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

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

Good luck Mark!
Hope you get that b*tch back soon:clapping:

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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!

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

Good Luck!!!! Hope it all works out

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

*waiting patiently*

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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.

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

if they were a team of experts they would get it done much faster, A conversion isnt easy, but it can be done in 2 weeks without any rush.

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

:iagree:

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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.

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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!

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

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

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

It woulda been alot quicker and probably cheaper to just buy an existing modified diesel h2 :(

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

Quicker... YES

Cheaper.... NOT A CHANCE

;)


Mark

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

[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!

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

[quote=twr]
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

Re: Duramax conversion update....
 

Hi Mark, i do remember and your doing the right thing doing your truck. GET THAT HD DONE.