6v53 Detroit

Myeah...

After much consideration and thought, I decided this swap just isn't for me. Don't get me wrong, I still think it would be cool as hell, but way overkill and impractical for my needs.

Part of my allure to the squarebodys are the lack of electronics and other complicated things on modern trucks that, frankly, I just don't understand. If something breaks on an old carburated 350/454, I can pretty much get it back on the road in a day or two. I'm comfortable and confident enough around these engines to be able to work on them with a minimal amount of frustration.

On the other hand, I really have no diesel experience to speak of. If I were to do the swap, and something were to go wrong, I'd have to rely on my Dad (15+ years as a heavy equipment mechanic) to get me back on the road. If he's not available, the truck would have to go to a shop. And not just any old shop, but most likely a specialty diesel shop. That just seems like a major pain in the ass. I might as well buy a new truck. Plus, the thought of one of these old Detroits running away and grenading scares the shit out of me.

Anyway, I'll probably sell a few of these motors and use the money to fund my build. I'll just rebuild my 454/400 and pick up a Gear Vendors unit to get the fuel mileage I'm after.

Maybe I'll stick one of these old Detroits in the shed and sit on it for a while. I've always wanted to build a C60 crew cab and use it as an RV hauler...

I'm by no means an expert, so this is just my opinion. I've built several motors, and even worked on a few diesels, but never a Detroit, so everything I'm doing now to my truck, I'm learning for the first time.

Anyway, the 53 series motors will be the easiest. The military used 3-53 in wheeled vehicles and you can find bellhousings to mount up GM transmissions directly with no need to screw with the SAE bellhousing. With each different series of motor (53, 71, and 92) a lot of part will interchange. For instance, a 3-53 bellhousing will fit a 4-53. A 6V92 piston and liner will fit any other 92 series motor and so on. (There are a lot of parts that won't interchange between the inline and the V style motors though, for instance the bellhousings. Anyway, I digress.)

The advantages of the 53 series motors include: they're lightweight (compared to other detroits...the 3-53 weighs around 1000 lbs and a 4-53 weighs over 1200). The six cylinder 6V53 that Campy was thinking about putting in his truck weighs less than a four cylinder 4-71. They're fairly easy to come by. You can get a GM bellhousing for the inline 53s (as previously mentioned). And, they're fairly easy and inexspensive to hot rod. Bigger injectors and add an intercooler and you're making power levels similar to a modern diesel. They came in Natural and Turbo. As mentioned before, all detroits had blowers, but the ones without turbos were called "N"s and the ones with turbos were "T"s. I really wouldn't mess with a non-turbo motor for a swap. It's been done, but I like having a little more power than the next guy. And also, there have been several claims of MPGs in the high 20s/low 30s. (I'm from Missouri, so I'll have to see that for myself).

Check this guy with a 4-53 in his 89 Chevy..

Just out of curiosity, can you put a turbo on an engine that was not originally equipped with one? I've heard some folks say that the lack of the oil jet-piston sprayer-thingymabobs on the non-turbo engines could cause some problems.

Also, if the inline and V configuration bell housings don't interchange, how does one stick a GM tranny behind a V style engine? Custom adapter, or what?

Well, the natural asperated and the turbo pistons are different. I believe the turbo pistons had a lower compression and one more piston ring, but again, I'm no expert. I've seen people add the turbo to a non-turbo engine and it worked out fine.

As for the transmission, there's a place called phoenix adapters that make an adapter that goes from SAE to GM, Ford, or Mopar trans. You could also just use a trans with the SAE bellhousing such as an allison or eaton/fuller/roadranger.

Im going to deff. do a detroit swap...just need to figure what one is best for me...like i said i want to drive it alot!
ARAMP1...What model detroit was it u are working on and what tranny will u be using?

I'm building a 4-71 which would normally weigh in at 2100 lbs. But, I'm using an aluminum block, front and rear plates, front cover and bellhousing. It should weigh in around 1300lbs. I'll be shooting for 300-350 hp and around 700-800 ft-lbs. We'll see.

Right now, I've got a 13 speed double overdrive roadranger, but I might just use a ZF6 out of a newer Ford Superduty for easier shifting.

Im looking at 4-53t...what tranny would be best for me?I seen some swaps and they had a Allison 4 speed...like i said i plan on driving it a lot and trailering??Id like to start picking up parts soon.

I really don't know allison transmissions, but you'd definitely want one with an overdrive. I think most of those older heavy duty 4 speeds are not overdrives.

The common allison 5 speed is the at545, no it doesn't have overdrive.



That might help. The md3060 is the one I would like to put behind my 454.

look wat i found :