NEWER SUV DURAMAX 6600 CONVERSION
Does anyone offer a written guide for one of these conversions? I have heard they are a relatively easy conversion, but I would prefer some sort of written and photographic guidance. Many conversions I’ve seen online were poorly done, and I have no interest in that. It would be going into a Suburban/tahoe/ Yukon/h2 of the '00-'10 range most likely.
I am a former Ase-certified Master Technician, but I have been out of the business for a long time and really want a quality converted vehicle. I greatly appreciate any guidance you can provide!
Thanks, Bryan Turner Via Email Hi Bryan,
I’m not aware of a guide or set of instructions to complete a newer SUV conversion. That said, converting a Suburban/tahoe/yukon/h2 using a same-model-year engine/transmission from a Duramax-equipped pickup truck donor is, like you mentioned, comparatively easy. People have been doing it since the early 2000s. The SUV will need a 2-inch body lift and the radiator core support from the pickup truck donor. The combination of body lift and donor core support should produce an engine-driven fan that is centered in the factory diesel fan shroud. If you’re considering a '99-'07 GMT-800 SUV, I’d swap just about everything diesel-related from the matching model year donor, including dash wiring harnesses and the instrument panel gauge cluster, all electronic modules, steering column, and under hood harnesses/electrical center. Trying to mix/match systems and wiring can actually drag out the time required to complete a conversion, and the result may not be of the quality you’re looking for or as functional as you hope. You’ve got to be committed when you begin because there may be no way back. It’s sort of like the Spanish explorers who burned their ships after landing in the new world. They had to be committed to the mission. I completed a professional-looking Duramax/allison pickup truck conversion back in 2004. I began the conversion in the middle of 2002, but it wasn’t until I became fully committed to the build that it came together. I needed to strip/replace almost all of the truck’s original wiring and dash, and that was what stalled the work. Having no possibility of going back actually helped drive the conversion forward. Good luck.