Can different class 8 engines fit in different trucks

Hi I have a k-100 1984 and I’m looking to try to update the engine so later I don’t need to worry about fuel emissions. I would be thankful if anyone could give me info on things of the sort or anything about the truck I should know.

 

Yes, other engines can go into other chassis. If you are looking to upgrade a K100 to a modern emissions legal engine, you might as well forget it. You will need a complete wiring harness, you'll need an ECM for that engine, figure out where you are going to stick the DPF exhaust system, figure out where your DEF tank is going to go and in the end spend enough money to just flat out buy an emissions legal truck. On top of that, jamming all of that under a cabover is going to be virtually impossible.

 

It'll be a nightmare to try and do that. Do you run cali?

 

I wouldn't go to the expense of putting a modern engine and aftertreatment system on that truck. I'd just run it as is until the time comes where you either are forced to put a modern engine in or retire the truck.


Yes you can drop a modern engine in but its going to have to be a custom job and it'll cost $$$$$

 

Not to mention the reliability of a modern day engine is pathetic compared to what that truck left the factory with in '84. You could probably rebuild whatever engine you currently have in that truck for the same as a couple emission system failures on a modern engine (if you include downtime).

 

I think the biggest problem with putting in a motor that matches current emissions standards is that they will probably change the standards or the technology will change.

Dropping in an electronic cat wouldn't be terrible if you had some donor parts. Its been done a lot

 

Why don't you post this from your original account?

 

Probably they forgot their password.

The easier thing to do instead of swapping a engine in? Buy a truck that has a destroyed body. Take your cab and mount it to the frame. Oh and easier is only relevant in that the headaches of figuring out all the wiring and emissions is in place. It isnt easy at all to do a custom job like what your trying to do. People that do swaps have been doing them for a long time. Yet you have to start somewhere.

 

If it had a Cummins in it In 1984 the radiator will not work with anything other than the same low flo Cummins. You may have to add a custom radiator to the list. I do not know 100% if the early K100 coe’s radiator crossed with any of the wide hood conventional trucks. The K100E had the same size radiator as the w900 in the late 80’s.

If you put a repower in it try to stay ‘99 and older. No extra electronics other than the box on the side of the block. And no extra emissions bs.

The next few years may be interesting and we in the vintage truck hobby outside of cali are preparing to get leaned on pretty hard.

 

It can be done, it's about 40 to 50 k and a lot of time.