Well, I have had a couple of 1st gen Camaros for several years and I have had lots of plans for them, that have come and gone. Well I have decided to install a 2004/5 LLY Duramax in my caged up Camaro. I want to make a driver. One that I can keep a small tire and a stock rear end setup. It doesn't have to be a track-queen, but does need to be fast. I have the engine and it has most of the wiring harness as well as the PCM and TCM and some other control boxes. It is a complete engine with 80,000 miles.
The Car is a stock 68 Camaro without any mods except a 10 point cage.
There is another Camaro that lives in my town that has a LBZ in it and it is Bad To The Bone. I'm not going down that trail just yet. He has let me look at some of the things that must be done to get the Duramax to cradle up in the 1st gen but he has a track/street car and I need some different info for this build. HERE GOES

1st I'm going to use a TH400 tranny out of a 68 truck. What will I need to go to get it to hold that much torque and what torque converter for a street driver?

2nd I would like it to get some pretty good fuel mileage so I'm looking for a gear that will keep the RPM"S down in the correct area when I'm running 80 mph?

3rd I want to use the serpentine belt system, so I can keep A/C and power steering. What other item can I remove to clean up the engine?

4th Will the 04/05 computer work and what mods will it require? If not what is the best computer to use.

5th If you know of some good websites that will assist in this build; please post them! I know of some good ones; but, I hate it when someone says "why didn't you look at so and so web site" so please list what you can. When I'm done I will post picks and info for other d-max junkies.

6th If you know of other things I will need to do please feel free to let loose! Thanks DIESEL DREAMERS

1. This has been debated before. Non-lockup converter and all. I'm sure it could be made to work but you are going to want a really high geared set-up for the rear. No OD on the 400 seems to be the deal breaker for a driver. I know the NX 'Stang is running a 4L8XE and seems to work just fine. I would go that route if it were me.

2. See above for 400 concerns. What rear do you have? What's highest ratio you can get and still put a locker or G80 on?

3. What emission package is on your LLY? The only thing you could remove would be the pump if it has it.

4. Yes, EFI Live to tune it and most of the harness so you can run the OBDII into the cab.

5. There really are plenty of sites out there. PPE has a harness. Trans is a whole other beast so I won't lead you down a bad road.

6. A stock LLY with EFI Live will be a monster in that little Camaro. Is the cage all tied to reinforce the subs? Do you have a plan to deal with the weight of the DMAX?

I have 4 th400 laying around that's the real reason I would like to go that rout. I have a 12 bolt rear end with a 3.73 pos . The cage is not tied to the sub frame but it does have sub frame connectors. I didn't see a smog pump. I plan on running big block springs to help out on the weight.

I understand. Having one laying around makes it awfully tempting.

What tires are you planning on running? I will work the numbers and see what gears you need to run at 80 and still sip #2.

I'm thinking of running 275/40R20. Stock 2010 camaro wheels and putting some 16 inch dr for the track.

With 3.73s 80 will have you at right at 3500RPM; not very realistic. With 3.08s 80 will be at 2900RPM; still not very realistic. 3.08 was the highest ratio I could find for your rear. Time to look at an overdrive. A 0.78 OD with 3.08 will have you at 80 spinning 2235 RPM; just right.

I think I'd lose the 12 bolt, and put in a 9 inch or a dana 60. Breaking an axle is a real possibility with the 12 bolt, and then your wheel goes bye bye. There are lots of ratios available for the 9, including below 3:1. I'd also be concerned with the stock subframe. The Duramax is 3 or 4 hundred pounds heavier than a big block, so you will need more than just bigger springs.

I have a 9 inch laying in a barn. what is the lowest gear that ford put in them. As for the weight of the Duramax, it fit really nice in another Camaro and it had a stock front end. I'll look into some heaver springs. Thanks

The hang up with a any stock trans it that it will not live with 500+ torque. If you had it built to take the power yes the 400 would work. You would also have to get a really tight custom torque converter cause there is no piont in having any kind of stall with a lite car and a low RPM motor. third gear being 1:1 you need some big tall tires and some free way gears for sure. The Ford 9 inch is the best bet, they make direct bolt in for that year car too (FAB-9). I would be carefull looking at the 4L80E or a 700R4 overdrive tranny. There Big money and they will break even with a good build. You might look into a bigger turbo if you have the funds, the power increases are pretty good. Your just going to need EFI Live and someone who can help you tune it when the time comes. OO and get the biggest radiator that will fit in the car to deal with all the heat, it's a must. Lastly go take a look at any drive line in any HD truck cause your going to need one just like it!!:D

Thanks D-Bay Runner I plan on having a 400 built to handle the torque. and I have a 08 HD with a DuraMax and I know what is under the hood. Do you know of any part numbers on the radiator or web sites ?

I have a 9 inch laying in a barn. what is the lowest gear that ford put in them. As for the weight of the Duramax, it fit really nice in another Camaro and it had a stock front end. I'll look into some heaver springs. Thanks

2.80:1, I believe.

I am guessing you will be doing a lot of fab work anyway, is there anyway you could cram the allison in there with some modifications to the tunnel? If you are going to buy a donor truck you would probably get both and it might make the computer wiring a bit easier

I think the Allyson Tranny pan will gang down too low. The oil pan on the d-max will have to have a couple of quarts removed but i don't think the tranny will allow that.

I'm in the process of putting a dmax in my '67 rs camaro. I have a chassisworks front subframe for it and the engine crossmember is nice and low, but not quite low enough that it will fit under a hood. I'm going to need to recess my firewall to tuck it back further and also cut the oil pan. After that, piece of cake.

I would forget about the allison. I'm planning on running a 47re with a manual valve body. The 47re's are OD autos that came in '96 to '02 (I think...) cummins diesels. They can handle A LOT of torque for not too much money IMO. You can also look at a duraflite, which is a 47re built by suncoast as a replacement for the allison.

I just got done puting a dmax in my 69 C10. I know its not a camaro but I ran into alot of the same problems you are running into. I went with the Dana 61 rearend yes a Dana 61. it is the same as a Dana 60 but they will take a 2.72-1 all the way up to a 3.42-1. I looked into the Ford 9" but everyone I talked to said to use the Dana. I had custom axles and spool made by strange and used the 3.00 gear it came with from the junk yard. Everything ended up costing $1100 with out the disc brakes. The brakes were another $400.

Cool, I have 3 C10's and I think if this build turns out good I will start on on one of them next. Did you have to cut the cross member? And did the Allyson fit worth a damn?

Look at my pictures in my garage. I had to move the fire wall all the way back to the dash just were the engine sat back. I had to bring the trans tunnel all the way up to my middle seat but everything fits nice. Everything has worked out well with the truck. The only problem I have had is ripping the rear calipers off the rearend trying to build boost at the starting line at the track.

Look at my pictures in my garage. I had to move the fire wall all the way back to the dash just were the engine sat back. I had to bring the trans tunnel all the way up to my middle seat but everything fits nice. Everything has worked out well with the truck. The only problem I have had is ripping the rear calipers off the rearend trying to build boost at the starting line at the track.

Jusus you truck is amazing. You are my hero!! What was your total investment if you dont mind me asking? This is now my dream truck.

I don't want to hijack this thread. When I get some time I will start one on my truck. Thanks for the comments.

I don't want to hijack this thread. When I get some time I will start one on my truck. Thanks for the comments.

I understand man. Let me know when you get one done.

Is your dad a TV Repair man? That truck rocks! Now i have another sleepless night. :)

No he is not a t/v repair man. Where did that come from? This has been my dream truck for a long time and I came across a bus chassis with a duramax in it so I started to build this project. It took 1200 hours and seven months from start to finish.

It came from the movie Fast Times At Ridgemont High and it lookis like you spent alot more time than that!

wil read more later...I thought a beefed duramax into a 65 Chev Impala ...23 posts to go!!:)