12 Valve Cummins in my 72 Lark

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by Brent, May 5, 2014.

  1. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    A dressed Cummins 6bt weighs between 1000 and 1100lbs. I have the engine set exactly where I want it now so I can start fabbing the motor mounts. I got all the parts to do that today, I will post pics of them when done. I also mocked up the turbo pipes, fuel lines, and started working on the shifter today. Since the trans is further back the tunnel gets smaller as it goes back. The shifter will now be entirely in the car now so I have had to cut a big chunk of floor to clear it all. I have plenty of clearance all around. The turbo pipes are about 1/2 from the hood in the back.
    Thanks
    Brent
     

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  2. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    Heres some pics of the trans fitment.
     

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  3. Tuna

    Tuna Platinum Level Contributor

    I think it's awesome and I'm an "All Buick" guy! Beats the hell out of another LS conversion....... Tuna
     
  4. Carcrazy

    Carcrazy Dan Whytock

    I'm in for the ride to
     
  5. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    I took some more pics today. I have the motor mounts made, I need to clean them up but they are ready. I used 1/2 plate and welded part of the original first gen cummins mount to the plate. I am using the cummins rubber mounts on the frame as well. I will get pics of that latter. I also took 2 inches out of the oil pan and pickup tube. Still holds 5 quarts of oil in the sump, huge pans. I have been redoing all the wiring in engine bay since the diesel is pretty simple as far as wires go. I hope to have it sitting in place for good tomorrow.
     

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  6. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    Oil Pan mods, nice and flat for ground clearance.
     

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  7. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    Here are some updates of the project. First off I did not need to lower the crossmember as much as I did, I could have had it an inch higher. I had to drop the trans crossmember mount 3/8" for extra tranny clearance. Here are some pics of the motor installed and the finished motor mounts. I used a 90 chevy truck PS hose and it fit nicely. There is also a pic of the fuel pump and fuel lines.
     

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  8. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    Here are pics of the adapted radiator hoses. The cummins motor has much bigger hose than the Buick, the best solution would be to have larger piping welded to the radiator. My solution was to use metal pipe adaptors with different size ends to get it to work. I was able to use the factory Cummins air inlet hose on the turbo, I thought that was pretty cool. I love reusing factory parts, it gives things a clean and finished look.
     

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  9. 1drwgn

    1drwgn Poor Gearhead

    Well well well! Another convert!
    Get yourself a decent clutch, you will need it!
    Those ve pumped motors are very torquey low rpm suckers.
    Little bit of cash spent on fuel pin, governor spring, and some small injectors, bumped timing and then over torque the head bolts, should net you around 350hp pushing an hx35 turbo fairly hard, and get your 800tq for a fun driver!
    You may have cut to much out of pan, I only cut 2 inches out and clearance was about what the 455 was... You will need better springs.. Moog springs made for a dodge 3/4 gin 2wd gas truck should fit the bill, at a lower installed height like you need would work nicely and be fairly taught,.

    Your rear will last until you put slicks on.. Tires won't though, is just too fun to pull into boost leaving marks..
    I finally twisted a 9 3/8 axle last weekend after 200 passes on slicks... Slapped in another stock one and enjoyed the rest of the evening! Hit me up if you have any questions, and it is one heck of a ride!! Oh BTW, horsepower is a sickness, you will change it before you know it!
     
  10. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    Ya I really like the 12 valve motors, done quite a bit with them. I actually took 2 inches out of the oil pan, I just made a flat plate to finish it off instead of using the factory piece and sectioning it. It still holds 8 quarts of oil. Right now I am going to try a Kevlar clutch I really don't want to move up to a puck clutch yet. I have used bronze pucks and they are drivable but a little rough, sintered iron is totally a pain. I have QA1 coilovers in the front with 450lb springs and they make up to a 550. So between that and the adjustment I should be able to get the front end up where it needs to be. I really dig the Riv with the 24valve, I looked over your build for ideas. I have been planning this for a year, gathering parts, thinking things through, measuring, etc. So far its going pretty well.
    Thanks
    Brent
     
  11. 1drwgn

    1drwgn Poor Gearhead

    Sounds like you got it... Pan looked thinner than that! I run right at 8 quarts with filter, and have 2 turbos to oil, works just fine!! I can recommend swapping to an hx 35 or he351cw turbo.. Driveability goes through the roof over that h1c and it's 18cm turbine..
    I am digging how clean it is, my engine got washed, but never disassembled and painted.. And yeah you got this in the bag.. Oh if you need s different clutch, or possibly a sponsor, give Dan Valance at valair clutches a call. He does truck stuff, tell him you know me and the hookup will be phenomenal if he builds a clutch that will fit.
     
  12. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    Sorry I haven't updated in while. I drove the car Saturday and aligned the front end. Seems to run good so far, I need to finish the exhaust it just dumps under the car at the down pipe. I finished up the shifter and console, clutch linkage, gauges, hood, and steering linkage. In these pics you can see the gauges, shifter, and the braces I cut out of the hood for clearance.
     

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  13. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    In these pics you can see the bracket I mounted to the bellhousing adapter for the z bar and the z bar attached. Also is the dropped pitman arm and idler arm needed to clear the lowered engine.
     

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  14. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    A few more updates. I finished the exhaust, including a flex joint and some heat shields. I lowered the sway bar to clear the motor. The car sits 1.5 inches higher than it did before which makes the ground clearance 1/2 inch lower than before the diesel. I also added a mechanical flex fan, it's small and doesn't pull much air, but I am still old school and just need a real fan. I also added an electric fan to actually flow some air, lol.
     

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  15. Brent

    Brent Founders Club Member

    More pics.
     

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  16. jmmarsha

    jmmarsha Well-Known Member

    After you get through , I want to see the burnout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I think it is great !

    Mike
     
  17. Clarkie

    Clarkie Well-Known Member

    That car is bad ass!
     
  18. Doubleclutch

    Doubleclutch Well-Known Member

    I'll be following this thread for sure. 750LB FT --might twist the front end right off!!! I vote way cool.
     
  19. 87GN_70GS

    87GN_70GS Well-Known Member

    Sweet...1100 lbs ?!? da fuq u gonna run for springs?
     
  20. 1drwgn

    1drwgn Poor Gearhead

    Looks great! Keep it going! Unfortunately that 750lbft number is very easy to get and you will be blowing stuff up before long.. Touch of pump, small injectors and turbo and you are swinging 1k pretty easy... It is a sickness, especially how easy the first 500hp are to get...
     

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