1977 Power Wagon from gas to diesel??

Yipee Yi Yaa · #1 05-15-2006, 04:16 AM

I have a 1977 M882 with a stock 318 and have always had a severe case of Cummins envy. I swear every time I hear one of them I think of someone driving a street legal Corn Chopper! From what I've read and heard they are amazing engines.

My question is what would be the likelyhood of getting one of those babies to fit and properly function in my truck, without major mods or having to replace all the running gear to handle the torque?

I should also note that the truck has sat for almost a decade and I'm about to attempt to get it road worthy again and either need to rebuild the 318 or get something in it's place.

Anything you can add would be helpful as I've recently been rebitten by the Mopar bug.

The Burning Rom · #2 05-15-2006, 04:38 AM

You'd have to replace all the running gear...
Transmission (diesel wouldn't bolt to a gasser)
T-case (diesel trans wouldn't bolt to a gasser t-case)

The axles would probably work...since you have a 5/4 ton truck. But you'd have to find a donor t-case out of a truck with a passenger side drive shaft drop.

Your best bet would be to find one from an 88-93 truck. Those would come the closest to being a direct swap...as long as you could get a WHOLE donor truck. Less electronics to worry about.

I saw one in a 90 Ramcharger on ebay once...with the 6spd trans behind it. That guy had a LOT of money stuck into that truck just getting the motor in it.