4d55 swap into an 87?

[Lamb50]

Hey y'all- newbie here.

I rebuilt the 4d55 in my 85 d50 - lots of blood sweat and cash- now the body and electrical is starting to crap out. I see quite a few 86 and after gas trucks out there for cheap- but I think thoses years had 4d56s, right? How difficult is it to make a 4d55 go into one of those 2nd gen trucks?

[pennyman1]

No american trucks saw a diesel after 85; your're better off fixing what you got unless its total trash. Cabs can still be found and check with mike warne on here for all parts especially diesel - he has 3 of them and is very knowledgeable on these trucks. He will tell you to fix it also, its worth the most that way.

[DavetheDude]

I put a 4d55 in a 89 4X4. The diesel bolted right up to the 5 spd trans that formerly was behind a 2.6L gas. If you had the complete donor truck it would be even easier.

[mopartechnician]

I got a 2wd 84 mitsu that I would sell real cheap with engine and everything, truck is really strait and has minimal rust. Only reason I am selling it is because the cylinder walls are scored and I don't have the money right now to fix it so I would rather get what I bought it for and buy something that I can actually drive.

[Lamb50]

Thanks for the replies! It sounds like I might be able to go either way- there is a real decent looking '87 4x4 gas truck with a bad tranny nearby for $500 - the problem with mine is that it's got a lot of cancer in the bed and rear frame, as well as the floor. I thought about just making it into a flatbed and going at the frame with some plate steel and a welder, but it might be easier, cheaper and less time consuming to try and put the motor in the '87- I'd be interested in hearing/seeing more about that 84 as well, if you are somewhere in the midwest....

[DavetheDude]

If you are going from a 2wd to a 4wd the pan will have to be changed or modified to go over the front differential. The 4wd one needs a little 'dent' in it. If what you have now is a 4wd then you would have no problems.

[wrngwae]

i put my 4d55 into an 87 raider. auto trans it can be done if you stay manual it is a direct bold as long as you get a wide block trans......now the oil pans are different from 2wd to 4wd......so be careful you can get either just make sure you got the right one b4 you try and install it ....

[mikewarme]

I got a 2wd 84 mitsu that I would sell real cheap with engine and everything, truck is really strait and has minimal rust. Only reason I am selling it is because the cylinder walls are scored and I don't have the money right now to fix it so I would rather get what I bought it for and buy something that I can actually drive.

Where are you located?

[mikewarme]

Hey y'all- newbie here.

I rebuilt the 4d55 in my 85 d50 - lots of blood sweat and cash- now the body and electrical is starting to crap out. I see quite a few 86 and after gas trucks out there for cheap- but I think thoses years had 4d56s, right? How difficult is it to make a 4d55 go into one of those 2nd gen trucks?

Unless you plan on never selling it, go with a swap into an original diesel truck 4wd or 2wd. BIG BIG diffrence in value on the market. $2000-$2500 max on a swap truck or 3000.00-8000.00 on an original diesel truck depending on weather its a 2wd or 4wd and if it is in decent shape and not all Mickey moused.

Find a replacment, trust me its worth it. Trucks on craigslist all the time. You might just have to go a little distance to get it.

[mopartechnician]

I am in western nebraska, I will get some pictures either tues or wed, if it doesn't snow. Then I will start a new thread.