Members expertise urgently needed

[dmetalmiki]

The injector pump on my M54 mulifuel is beyond me not working sometimes stops, runs great sometimes, we changed the hydraulic head twice, in tank pump filters etc. Well I'm fed up with the thing So,
I have been offered a Cummins C type diesel engine, turbo, 280 H.P. LOW hours and miles.
Auto box. ALL Ancillaries.
They are checking to see if they have a flywheel and clutch for a manual gear set up directly on to my M54.
IS this an easy ( or doable) replacement,
Does the C series Cummins engines 'bolt straight in'? (to the M54 5ton series truck).
I need to offer dealer an answer by tomorrow lunchtime. Cost, £3000..is this excessive.
Any advices greatly appreciated.

 

[dmetalmiki]

A member or members surely must have done this modification to replace the mulifuel engine. with acummins diesel engine..People have done this engine swap in the UK but I can not trace them at this time. Researching this seems to indicate the Cummins series engines bolt straight in to the Bell-housing of the multifuel engine. BUT, not easy, as the front end HAS? to be extended?.

 

[Jericho]

Hello Mate, Contact Swamp Donkey or Simp on here, they may not have done a cummins swap into a M 54 , but there isn't a lot they haven't done, They both are a wealth of knowledge. 3000 quid to day is likely around $4100 give or take ,lets them have a better idea of the cash your talking about In my meagre experience part prices don't seem to have any definitive ties between the UK and USA . Ill pay $2000 for a new 1979 range rover transfer case here, but can get used ones all day out of California, shipped for $200 . most hit the breakers yard in about 5 or 6 years . You might check to see where ( American USAFE Base RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath (Suffolk ) are disposing of their DRMO trucks, and parts, Raf Molesworth used to be the disposal turn in before the major closeures

 

[Jericho]

Just a thought, they may be able to source you a new/ rebuilt I/C

 

[swbradley1]

You have to be mighty upset with that pump/engine/truck to throw out the engine and get another one. Don't get me wrong, I like a Cummins but I think I would save my money and get another injector pump for my MF.

IMHO

 

[gimpyrobb]

Yeah, swapping out the head isn't swapping out the whole IP. I think I would do that first. If I have little time to decide weather to spend $4k on something, I will err on the side of caution and NOT do it. A rushed decision is a bad one.

 

[snowtrac nome]

Bolting the cummins up is easy, the next variable is is it a mechanical or electronic c series. the fun comes with hooking up accessorys like air compressor and power steering pumps. You will also want the sae bell housing with mounting feet on it. Also are you planning a 12 volt conversion finding a 24 volt starter could be challenging unless you find a military surplus starter. just some things to ponder.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Hello Mate, Contact Swamp Donkey or Simp on here, they may not have done a cummins swap into a M 54 , but there isn't a lot they haven't done, They both are a wealth of knowledge. 3000 quid to day is likely around $4100 give or take ,lets them have a better idea of the cash your talking about In my meagre experience part prices don't seem to have any definitive ties between the UK and USA . Ill pay $2000 for a new 1979 range rover transfer case here, but can get used ones all day out of California, shipped for $200 . most hit the breakers yard in about 5 or 6 years . You might check to see where ( American USAFE Base RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath (Suffolk ) are disposing of their DRMO trucks, and parts, Raf Molesworth used to be the disposal turn in before the major closures

Thank you, most all the U.S. bases are closed down now..and European civilians of late can not purchase ANYTHING from ex U.S. miltary stock. The hobbie's dying over here.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Just a thought, they may be able to source you a new/ rebuilt I/C

The problem there is that is a 'job too big' for me now. (bad hands..back...front..side/s..sighh)).

 

[dmetalmiki]

You have to be mighty upset with that pump/engine/truck to throw out the engine and get another one. Don't get me wrong, I like a Cummins but I think I would save my money and get another injector pump for my MF.

IMHO

Slowly 'wilting'..mebb'e (just (mebb'e..)) I should get and fit another injection pump...The FOUR spare ones I have are all for a deuce.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Bolting the cummins up is easy, the next variable is is it a mechanical or electronic c series. the fun comes with hooking up accessorys like air compressor and power steering pumps. You will also want the sae bell housing with mounting feet on it. Also are you planning a 12 volt conversion finding a 24 volt starter could be challenging unless you find a military surplus starter. just some things to ponder.

WILTED!!..good advices fellows....Having a re think.

 

[sandcobra164]

I know people bash the multi for being weak power wise but in my experience, it makes up for it in reliability. I no longer have a multi powered anything out here on my 2 acres. I probably put 10,000 miles on my M35A2 while I had it. The truck always fired on perhaps the second rotation of the engine in chilly 20 degree weather that we experience at worst in SW Georgia. I turned up the fuel rather strong without installing a pyro, ran it hard, pulled a 24,000 pound trailer up a long hard pull and it survived. After running it hard, I did have an oil leak from the leading edge of the passenger side of the front cylinder head. It served to rustproof the passenger side of the block. That engine is still hard at work pulling trailers on a farm and I wish I had the money to have never sold that truck. I do love the comfort of the M923 but I almost wish I would have sold it instead of my deuce!

 

[Jericho]

OR perhaps just have the IP rebuilt . Mildenhall ,Laken heath and four other American bases are still open . They have to be sending their stuff somewhere Good luck and make a good decision , hate to be rushed into hard decisions myself

 

[gimpyrobb]

Slowly 'wilting'..mebb'e (just (mebb'e..)) I should get and fit another injection pump...The FOUR spare ones I have are all for a deuce.

Doesn't matter if its an LDT or LDS pump, you can tune them for more power. Minor internal different parts can be swapped over if your worried about it. You may be broke-down and not looking forward to swapping an IP, but swapping and custom mounts for a motor would be SO MUCH worse imho.

 

[74M35A2]

If it is an electronic engine, they are very self contained and require only battery and ignition power to start an run. Then 6 wires direct from ECM to throttle pedal, and done.

24v starters and alternators are the majority on diesel engines throughout the world. US is the only one that uses 12v in their on-road applications (24v off road). Cummins ECM’s can typically be toggled between 12v and 24v with a cal reflash, since they have a regulated power supply on board anyway. Only other things to switch would be lift pump and grid heater, if it was a 12v engine, but should be a 24v in your location, if electronic. Electronic ones can be switched back over to mechanical by changing the pump if CAPS style (looks like an air compressor), or by changing the head and pump if it is common rail.

 

[red]

Other than it not being original that engine swap is an upgrade. Parts availability as you mentioned is becoming a big problem with the older stuff that is discontinued and wasn't the largest market to begin with.

Depends on how often the truck is used in my opinion. If it's a workhorse then I'd do the swap. If it only drives for the occasional show, then scrounge for the parts. Maybe swap the Cummins into a different truck that is used more (say a wrecker for example) and swap the LDS from it into the cargo truck.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Thank you every one for the inputs..I had (almost) given up..(happens in old age)..but..I have a Cummins c series in sight..and am working up the enthusiasm to get it and fit it..watch this space...( as they say).