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Duramax diesel conversion... DONE... PICS.
Well, against what other members have said about how long it should take to convert an H2, I'm here to tell you mine is still not done.
The conversion is all done except the electrical. My guy's electrician is trying to wire it up so it's using the duramax computer for the 4WD selection but after working on it for a month, apparently it ain't going to well.... So, now almost 3 months later, my truck is back from the electrician's dealership and back at the guy who is doing the conversion. From my understanding, it's much like when I dropped an LT-1 into a late model S-10. I struggled with the wiring and used both the LT-1 and S-10 4.3 computer together so the truck didn't loose any SRS or ABS abilities. Though I got it done, it was a wiring nightmare much like a rat's nest. I finally paid a guy to wire it up with one ECM to be clean and neat. Point is, I think this is what they're going through... Anyways, just giving an update, sure would like to get my truck back. Mark |
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Mark,
I do hope you get your truck back soon. Waiting for 3 months would be killer for me. I guess you don't mind waiting because you don't want him to rush in making some kind of mistake. What would happen if something did happen when you get your truck back? Is there any kind of warranty for the conversion? Cheers. Don |
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Yeah, I'm getting kind of antsy... it was suppose to only take 2-3 weeks. The guy took his time and is doing it right and I'm fine with that. (it gives me time to finish my custom softail which after almost 2 years will be done in the next couple of weeks)
However, it's about time and I'm ready.... As far as warranty, I'm sure if there's a problem, he'll be happy to take care of it but being 3K miles away, I'm sure I'll end up taking care of it myself. Hope to get it back soon. Thanks, Mark |
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Good luck Mark!
Hope you get that b*tch back soon:clapping: |
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Big project, I hope it all works out for you. Whenever I hear of issues and problems with my stuff I get real nervouse. At least hes being honest with you and informing you of the issues at hand. Hopefully it will be all that you hoped for!
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Got off the phone with Travis today. He talked to a buddy of his that does conversions on the right coast. He gave him some advice, Travis pulled the harness completely out, gutted it and ran the wires where they needed to be.
He was completely confident that he'll be able to finish this within a week or so. Like I said, I don't care, I want my truck back but I have full confidence in Travis but I want it back done CORRECTLY... So, hopefully he'll be done in the next week or so and I can start getting ready to ship it back. Mark |
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Good Luck!!!! Hope it all works out
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*waiting patiently*
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Well for any shade tree mechanic who said "OH it should only take two weeks" :notallthere: A team of experts doing it right took a whole lot longer.
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Yeaaa, riiiight.... it amazes me how it's always so simple when it's not the person doing the project. Am I the only one that recognizes the bullshiet that goes along with such a project? There's ALWAYS a snag. You talk to any member on this forum that is a motorhead and done any kind of project like this and they'll tell you the same thing. Figure out how long and how much it will cost to do the job and then multiply that amount by 3. The ONLY way you could do a conversion in two weeks is if you a) had EVERY piece available ready to go. (anotherwards, you've done a crapload of these to know that info) and b) you've got more than 1 guy doing the work. Always easier when you're not doing the work. Mark |
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:iagree:
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It'll be worth the wait! In my younger years I helped swap a 383 with a 440 in a '69 Dodge. Engines and electronics were much simpler then and it took a month. We never got the carb linkage just right and the low oil pressure idiot light would always come on despite changing sesnors and looking for grounds, so we just put a piece of electric tape over the light and bought a mechanical Stewart Warner oil pressure gauage. Electronics in today's cars are so complex, it's like they dare you to work on them yourself!
"Patience is a virtue rarely possessed by women, and never by men," Benjamin Franklin. |
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I remember taking the 4cyl, out of a 61 CJ5 Jeep and swapping it out with a 289. Talk about scratching your head every night! |
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I agree... I'm STILL putting the blown bigblock in my S10. I had it in with a blower and took it out and used a supercharger instead.
I used a motorplate instead of mounts and now the headers are kicking my ass. There is always something throwing a wrench in it. It kind of reminds me of when I buy a new tv and I'll get someone come up to me and say "ohhh, you should have told me, I just bought that same tv for $xxx price." Of course, when you decide to go that route... it never works out. Monday night quarterbacking. Mark |
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It woulda been alot quicker and probably cheaper to just buy an existing modified diesel h2 :(
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Quicker... YES Cheaper.... NOT A CHANCE ;) Mark |
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[quote=OrangeCrush]Quicker... YES
Cheaper.... NOT A CHANCE Plus if you bought a truck already done, you don't know how well it was done! |
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I agree... I don't remember if you remember but there was an '03 pewter with a duramax conversion for sale. I looked at it and actually made an appt. with a local dealership to check it out. I ended up changing my mind because I didn't want to go back in years (from my '06 to an '03) nor lose my SUT. Turns out another member was trying to sell it here and it end up having frame damage. Being in the bodyshop business, I would have flipped out if I bought it and found out it had frame damage and I lost my perfectly good SUT for that POS. I'm extremely confident with the guy doing the work... it'll be done soon enough. I'm not in a super rush because I've got another few weeks to finish up my HD I've been building for the last couple of years. With the weather, I'm dying to go riding. Mark |
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Hi Mark, i do remember and your doing the right thing doing your truck. GET THAT HD DONE.
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Can't wait to see it done. :beerchug:
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Me neither.... :D At least the wiring is done for the trans and computer. All that is left is the ABS wiring which hopefully will be done at the end of this week. Getting closer.... Mark |
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thanks Mark for the update, can't wait to see how works:excited:
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Anxious to see the completed rig....:jump: Keep us posted!!!
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I got a call from Travis. He's got all the wiring done except for the ABS. Because he needs to run the wires a certain way, he's going to pull the body off the truck one more time. (he's definitely anal, that's apparent)
Point is, he said he should be done next week.... finally. Mark |
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Hey Mark,
You know with what your doing you want that kind of anal man. This dude is doing like brain, heart, spinal cord, and etc. surgery on one patient plus having surgeons working in shifts. I know it is hard to wait you know I feel for you because Dragon and I are always taking my 2005 SUV into shop and upgrading latest sponsors equip. This year is last year to be without it being at my beckon call. We are spending this whole year to strip it down to perfect anything that a judge won't see put just in case were covering all bases. It is being gutted so it can be media blasted to reveal the most over looked imperfection on rig. We are preparing to take it to 2011 SEMA spring shop competition. They only choose 20 GM products. So only 20 shops get picked to bring any year model any style GM vehicle. I will be without my rig a long time so I feel your frustration but, Dragon is extremely anal about anyones ride just he ramps it up when he wants my rig in. I put 12,000 miles on rig in first 6 months and only another 4,000 miles in last 4 years. I'm most likely going to buy a H2 SUT for daily use and use my baby for nice weather weekends and short trips. With 16,000 miles and all the special aftermarket equip. we have I doubt I'll never let the "DadyLuv" Baby ever go. Soooo I'm extremely happy to hear your guy is that kind of anal. It cuts short the chance of problems. I'm happy for you Buddy for going for your dream rig build. I hope for the perfect of conversion for you. This kind takes time. TAZ/Rick |
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Rick,
I appreciate the thoughts. I'm glad he's being anal, I told him in the beginning I didn't care how long it took. I don't have the time or patience to screw around with stupid **** later. It's one thing to have a problem (which I expect at some point) because this is a conversion but another when someone jerry rigs something and I have to fix their fukc up because they mickeymoused it. As far as how long it's taking, it doesn't matter, I'm still working on my S10 with the blown big block and my Harley (which has been almost 2 years now), never mind my el camino.... I never used to be one to start a project without finishing another first but for some reason it seems I've always got some project going on. Point is, I'm used to having something torn apart...lol. Anyway, it's all coming to a head, it seems almost everything will be finished at roughly the same time. You know the saying... "there's never enough time to do it right but there's always enough time to do it again" Not for me, I'm a one time kind of guy (in theory...lol) Mark |
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Good things are worth waiting for, Mark. My wife told me that 40 years ago when we started dating. I'm still waiting.................just kidding honey. You're gonna love it when you get it back.
I've noticed since Hummers aren't being made, I've gotten two business cards under my wiper wanting to buy my SUT this year. Maybe all the snow and our horrible winter weather had something to do with that.There's an awful lot of these out there to be collectibles and I'm having way too much fun driving it to park it. |
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Mark, is your Duramax Beast on the way?
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Actually, I just got a phone call from him two days ago. The truck FINALLY made it to the dealership to have all the electrical tested and checked out, reset codes, etc, etc.
It's been a bear, that's for sure. He's done over 20 other conversions but never an H2. He definitely had something to learn...lol. Anyway, his persistence paid off, he's fully confident that everything is perfect and he just wants the dealership's approval. Sooooo, hopefully within the next few days I'll be able to make arrangements to get her home. On the bright side, my Harley I've been building for 2 years was getting a few finishing touches and got a call last night I can pick it up Saturday. All the electrical and upholstery work is finished, all I have to do is fight with the DMV. Mark |
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WOW, Mark...
I haven't been on in a while and I can't believe you still don't have your truck! From reading it sounds like a good thing. Good wishes for the you and the final product! |
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No ****, neither can I... he's being diligent but it's time...
Mark |
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I'm wishing you the best on your truck! Buy it's taken way too long even though it's his first H2, something just doesn't seem right.
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Cant wait to see some pictures of the finished product along with your review after driving it..... it sounds like its going to be bad ass.
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Wow, it's been 5 months and I still don't have my truck back. The guy that has been doing the conversion has been anal as hell. He worked on it so as to be proud that his name was on it and that is great.
However, the last couple of months, the wiring is KICKING HIS ASS. He got everything done except for a handful of wires and when he couldn't figure it out, he took it to a friend of his that works at the dealership that does electrical work. After two months, he's not much further ahead than he was. Soooooo, bottom line is, as much as I'd like my truck back, I want it done right and he has made an appt. with Predator to have them completely rewire it. It's been a pain and taking too long but in the end, I'd rather have him decide that the right thing to do is get someone that can fix it than mickey mouse it and ship it back because he's frustrated or just wanting to get it out of his shop. Predator can't do it for another week but they say it'll only be a few days once they start so now ya'll know as much as I do. Mark |
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Hi Mark, its been awhile thanks for the update. I don't think he will do any more Dmax hummer conv.
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Well, at least hes being up front and honest. Hes seeking the proper professional help and not passing it off and mickey mouseing it like you said. Hopefully with a bit more patience you'll be almost done and done right. 5 months now? Wow! Its been that long already. 5 months and no H2, I think id have to seek help. Id go stir crazy!:crying:
Is all this extra time and the trip to Predator going to cost you any extra? |
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Latest update... the truck has been at Predator for about 5 days...
Got a text saying he was going over there and finding out where we stand but as of yet, I know nothing. Mark |
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Nope.... thought I heard some bad stuff about that place... may be mistaken but I thought they were trouble.
Mark |
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