taquito971
New member
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- Location
- Ridgecrest, CA
I have a 1979 GMC K3500 crew cab truck. It's powered by a 350 with an SM465 4 speed. I get terrible fuel mileage and I'd like to repower it with the help of an M1008 CUCV. I would pull the entire drive train from the CUCV including the axles (for the rear locker) and the T400 (cuz I'm lazy and don't want to shift anymore).
I believe I can make this happen, but I have a few questions. Maybe you guys could help me out with the answers.
1. Air Conditioning- any idea of the OD Iron kit will mate with my existing controls in my '79? I understand that the dual alternators and such create a unique obstacle. But maybe someone is familiar with GMs and knows the answer already.
2. Exhaust-Will my existing exhaust system bolt up to the stock manifolds on a 6.2? My 350 has stock manifolds right now.
3. Wiring- Any idea how difficult it's going to be to get this thing wired up? I don't have a lot of options like power windows/doorlocks/cruise control but I do have Air conditioning, a radio and the basic array of guages. I assume no one makes a direct harness for this application (actually 1-tons and diesels in general seem to be overlooked all together in the direct aftermarket). Any hints?
3. Registration/Smog- Any California residents tried this swap? Anecdotal evidence suggests that if the truck had a diesel option that year that swapping in a diesel and getting it changed at the DMV is fairly simple. As long as I don't get the BAR involved. Anyone got any TTPs to share?
Am I crazy? I feel confident that it can be done, but maybe that's because I'm overlooking something obvious. I'm not looking for a high horsepower tire roaster, just something that is a good reliable DD and can tow a trailer occasionally.
Brian
I believe I can make this happen, but I have a few questions. Maybe you guys could help me out with the answers.
1. Air Conditioning- any idea of the OD Iron kit will mate with my existing controls in my '79? I understand that the dual alternators and such create a unique obstacle. But maybe someone is familiar with GMs and knows the answer already.
2. Exhaust-Will my existing exhaust system bolt up to the stock manifolds on a 6.2? My 350 has stock manifolds right now.
3. Wiring- Any idea how difficult it's going to be to get this thing wired up? I don't have a lot of options like power windows/doorlocks/cruise control but I do have Air conditioning, a radio and the basic array of guages. I assume no one makes a direct harness for this application (actually 1-tons and diesels in general seem to be overlooked all together in the direct aftermarket). Any hints?
3. Registration/Smog- Any California residents tried this swap? Anecdotal evidence suggests that if the truck had a diesel option that year that swapping in a diesel and getting it changed at the DMV is fairly simple. As long as I don't get the BAR involved. Anyone got any TTPs to share?
Am I crazy? I feel confident that it can be done, but maybe that's because I'm overlooking something obvious. I'm not looking for a high horsepower tire roaster, just something that is a good reliable DD and can tow a trailer occasionally.
Brian