DT360 or Cummins 12valve? Say 15 mpg? Also where did you get your compound turbos from?
I used the Ford PCM/TCM to control the 5R110. I kept thirteen sensors from the 6.4 and used them on the Detroit. This allows the PCM/TCM to communicate and then tuned it with HPTuners.:)
I owned a first Gen for 14 years and love the Cummins, but wanted something different. I had this engine I bought for a different swap that never happened, so Detroit it was. I'm happy I did as they're great little engine and burn veg oil really well. Every year I drive this I save $5000 USD, so it pays for itself every year.
I would pay money to see somebody swap a 50 Series Detroit yes 50 series kind of like the 60 but a giant 4-cylinder they came in the cat buses they sound absolutely amazing
The 50's are very large and suffered a poor reputation. Not sure if there's any truth behind the stories or not, but not well liked. The 60 series on the other hand is legendary.:)
Nice build! What propane injection system did you use, and how did the propane wipe out the bearings and rings? I'm guess you got the mixer wrong and leaned it out too much.
Thanks, I used an old acetylene regulator and had it come on after 7 psi boost. The bearings were still ok, but were coated as well and the coatings were starting to come off, so I put stock bearings back in. As for the liners and rings they were really scuffed, probably from the combination of ceramic coatings coming off and the lack of lubrication due to too much propane? The propane masked the engine issues until I noticed it was starting to burn oil, smoke and lack of power with the propane off. The propane was gas injection, not liquid. Been running water meth every since the new rings and hone and it's perfect.:)
7.3 is flat out amazing just about 100% reliable maybe for 25 years but you don't see people swapping them in anything it's so weird I think I've seen maybe three where they put it in something else but if someone put a 7.3 with a 6-speed in a 08 or a 2010 model 70s crew cab I'm cash in hand man ready to buy
Om 648 200 horse 400 foot pounds of torque in the 1600 RPM range Mount that to a 6-speed manual from a Mercedes then put it in the truck maybe 373 gears they come with 265 rear end if I'm not mistaken which gives almost 30 30 mpg City and almost 40 Highway
It's mechanical and the ECU/TCU are both functioning. I tuned both with HPTuners. Here's a video on the topic.:) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nRMQtos_EWc.html
That sounds weird coming from a Ford, but it sounds awesome and considerably louder than a 7.3 PS. Can’t get away with that in California, unfortunately.
I’m not a ford, Detroit, or an automatic trans guy at all, but this thing…it’s a PERFECT truck! I would not want to shift that thing all day. Bad ass, for sure.
Very true.:) I missed a Silver 6V53T about two years ago and would have swapped that in. I do have a 6V53 that I can build if need be, but it's a lot of work to fab all the accessories again. In the mean time I'll make small power bumps to the 4-53T in the future.:) Right now I'm at 240HP and next bump it 280HP. That will be the max for the 4-53T.:)
I’m also glad you didn’t do the very popular thing of cummins swapping everything, and doing something different. Would you consider if you were starting this build again of doing a 6V53T? Just for the added displacement for easier horsepower? Would one even fit?
Definitely, If I had a 6V53T at the time I would have swapped that, but only had this 4-53T. I've test fitted the 6V53 I have now and it fit's pretty good.:) I converted this 4-53T to a Silver Series and is turned up to 240HP, next bump is 280HP.:)
@@detroitgarage9430 that’s a lot for 212 cubic inches, in my experience once you start getting more than 1hp:cubic inch, they start to become difficult to keep reliable. Not that you can’t just that you have to start trying where more displacement per Hp is fairly mundane.
@@SuperDriver379 True, I'll be building another Silver 4-53T for a different project starting soon. My goal is 280HP smoke free. All the testing will be done on my dyno, so makes it a lot easier.
@@detroitgarage9430 The two stroke detroits of all family’s are fairly clean burning engines when they’re fueled properly, I’ve seen some 8V92’s make 650 horse with barley a haze at first, once under boost it was burning all the fuel going into it. It’s no wonder why these engines are still around and still being used in marine and industrial applications.
@@SuperDriver379 True, with my current setup with 71 series injector's (7A77's) are smoke free. I have the fuel modulator set pretty tight, so no smoke right off idle. I did recently try 9G90's, but had to remove them as one injector failed. Never had a chance to test the 9G90's for my than a few miles, so I'll revisit them on the Dyno. For now the 7A77's are working really nice.
To much work but if it breaks at least you know how to fix it. Those predator swaps are getting popular too. Under that hood you could maybe do a quad pack turbo. Toroflow would be different as well. Something more ex stream though would be the ford 18l GAA v8 and then to really kill it put diesel heads on it. Could be another Detroit fuel pincher?
It's built to run economically for the next 30 years, so it was worth it. I have two cores in the shop for future projects, so can have one as a spare. These engines are very easy and cheap to rebuild, so this engine will stay in for as long as I live.:) As far as fuel pinchers are concerned, can't get any cheap than this truck. Runs on used cooking oil, so almost free to drive.:)
