DMAX in a SUPERDUTY conversion

Jpscustoms

Jpscustoms

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Feb 17, 2008
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now lets try to be serious here, no bashing. all im lookin for is good info on what it would take to put a dmax into a superduty. if i were to do it i would be using a manual trans so trans control wont be an issue, but it can be discussed. ALSO dont ask me why not a cummins, i already know all i need to know about that option....soo with that said, what do you guys think, what will i take to get a dmax to run and be able to monitor it in a superduty??
 
My guess is all the wiring for the ecm/pcm, and a sh*t ton of work, but that would be sweet and original, keep us updated if you do it!
 
PPE can make short work of the engine wiring.

The rest is just fab work to make it fit and bolt in.


The interesting part would be making the SuperDuty dash/gauge cluster funtional. I'll assume it has it's own computer that receives readings from various sensors for the Powerstroke like most all modern vehicles. Dig up a wiring manual and start learning. You'd be golden if the voltage signals needed for the gauges matched what the GM sensors put out but I doubt you'd be that lucky for some of them. Therefore it'd take some electrical trickery to get the proper signal to the PS gauges so they understand and show the correct info.


May be easier to graph in a GM gauge cluster and go from there???



Good luck!!
 
it will be very difficult on the electrical side. i have considered this as well. once it works, it will be awesome. you may as well just drop a 6.4 in...eventually it will make just as much if not more power than the dmax.
 
you would also need the pedal assembly from a duramax truck for the drive-by-wire system unless the PS is also drive-by-wire and sends the same/proper signal from the PS TPS to the GM ECM.


C-ya
 
I could be wrong, but I think this was being done a few years back..I don't remember exactly what happened with it though. It seems to me Merchant was doing the job.
 
Unless you have alot of time/money I dont think it will be worth it. Any reason for the swap? Do you want 1000hp on fuel or something the powerstroke cant do?
 
i got a 6.0 and its been nothing but problems, just lookin for more reliable power, figured id throw this idea out there and see were it goes, i know it will take time and money but so has this 6.0 and so will the 5.9 if i go that route.
 
the ps pedal is by wire, i think i could just use the ford sensors in the dmax for monitoring, if ppe make a stand alone ecm then that will make things alot less complicated
 
right now i can get a 03 donor truck for 3000, it was totaled and has 100k on it.....
 
PM smokinrod him and merchant tried, it was a royal pita and plug was pulled
 
theres gonna be big difference in doing this for a street truck versus doing this for a competition only/play truck.

it won't be overly difficult to get it to run in the PS with the PPE harness. What may be more difficult is the monitoring part you mentioned in the original post. It will likely be a nightmare to get the Ford PS gauges to jive with the GM sensors. Could be wrong but I'd be surprised if they talk the same language.

Even with the PS being drive-by-wire, you'll have to be sure the output of the PS TPS sensor is the same signal that the GM needs to read and interpret it correctly so the ECM works. For instance, lets say the GM thinks 3volts is equal to 80% throttle position. If the PS sensor is registering 3 volts at something other than 80% throttle position there's gonna have to be some electrical trickery between the PS sensor and the GM ECM so that the signal is converted correctly to the appropriate value for the GM ECM.

Clear as mud?




Yes, at one point Eric was gonna attempt this for a pulling truck but back then, the wiring would have been a nightmare without a modified harness. Not as much now with the availability of the modified harnesses. I'd say he could tackle a project like this.

I mean, the duramax has been transplanted very successfully into several different platforms - air boat (Tony Burkhardt is your man here), 70s model GM trucks (PPE did one for SEMA and the Orange Crush), chevelle, Nova, buick grand nationals, H1 and H2 Hummers, late model Suburbans, 80s model GM trucks, drag racing rails, sled pulling tube chassis, off-shore racing boats, a Ford Mustang and who knows what else. It's certainly do-able.


Just gonna take some serious time and effort to make it a nice street vehicle. A competition vehicle would be easier as far as gauges goes IMO.


C-ya
 
i think i would use the ford sensors for the gauges, might to to modify the ports or lengthn wire put it think that be easyr, and id use the gm pedal just to make sure it got the right signal....i know i can do it, just dont know if i for sure want to or not, just throwing around the idea and gettin info
 
haloman said:
Do you want 1000hp on fuel or something the powerstroke cant do?
Click to expand...

dont think the 6.4 is too far off from accomplishing this. the 6.4 injectors will eat the dmax injectors. just need the pump setup, and some nozzles...and a couple bigger turbo's...
go for a 6.4 ..why would you put a jap motor into an american truck anyhow?
 
If you decide against it, would you mind passing the sellers info on to me as I am in the market for a donor D-Max. Thanks... With that said, I think its definetly do-able with some patients and basic mechanical knowledge. The fact that you can get the whole truck will make the job way eaiser. I would also agree with using the Duramax cluster it will save a ton of headaches and with a little enginuity it could be made to look (Almost) Factory...
 
I had this thought a few months ago.. I got a '01 Dmax when I did a engine swap.. but i got negative feedback on the idea
 
i would definitly do it with the 03 dmax cuz there is no egr/vgt garbage you have the worry about. and think of all the possibilities with EFIlive:evil and if i were to do it again i would have went with the japcrap:hehe:

Joe
 
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