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Harlan Highsaw 02-02-2005 20:32:33 142.165.113.179 12420 Report to Moderator	I was wondering what fuel economy a Detroit 3-53 gets. Either gal/hr or mpg. My uncle wants to put one in a 1966 Chev 1 ton but would like to know mileage first. [Reply]  [No Email]
Andrew 02-03-2005 18:16:48 69.11.45.142 12436 Report to Moderator	Re: Detroit 3-53 economy in reply to Harlan Highsaw, 02-02-2005 20:32:33   3-53 would burn about 3/4 of a gallon a hour under a hard load. your better off to go with a 4-53 more power i have herd of guys getting 62 miles to a gallon with a 4-53N in a 3/4ton 3-53 is pretty light for a 1ton.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Jon H 02-04-2005 14:31:59 69.26.18.93 12458 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Detroit 3-53 economy in reply to Andrew, 02-03-2005 18:16:48   I agree with Andrew on the engine size,3-53 is OK if you never haul or pull anything heavy,4-53 does better for heavy pulling. A buddy had a 3-53 in a 1/2 ton 4X4 Dodge,We had a 4-53 in a 74- 3/4 ton IH 4X4. Measure the engine compartment before you attempt this swap,the 53 series is a tall engine. You may have to do some serious frame cross member and oil pan cutting to get it in there and close the hood. Our IH with it's tall engine compartment would barely accept the 4-53 with a lot of cutting on the oil pan and hood bracing,thermostat housing etc. The 3-53 in the 70's 1/2 ton dodge required a big ugly hood blister to get that engine in there. Fuel economy with either engine was in the low 20's   [Reply]  [No Email]
Harlan Highsaw 02-04-2005 18:53:12 142.165.113.136 12462 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Detroit 3-53 economy in reply to Jon H, 02-04-2005 14:31:59   Thanks for the input. Maybe we will pick a different engine for the swap. He would like to get over 25 mpg. Would you guys know of a better engine for this swap. Something that would bolt up to an SM420 GM 4 spd and have a bit more power.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Jon H 02-05-2005 16:58:44 69.26.17.202 12470 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Detroit 3-53 economy in reply to Harlan Highsaw, 02-04-2005 18:53:12   The little Cummins 5.9 is a great engine to swap into an older pickup. Very little larger than the Chevy 235-261 that was factory installed. A Cummins or truck parts dealer should be able to get a bellhousing adapter to make your trans work. Over 25 mpg in a boxy 5,000 pound one ton with low gears is very tough to do,20 mpg average is more realistic if you drive it easy with little or no load.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Grapefarmer 02-06-2005 10:32:46 63.158.216.26 12474 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Detroit 3-53 economy in reply to Jon H, 02-05-2005 16:58:44   There was a 1950's 3/4 ton truck in 'This Old Truck' magazine that the owner put 4bt Cummins (Its just like the six but just 2 less cylinders). They got it out of a Frito-Lay 1 ton step van. All he had to do is make motor mounts as it bolted right to the Chevy 4speed. They claim it get 35mpg and cruses at 65 mph. I always want to do a swap like this in my 1/2ton Ramcharger, but 4BT's are hard to find. Nice thing about the Cummins 4 and 6's it that it still uses a fuel pump and thus you don't have to worry about custom installing one inside the fuel tank.   [Reply]  [Send Email]
Jon H 02-06-2005 14:46:15 69.26.17.198 12478 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Detroit 3-53 economy in reply to Grapefarmer, 02-06-2005 10:32:46   A food distributing co that trucks groceries to all the local small town grocery stores use those little 4 cyl Cummins. They have used the same fleet of big box vans for decades. They used 6 cyl gas engines running on propane for many years,when high propane prices made that impractical,they converted the whole fleet to those little 4 cyl Cummins. Compared to most diesel pickups,35 mpg sounds impossible,but wonderfull if it is true. I will try to talk to one of the drivers to see how they have worked out.   [Reply]  [No Email]
F Brown 03-16-2007 13:33:32 209.107.243.35 24340 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Detroit 3-53 economy in reply to Jon H, 02-06-2005 14:46:15   This looks like an old thread but I am interested in a diesel swap into my 50 Chevy 3/4 ton. I was thinking about a DD 4-53 but another guy suggested a 3-53, maybe from a Gama Goat. Any ideas, hints, tips. Thanks.   [Reply]  [Send Email]