Cummins 5.9L in a Deuce? - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

russ81 · 08-27-2008, 21:19

I know there is quite a bit of information here about INSTALLING a Cummins 5.9L in a deuce, but what I'm looking for is this:

How well does that engine perform in a deuce?

I have just completed bobbing my deuce, and I'm getting ready to install my 16x20's. My next step is the engine compartment. I would rather have pure brute force raw power in a big engine, then working the snot out of a smaller engine. I've had quite a few people tell me that the 5.9 is the way to go, but NONE of them have any experience with a deuce, let alone that engine in a deuce.

Any comments, opinions, experiences, ideas, or astude observations would be greatly appreciated.

Flea · 08-27-2008, 21:30

Look up Hot Rod Deuce and look at his rig. He's got a crew-cab deuce on 16.00-20's with a 5.9 cummins running around 300 hp. He seems to be pretty satisfied with the power - he does off-road it. Read back through some of his posts.

Edit: Keep in mind that the ISB Cummins (5.9L) has been used in quite a few medium duty trucks. The deuce was designed to do what it does with 130 hp and ~350 torque; the Cummins can easily double that with a simple chip. You'll run out of gear before you run out of power.

WillWagner · 08-27-2008, 21:31

FYI, the B is only 359 cid, a tad smaller than the LDT. If you wanna good engine, try the Cummins C. It is 505 cid and 240 hp minimum.

russ81 · 08-27-2008, 21:34

Is the Cummins "C" 8.3L, and how well will it fit in the deuce? Also, what would I need to mount to the existing transmission?

WillWagner · 08-27-2008, 23:33

Flywheel housings are availabe in the bellhousing size of the trans, or you can use the reducer that comes stock on the LDT. The C is a bit longer, I think by 2 or 3 inches. Ypu'll need to fab the mounts and a fan drive. The RPM is lower on the C, so you'll lose road speed.

m16ty · 08-27-2008, 23:56

A 5.9 would be my first choice on a deuce repower. There would be one in mine but you can buy five multifuels for what a good 5.9 will cost and I'm cheap.

A freind of mine has a Dodge Cummins pulling truck. He's running over 60 psi of boost, 5,000 RPM, and right at 900 HP. All on the stock bottom end

. It's no DD though. EGT gets to 1800* in one 300' pull. After he built it I never thought it would hold together. He proved to me that these engines are bullet proof.

Offroadfabworks · 08-27-2008, 23:59

yes them engines are way over engineered from the factory. and detuned. some head work, and spring, along with injectors, pumps they can turn some very reliable numbers.

CGarbee · 08-28-2008, 09:04

Charles Talbert at M Series Rebuild in Norwood, NC, has done a couple of B5.9 repower projects. One that he did that was written up in MV Magazine a few years back was a M108 that was then shipped to HI...

It was a nice rig...

rizzo · 08-28-2008, 09:40

what vehicles were the "C" in? can they be built up?

M543A2 · 08-28-2008, 10:10

There is 120 cubic inches difference between the motors, which is no small thing ( the "465" is actually a 478 cubic inch motor). An engine's power is determined by the cubic inches and air flow available to burn the fuel put into it. There is also the matter of the difference in rotating mass available for launching the vehicle. I am very familiar with built 5.9 motors. Yes, they turn big numbers, but I would not pit one in my M543A2 wrecker and expect it to get down and lug at low RPM like the 478 does. I cannot imagine trying to maneuver this heavy truck in deep mud, starting and stopping, with the 5.9. The bottom end torque is just not there. Burned clutches would be the result. I see how the built 5.9 guys have to wait for boost to come up, etc. before launching. I can't see me doing that trying to get the 36,000 pound truck out of a muddy situation. I would not make the change, personally. There is more economical and easily obtainable power available from the 478 multifuel. I have a built Cummins in a dodge, am a Cummins lover and believer in what they can do, but would like to put a 478 multi in it, but no space. I wanted the reliability, low end torque, and easy to obtain HP they give. We have pulled heavy implement trailers with both the Cummins and the deuce, and the turned up deuce handles it better, especially in start/stop traffic situations. The drive train in the Dodge behind the multifuel would probably grab a large lunch sack and head for the nearest shade tree!
Just my experiences. Marti