My suggestion, don't turn down even the VE pumps. Finding a good engine is very hard, and BTW I've been doing my own research and I'm discovering that there are ways to get a VE into the 500hp range. I'm shooting for 400hp, only because I'm afraid what will happen to my axles with massive (1000lb-ft+) torque and 44s. I wouldn't suggest propane. I'm learning that there have been reports of blown head gaskets while using propane on bombed engines (Something about the propane igniting before the diesel does, during the compression stroke)


There are a few custom adapters, that will allow you to mate a 203 to a 4500 or 5600, and this will allow for your doubler conversion, but then why would you need a doubler? A bombed Cummins will make 1000lb-ft of torque easy and at 1500 to 2300 rpms. You can easily run a 205, and your engine will still pull in high range where you'd have to use low range in a big block. In my truck I fully expect to run a mud pit using nothing but high range and still be able to spin the tires even in the thickest goo.


You won't be able to use engine vaccume to operate the brakes, because diesels do not create enough vaccume. The Cummins usually come with their own vaccume pump, a hydroboost should also work.

Ed

The only reason people blow head gaskets when using propane or nitrous is because they are using way too much.  Really propane should only be used if you are wanting to be more fuel efficient and get great mpg.  It is when people start tying to make more power with it and dump more propane in is when they start blowing head gaskets.

Instead of using propane and nitrous for power, there are many otherways to get power out of the cummins.

I like the 3rd gen motors, put in a 4" exhaust, full flow intake/filter setup and an edge comp and you are approaching 900 ftlbs of torque.  Add some injectors and you are over 1000lbs.

Another plus for the VE pumped motors is that the VE is capable of adjusting the fuel timing dynamically where (correct someone if I`m wrong) the P7100 pumps do not. Basically what that boils down to is better driveability,emissions and cold startup (?did I just say the "E" word??), thats one of the main reasons Cummins went to the VP44 pumps on the 24 valver`s. And don`t knock the power potential of a VE, 400hp is doable but a bit of a stretch but 300-350 is attainable AND easy on #2 alone, .e.g, injectors,intake&exhaust, and some pump tweaks and youll be needing some trans upgrades just to handle it (thats where I`m at now  ), if you REALLY want, 500 is possible with drugs(water/meth or N2O, I`d shy away from propane). In fact there is a guy on "another" diesel only board running right at about 500 on #2 alone with a VE pump.Have to remember that if your "only" making 300-350 your also making probably 700 lb. ft or MORE torque. I put the POD`s in and tweaked the pump last weekend and now the thing will blow right thru the converter...I have found the next weak link....sigh....... Before you buy anything we have to have another Hooter`s meet and I`ll take ya for a spin, you might be surprised, I know i was the first time I nailed it after the injectors and pump work . I never thought something that big could move like that, and it`s in the bottom half of the "bombed" scale, I would love to get a ride in something totally tweaked...must be scary,lol. Like RXT said, don`t turn down a good motor just because it`s a VE, IMHO .

As I'm understanding it propane burns at a different rate than diesel. As such, it tends to ignite sooner. On a stock engine power can be increased with propane. As I'm learning, propane on a bombed engine can cause big troubles when you include pumping in huge volumes of air and fuel.

With alot of tuning you can reach 1500lb-ft of torque. Thats about what some of the small semi engines produce.

Ed

Speaking of torque, remember Mohammad's truck?  Well, Mo didn't advertise it much, but he was sorta accident-prone.  Or at least found himself in predicaments.  Well, one time he was over at a buddy's house and they were doing somthing which required the hood open, Mo under the truck, and the buddy to start it and turn the wheel to readjust the steering angles.

Well, seems the buddy forgot it was in gear (2nd) on one of the startups and jumped out as he released the clutch.  The truck lurched forward, Mo shot out from underneath without harm, and the truck continued forward into the buddy's garage.  The open garage door cleaned the open hood off the truck as it went in, then the driverless truck, at idle, proceeded to push the buddy's mom's '57 Chevy out through the back wall of the garage, taking the washer and dryer with it out into the back yard.

The truck never did stall, but came to a halt inside the garage with its rear tires spinning on the concrete garage floor till Mo jumped in and killed it.

So, my guess would be no doubler required.

OK so I will put the doubler on Hold For Now

diesels dont make ANY vaccum, man.

i said diesels, smart-ass. a vacuum pump, last i checked, doesnt qualify as a diesel engine.

It is also not very smart to act like a jerk to a well respected member of this board, who btw is an admin.

He simply stated that vaccum is present by the vaccum pump.  You response is like saying a cummins doesn't make boost. 

Definitely don't knock the VE pump, we have a guy around here that has a first gen that got over 600 rwhp with no drugs.  I don't know what you, personally,  woudl use 600 hp for, but the swap would be alot easier if you stuck to the first gens and coudl find a complete truck and then jsut move everything over from one to the other.  Not to say that you don't need 600 hp, but that brings with it an insane amount of torque, and that's what breaks stuff. Especially if you're thinkin of a doubler. JMO, CC

Not tryin to flame your idea at all, I hope to do exactly what you are thinkin about doing, just after pharmacy school, which blows.  Mopar to ya man, and I hope you succeed, can't wait to hear about it and see some pics. CC

VE Pumps Rule, heck anyone can make big #`s by installing a plate or some type of box (no offense to any of you that have done so J/K), but for someone to crack 600 with a VE...on #2 alone is purty darned cool.