Heavy...engine

[myJEEPisAfatty]

So Ive decided that Im going to swap in a Detroit 3-53 out of a Gamma Goat into my truck. Go ahead and say its a bad idea..I know someone will disagree lol but it will be different and I just Love the sound of a Detroit.


My question is if the front axle will handle it? The cast iron 353 weights 900 somthing pounds..and the aluminum Goat version isnt far off. I know the 6bt cummins weights more but Ive never seen anyone use the original axles... I just dont want the kingpins to wear out or the axle itself to develop a droop.

[glenn]

Will it fit heightwise? I don't know if the front axle would like that much weight. The tubes are kind of small, you could always put a truss on it to keep the tubes connected to the diff.

[jeeper]

Having ridden in the Gamma Goat all I can say is it is the loudest diesel I've ever ridden in. You could hear that thing from a mile away. I don't want to say anything negative about your choice of engine. As far as uniqueness goes I'd say that choice is up there. I just hope you have plenty of hearing protection for yourself and any passengers.

[randyscycle]

I think the Detroit inthe Gamma Goat was somewhere around 100 Db when running. Compare that to even the loudest muffled vehicle at 84 Db or so and you can get the idea that yes, it will be loud.

If it fits it would be a really different setup for sure. What transmission are you planning on using?

[myJEEPisAfatty]

I was just kidding before, you guys can bash it all you want :P

They are good on gas which what got my attention. I saw another guy who swapped his into an old ford pick up and was getting 28 mpg.. so somewhere in there would be awesome.

Originally i was going to throw a Chevy 305 into it that I had laying around and the truck already had a sm465 in it. If i can get 410 axle gears it would get me at 2400 rpms at 60 mph which is under redline/govner. Thats SCREAMING for a diesel but thats how detroits like it lol


I cant find any 4bts in my area at all... and the 353 isnt far off as far as performance other than it has 1 less cylinder, its a 2 stroke and being the heaviest 3 cylinder in the world...cant forget that part.

[randyscycle]

They are good on gas which what got my attention.

That would get my attention too!

[myJEEPisAfatty]

My friends dad was a diesel mechanic in the Navy and is a Detroit Specialist. I went and talked to him about the idea today and he ddint have any negative input....Good enough for me haha. He gave me his repair manuals to look over also.

I just need to figure out how to fit 4:10s into a stock axle. Ive read that you can switch carriers but that it has to be the right offset. Id prefer to keep the stock axles even though i knew they are holding me back.

[randyscycle]

The front axle won't be an issue. You can use a standard D60 carrier, but you will need the carrier for a 4.10 or lower. There is a break right around there or 4.56 if I remember correctly. You will have to use the stock M715 spider gears though because of the axle spline count.

The rear is another story and I doubt you will be able to find anything out there anymore. Last I checked 4.88's were all that was still available for the D70 in the M715. They are not the same as the later D70's so that stuff wont interchange.

Were it me, and this is just my opinion, if I were going to all the work of a swap like you are considering, I'd go all the way with a NP205 and some modern axles. Seems like your goal is to really drive this truck, and the addition of the diesel will almost dictate a need for gearing changes, then the NP200 shortcoming start to show and so on. Again, just an opinion.

[Mikel]

I was just kidding before, you guys can bash it all you want :P

They are good on gas which what got my attention. I saw another guy who swapped his into an old ford pick up and was getting 28 mpg.. so somewhere in there would be awesome.

Originally i was going to throw a Chevy 305 into it that I had laying around and the truck already had a sm465 in it. If i can get 410 axle gears it would get me at 2400 rpms at 60 mph which is under redline/govner. Thats SCREAMING for a diesel but thats how detroits like it lol


I cant find any 4bts in my area at all... and the 353 isnt far off as far as performance other than it has 1 less cylinder, its a 2 stroke and being the heaviest 3 cylinder in the world...cant forget that part.

Isuzu diesels can be had fairly cheaply and will outperform a 3-53 in almost any way.

[kwai]

Isuzu diesels can be had fairly cheaply and will outperform a 3-53 in almost any way.

Except noise production.