Are Diesel Swaps Worth it in 2026?
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Company
DFC diesel
This is the name of the company behind the podcast. Since the show is about diesel swaps, it probably has something to do with building or supporting diesel-conversion projects.
Concept
diesel conversions
A diesel conversion is when you change a vehicle so it runs on a diesel engine instead of its original engine. It usually takes more than just swapping the engine—you have to make the fuel system and electronics work too.
Concept
common rail engine
A common-rail diesel is a modern type of diesel engine where fuel is pressurized and delivered to the injectors in a controlled way. People like it because it usually runs smoother and can make more usable power.
Concept
heavy equipment
Heavy equipment is the big construction machinery used to dig and move dirt. Diesel engines are common in these machines because they’re built to work hard for long periods.
Term
diesel's grunt
People call it a diesel’s “grunt” when the engine sounds and feels like it’s pulling with force, especially at low speeds. It’s part of what makes diesels popular for heavy work.
Term
injectors
On a diesel engine, injectors are like the fuel “sprayers.” They control how much fuel goes in and when, so the engine can burn it cleanly. If they’re not right, the engine can run rough or not start well.
Term
diagnostics
Diagnostics is how a mechanic figures out what’s actually causing a problem. Instead of guessing, they check the vehicle’s data and run tests to find the real fault.
Term
diagnostic code
When something goes wrong, the truck’s computer saves an error code. Mechanics use that code to figure out what part or system is causing the problem.
Part
NP 205 transfer case
The NP205 is a transfer case that sends power to both axles. People like it in swaps because it’s built tough and can handle a lot of power.
Term
TPS signal
TPS means throttle position sensor. If that sensor signal goes bad, the engine computer may not know how much power you’re asking for, and the truck can lose power or get stuck in a safe mode.
Concept
diesel swaps
A diesel swap means taking a gas (or different) engine out of a vehicle and putting a diesel engine in its place. It’s not just “bolt in and go”—you have to match a bunch of systems so the truck can run reliably.
Term
6-0 12-ounce swaps
It sounds like they’re talking about a specific type of swap they did a lot, but the exact engine names got garbled in the transcript. The takeaway is that they had a common, repeatable swap setup.
Term
common rail harness
A common rail harness is the wiring kit that helps a common-rail diesel engine work in a different vehicle. It’s designed to match the engine’s sensors and connections so you don’t have to wire everything from scratch.
Term
adapter plates
Adapter plates are the brackets that make two parts fit together in a swap. They help the engine and transmission connect correctly so everything lines up and works.
Term
turbos
A turbocharger helps the engine make more power by pushing extra air into it. The idea is to plan your build so the engine can handle more power later, not just immediately.
Concept
tuning
Tuning is changing the engine’s settings so it runs the way you want. People often start with a safer tune first, then upgrade later as they add supporting parts.
Term
VE pump
A VE pump is an older-style diesel fuel pump that meters fuel mechanically. People talk about it in swaps because it’s usually less electronics than newer systems, but it still needs to be in good shape.
Concept
education
They’re saying the best part of doing a diesel swap isn’t just the finished truck—it’s learning how it all works. That knowledge helps you handle issues if anything comes up.
Term
plasma tables
A plasma table is a machine that cuts metal with a super-hot electrical arc. Fabricators use it to make custom metal parts quickly and accurately.
Term
rebuild an engine
An engine rebuild is when you take the engine apart and replace worn parts so it runs like it should again. It’s more than a quick fix—it’s restoring the engine’s internal health.
Term
remanufactured engines
A remanufactured engine is an engine that’s been rebuilt and brought back to a set standard. It’s usually a safer bet than buying a random used engine because it comes with testing and a warranty.
Concept
ISO 9001 2015 standards
ISO 9001 is a quality standard that companies use to prove they have consistent processes. Here, it’s being used to suggest the reman engines are built with controlled quality steps.
Term
warranty
A warranty is the guarantee that if something goes wrong, the company will help cover repairs. With swaps, having warranty coverage can reduce the risk if the engine isn’t right.
Company
fast fuel systems
Fast Fuel Systems makes add-on fuel filters/water removers for diesel trucks. The goal is to keep the fuel cleaner so the engine’s fuel system doesn’t get damaged.
Concept
do it in stages
Doing it in stages means you don’t finish the whole swap at once. You can start with the basics, get it running, and then add the rest later.
Concept
thousands of dollars sucked into a truck that still isn't operational
This is the nightmare scenario: you spend a lot of money and the truck still won’t work. Swap projects can cost more than expected when things don’t get sorted out the first time.
Concept
reputable shops
A reputable shop matters because a diesel swap is complicated. The right shop helps prevent surprises and makes sure the truck actually works after the work is done.
Term
power steering pump
The power steering pump is what helps your steering feel lighter by pushing fluid through the system. In a swap, its location can become a clearance problem, so builders may change brackets or pumps.
Term
wiring
In these swaps, wiring is the electrical work that makes the engine talk to the truck. It’s a big job because there are lots of sensors and connections that have to match up correctly.
Car
Volkswagen Jetta
They’re saying the diesel engine they used originally came out of a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. The donor car is important because it affects what parts you get “for free” when doing the swap.
Concept
daily driver
A daily driver is the vehicle you rely on for everyday commuting and errands. The speaker’s point is that once the daily driver is sorted, it’s easier to take on a bigger project like building an “ultimate truck.”
Concept
kit
A “kit” is a pre-planned bundle of parts for the swap. Instead of guessing what you need, the kit helps you get the right pieces so the conversion is more straightforward.
Company
Patreon
Patreon is a website where fans can financially support a creator on an ongoing basis. The hosts are giving a shout-out to people who help keep the podcast running.
LIVE
Welcome to the diesel podcast presented by DFC diesel.
Jeremy, welcome to the diesel podcast.
I'm looking forward to chatting with you,
learning about diesel conversions.
I've been getting not a few guests recently
that have done them and they have questions.
So I think it's going to time really well
with things they're asking.
And then I look forward to learning more about, you know,
you and the company and doing conversions.
So welcome to the podcast.
Thank you.
Thank you, Patrick.
Great, great for the invite.
Appreciate it.
And yeah, looking forward to hopefully answering
some some questions that your viewers might have.
And hopefully we can open them up a little bit.
I think when we talked a bit beforehand,
we were discussing like the price of a new truck
and what they cost versus finding that one that you always had
that you always kind of loved or you always wanted to, you know,
have in your driveway, but you want to be able to add power to it
or add, you know, a common rail engine or we go back really old school
and just talk about some some cool dent sides or bump sides
and doing some power strip swaps.
But I think it's that ability to build exactly what you want
that people are really interested in.
And so I wanted to start with like you, where did your where's your interest
in I think diesel in general, but then also specifically on the conversion side?
Where'd that come from?
Yeah, absolutely.
So I've always I've always found myself
working more blue collar, blue collar positions everywhere I've been.
And I always liked like seeing what I built at the end of the day.
So there was a lot of times when I was after high school,
I poured concrete for a living and I would
I'd be able to stand back at the end of the day
and you just witness what you created or helped or helped build.
And as I, you know, pour in concrete, roofing,
always more in the construction, construction industry.
As time progressed, I found myself running heavy equipment.
So that's where I kind of where I got the diesel bug from is is operating
that heavy equipment.
So you're sitting in a cat excavator, pulling, you know,
two or three yard bucket and getting big old hogs of dirt out of the ground
and listening to those diesel's grunt.
And that's kind of that's kind of where where I where I had got my attraction from.
And then I just I have an inability to sit still,
as you'll probably view as we continue this podcast.
So sitting in an excavator didn't didn't quite cut it for me.
I wound up gravitating towards the shop.
And, you know, we'd get bad weather.
We were in Nebraska doing that.
So once once the weather hit, you were in the shop making those repairs
and and getting those getting those excavators and and scrapers
and things of that nature running right again.
And so as I started doing that, I just I really that really peaked my interest
and and the fundamentals of the operations of those engines
replacing the injectors.
I remember replacing the injectors for the first time on an engine
and forgetting forgetting the copper washer that goes in there first
and didn't run right when I finished it up and you step back and boy,
you learn a lot from those those experiences.
And and I still learn a lot every day.
And I just yeah, I just enjoy that aspect of it.
You'll you'll never learn at all.
And I and I and that's where kind of where the diesel bug got me.
So when you were when you got bit by that and you thought
like, do you remember the moment where you thought, I think I want to do this.
I think I want a business and want to focus my career on the diesel industry.
And then my follow up to that is going to be, OK,
there's a couple of different directions you could go, right?
Like you could have a repair shop and do maintenance or even builds.
But then conversions are like their whole separate,
their whole separate thing, which we'll get into here in a little bit of what they take.
But what do you remember the moment where you thought,
this is what I want to do the direction I want to go?
Yeah, yeah, I'll progress that further for sure.
So then after I ran the heavy equipment, got in the shop,
started working more in the shop.
We moved kind of towards the Fargo Fargo area.
So we moved from from Nebraska over to Fargo and there
my wife was teaching at a university and we had two little kids and I said,
you know, this is this might be my chance to kind of go back to school
and and learn a little bit more and educate myself.
So I really felt like I felt like I felt like all the pieces of the puzzle.
I felt like they were all laid out in front of me.
Right. There are all these pieces.
And and when I went back to school for it, you know, I spent those two years.
I went back and it's like all the pieces got put together
and all the things, all the little sections that I had that were separate.
But I knew a little bit about this and I knew a little bit about that.
All of that got put together and it was it was I learned so much
because I'd already been engrossed in it for a few years prior to.
So I did I did school during the day and I worked full time at night
at a at a the Volvo, Volvo truck, truck shop.
And I learned a lot there as well.
But I learned that.
You you're doing diagnostics and you're you're able to make repairs.
But a lot of it is is kind of laid out in front of you.
You get a you get a diagnostic code and then you you go through
the diagnostic trouble tree to find your answer.
And and then you change that part.
And you do fix the truck many times over.
Like you you are able to make that repair.
But it was it was still lacking something.
And you didn't have that.
Like I said, I could step back and I could say, OK,
I poured this concrete pad today.
I was lacking that I was lacking that like fulfillment of of creating
something or building something.
I was I was making something.
What it was before it showed up.
And so my my father-in-law had own own diesel conversion specialist,
Dennis Goble, and and before I knew it, I was I was doing conversions.
And that's where that's where you really find you really find that fulfillment.
If you like to build things, if you like to create,
you get that you get that with these conversions.
And it's something that it's harder to find every day,
especially when you go in these diesel shops and work with these other mechanics
and and you're working side by side and you're wind up.
You're just trying to get them back on the road.
You're trying to to get it to the next load,
taking care of getting that truck to the to the next delivery station.
Well, this is an opportunity to make something and create something
and something unique that that nobody else necessarily has.
So yeah, that's where that's where I enjoy.
I enjoy the diesel world and and why why we why we do the conversions for us anyway.
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It's really interesting how you talked about with the the construction background,
the start and the stop being able to stand back and see what you created
and then do it in this.
And when you had mentioned that, I thought back to like when I was in college
working like in the in the trades and doing stuff, that's exactly what I loved.
I had a start and stop and I could look at something that I completed verse
later on, like way before I started the podcast.
It wasn't about that.
It was like there was no there was no finality to a project.
They just kind of kept rolling on and it was really hard for me to identify with that.
And I think with trucks, it does provide that start,
the process and then a finish.
And there's a finished product there.
And so that really kind of hit me right in the right in the experience
that I had going through life and trying to find my way was was that.
And I think I think with with trucks, it it provides a lot of value.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
And there's there's been many bills that I've done and you just step back
and you're like, you know, it's it's it is a it is a work of art when you're done
with it. It's so unique.
I was riding with with my son not that long this last summer.
And we have this we have this big crew cab truck, this big crew cab Chevy truck.
And I've got I threw a 12 valve in that truck.
And then just to see if I could do it, I put a 6L 90 in it.
Right. So it's got this this 6L 90 transmission, not very often used in the conversion world.
But hey, when you're when you're tinkering, you find yourself in those kind of positions
where it's like, maybe I should try this.
So so I did is a 6L 90.
And then I threw a NP 205 transfer case behind it.
So yeah, you know, that hard, like go get her cast iron transfer case behind it.
And we're going down the road and then something something didn't go right with that truck.
Right. So we wound up being on the side of the road.
We lost like a TPS signal or something like that, where it just lost power and it couldn't move.
And here's this here's this, you know, this 12 valve that should run in any any regards.
And then this transfer case that should be the same.
And in between there, you have a technical 6L 90 transmission and Levi, my son,
he was just like, oh, man, it's so frustrating.
It's like we have this cool truck and now we're sitting on the side of the road.
And I said, Levi, no, nobody else has done this.
And so this is a completely unique piece of machinery that nobody else has.
And we built it and we're trying it and we're seeing if it works.
And it's not always going to go right because none of this was meant to be together.
So so it's just fun, you know, once you open up the door to that that way of thinking,
boy, it can be a lot more fun and a lot less frustrating.
So that's that's the part with conversions where like with some of them,
I think they've been done enough times that people kind of know what they need to do.
But like you'd mentioned being at the Volvo, the truck shop and how they had like the tech
tree to diagnose things. This is just from the outside looking at I've never done a conversion.
I've seen a few of them. But to me, it seemed like there wasn't as much of a tech tree to go
through because there's so many choices people have. Like, do you want a 12 out? Do you want a
common rail? What transmission do you want behind it? Do you want a Duramax? Do you want a power
stroke? What kind of vehicles are going in there? So many variables. As far as your approach to
conversions, do you try to? I don't want to say incorporate a tech tree because I don't think
you can. But just have it be more repeatable and try the different things like you just
mentioned with that build. So if you have a customer one day that says, I want to do this,
you've already done it, you know, the wiring schematic, all that kind of stuff.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. The company itself has, they were doing super duties,
common super duty swaps. I mean, in the early 2000, the original owner of the company,
I think he, I think he recorded doing his first one and it's like 2001, 2002-ish.
My father in law, when he took over diesel conversion specialists,
that's when they were doing largely the 6-0 12-ounce swaps at that junction of the company. But
once he took over, we started dabbling with the 6-4s. And when that happened, you come
across tons of issues, tons of problems. And the software wasn't catching up yet.
The transmission tuning wasn't near as what it is today. So you learn so many things going
through that. And there's a lot of growing pains. There's embarrassing times. But what we kind of
have now, boy, it takes a lot of questions out of those customers, just having our background
and knowledge of the components and the swaps. Our harnesses, they're all made here. And we've been
doing it for quite a while. So they're a good product by the time it gets to a customer. Usually,
we have things pretty dialed in. So yeah, as far as taking some of those mysteries out,
we've done a lot of them. What would you say, like you'd mentioned the 6-0 and the 6-4 being
popular at a certain point in time? And what's really coming out? Like, well, what are some
vehicles or projects customers or potential customers call you guys with that maybe catch
off guard or you think, oh, that's going to be really cool. Or this is going to be a challenge.
Yeah. Yeah. So for the most part, we haven't, like your 6-4 trucks are still, they're still
a challenge at times. But that's about as new as we go, for the most part. We were largely
trying to fix a problem there that they were having with those 6-4 trucks. And we did it
fairly successfully. As far as like cool builds that people are doing, I like seeing guys go older
with their builds. We're seeing a lot more in that, I feel like. Mostly like common rails,
common rails going into older applications, all your dent sides or your square bodies,
like that's been really neat to see in our line of the industry. So we now make a standalone
common rail harness. And since we were, since we came out with that, it's been,
there's been a lot more push for those guys using them in different applications. So that's
where it's been fancy and seeing what people are putting them in. You know, you're putting them in
vans, you're putting them in the dent sides, they're putting them in, you name it, they're
throwing them in it. So it's pretty neat. It's been interesting with a couple of the last podcasts
I've done with people who've done conversions. And I ask them, like, what's the toughest part?
They both, and kind of really everyone I talk to, they usually say the electrical side,
like the harnesses and getting everything to work. And they're like, oh, I'm not looking forward
to doing that part. So I think to be able to see the solutions that you guys have really fills in
that void that's in the marketplace with it. Yeah, that's the, I mean, doing this for as many years
as diesel conversion specialists has been around. That's, that's what we're seeing, you know, what,
what's ringing, what's making the phone ring is, you know, and how do we, how do we solve those
problems for the customers? Because that's, that's, that's the hurdle. I mean, when these things are
out there on the road, I get excited. If I go to a show when I, and I see a truck there with a DCS
harness in it, I mean, that, that excites me. It's, it's fantastic to see, you know, and when you
hear one going down the road, you're like, oh, that's the comments. So when you catch that stuff,
it's, it's pretty neat. We'll go to a horse show. And there'll be a commons sticker sitting on a,
sitting on the, on the side of a, a 6-0 truck or a 6-4 truck. So, you know, it's, it's, it's making
those things run and useful that, that really inspires, inspires us to do better on the harness
side and, and all the other aspects of, of the builds as well.
I wanted to jump into that a little bit. And I think probably, I'm sure you guys get it all
the time. I used to like, when I'd go to trade shows or things or just truck events, somebody
would say, what's it take to put a commons in my, you know, where my 6-0 is or my 6-4 or something
like that. And for somebody who's thinking of that, they might not know all the different components.
And I'm sure, you know, we don't have to go through like nuts and bolts and washers and stuff
like that. But what should they think about? Like obviously the engine, but I'm sure there's
so much more between motor mounts, like cooler lines, adapter play, the flex play, you know,
what transmission you're going to run. But in general, what do we need to think about
as far as components we need to do an engine swap?
You know, as far as, yeah,
making that, I mean, on the onset, I would say,
know what vehicle, know what vessel you want for the engine is probably
one of the major components of it. So
don't just grab the first one available necessarily. Take your, take your time with that.
So because a lot of times a 6-0 truck, that was blown up five years ago, or a 6-4 truck,
that could have been blown up the same duration, right? And you don't know,
you don't know how it ended its life. What I seem to find with customers is they're just
make sure you pick the right vehicle for what you want to do to build. If you get one that's been
running, hey, that's great. The longer it sits, the more gremlins you might, you might wind up
having. So with that being said, next thing is like making sure it's what you're looking for
as far as like differential goes. A lot of those Fords came with, they went all the way from 355
gear ratio to 488s and even more extreme. Most common for like a F450, F550, you're looking at 430
or 488 gear ratios. Now you put a, you know, you put a VE pump, Cummins in front of that,
while your limitations on RPMs, you're probably looking at about 2,500 RPMs, you're starting to,
you're starting to notice it, it's starting to scream. So that's where they go, well, I can only,
I can only go 15 miles an hour, 55 miles an hour. So that it's being mindful of what you have on the
onset for that. With adapter plates, yeah, that's the next thing. Do you want an automatic? Do you
want a manual transmission? Like what's your preference and what'll make you the happiest?
We've had customers, they know they want a manual, they buy an automatic, but they already have their
heart set on a manual transmission. And two years later, they're throwing a manual transmission in
there. So yeah, it's just, if you're looking to build that dream truck, stay true to your dream
because more than likely you're going to want to make it that eventually anyway.
And I think that's even more important on a conversion, like when I talk with,
like say a company that builds turbos or something, they'll say, well, have a power number in mind,
and then, you know, it'll work now or you can grow into it, or same thing with like tuning or
injectors or something like that. But this seems way more intense because I need to think about
the truck that I want, whatever, or vehicle I should say, whatever vehicle it is. And then I
think you brought up a good point with how long has it been sitting because there's so much more
to it than just the engine you're putting into it, like, are you going to use the same transmission?
How long did it sit for? What about the axles? Like, you know, did it has been no maintenance
done on it? Like how did it end its time on the road and factoring that in, but then also picking
the right engine for it based on how you're going to use it, like, are you going to go common or
are you going to go 12 ever, are you going to do a power stroke, you know, and something, are you
going to do a Duramax? Like, what, what is it? I think, I think there's even more pressure on
somebody to make those decisions before they start to spend the money on it.
Yeah, yeah, there's pressure, but there's also opportunities. There's, there's,
there's such a good opportunity to learn when you're, when you're doing this build. In fact,
one of the, I was talking to one of my coworkers today and reflecting on the education that doing
a conversion provides you with. And I said, if, if I said, I've, I've gone to a diesel program
and it was like, you could, whatever you wanted to learn, there was the opportunity to learn that
there is, if you, if you just put your mind to it and we're receptive to listening to it, right?
And it was like most, most guys, they were going to pass, but you could really like, they weren't,
the teachers didn't not want to teach you. Boy, they really wanted you to know everything there
was about it. And with these conversions, I feel like, I feel like there's just as much education
in it because you are learning, you, you're, you're learning a VE pump. If just selecting an engine,
you go, well, what about, what about a, you know, what about the VE pumps? They're, they're pretty
good. Well, well here now you have a P pump and now you have the, you know, you go up the years and
you have the VP 44. Now what's, now what were those issues? What do, what do they like? What
do they not like? And then you go all the way into the common rail. So now you, now you're, now
you're entering an electrical, an electrical realm where, I mean, you're not just learning,
you're just not, you're not just learning how to fuel operates and what to feed it. You're,
you're learning, you're, you're darn near an electrical engineer by the time, by the time
it's all set and done, if you, if you so desired, I mean, you can, somebody else can do all of it
too, right? You can have it, you can have a shop do it as well, but the opportunity is there to
learn so much about these, about these conversions and just how everything operates for sure. We
see a lot of, we do see a lot of customers that are, that are like father, son, father, daughter
building, you know, combos, or I'll get a phone call and it'll be like, oh,
John is struggling with this. Like, can you, can you, can you help me? Like, my kid's only 16
and he's, and he's trying to build this. So could you, can you throw him a bone? Like, yeah, no
problem. It's under my way. We'll talk, we'll figure it out. Like, that's, that's, that's not a
problem at all. So, and that, and that, that brings joy to it too. So you're given, you know,
you're given, you're given people an opportunity to really build something cool and to really learn
a lot when you're doing it. So that's really, it's really cool and I think special in the diesel
industry is the education. I can tell you're passionate about it and you really want to see
somebody probably like with a customer you have, maybe they, you know, you get them a bunch of parts,
a bunch of the things they need, spend time with them, talk to them on the phone or emailing,
and then maybe they take a trip there. They're, you know, going through town and they say, hey,
let me show you the truck and you get to see how happy they are with what they created.
It probably provides that, like you talked about in the beginning, that finality of a project and
you get to see kind of the fruits of your labor and education right there in somebody else's
excitement. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And even, I mean, I'm sure, I'm sure you go to truck shows
and stuff too. And there's nothing that it's great to see all these builds and these vehicles.
But the ones that really get like, it's awesome when you see a young guy like build something or
young gal, build something cool, something unique, like they have their own, they're just building
it themselves. It's like, oh, like, awesome. Like, here's my card, give me a call. Let me know if
you need anything. Like, we'll help you through it. No problem. Like, let me know if you want to
put a comment in that. Well, you know, they got their fabricators, their builders, they have,
they have plasma tables they have access to. And the next thing you know, their trucks, their trucks
18 inches in the air higher than what it used to be. So yeah, it's fun to see for sure.
One of the things with like a podcast and talking about different topics,
it doesn't really get emotional really with anything except for
when I talk with somebody about a build and it's because people are so passionate and it ties
together like family or memories or friends or anything like that. And to me, those are always
the most powerful. And I think when I think of conversions, that's what I see a lot of that's
usually a truck and it's a body style that somebody has like an affinity or connection to.
And then they want to add something that has modern power or can have modern power or
whatever it might be. It's just this dream that they have. And I think
like diesel conversion specialists, everything you've told me so far, like you guys are kind
of at the apex of that. Like you're right there where like you're making dreams happen for people
that want to build these really cool things. Yeah, that's that's the idea. I mean, you know,
every time every time every time a customer calls and you know, we you finish up a tune and
he's and he takes it on the road and takes it for the first test drive. And if you if you've built
them, man, that's a nervous that's a nervous first go, right? But it's so it's so rewarding. It's
hard to describe like that that feeling, you know, when you if you rebuild an engine and you and
you're and you're you're turning that key for the first time, why you're you're listening,
there isn't a sound you're not aware of, right? Where you know, and it's exciting. And that's
and that's the joy we like, that's what we see in these customers when they get to that point too.
I mean, some of them there's hurdles to jump, you know, but but usually at the end of the day,
they they they have a pretty good product. So I think the way that also connects into like the
actual, the actual way of getting like doing this conversion is going to be in the parts,
right? Whether it's electrical, whether it's it's a different things I wanted to go through with you.
Like some different like vehicles that you guys support and different parts you guys have available,
like I've spent some time on the website over the years. And I know you guys have, you know,
different things. But for someone who's like thinking of a build like this right now, or they've
always dreamt of one or maybe they've got the truck in the engine, they're like, well, I need
these things, you know, can they take care of me? Can you run me through kind of the the product
overview of what you guys have to make these conversions happen? Yeah, so we've made it,
we put a lot of work and time and energy into our website to try to try to let all the customers
know like if you have this truck, and you're looking to put this engine in it, and you this
transmission, we tried to set it off so that when they when they click, when they build,
when they do their dream build, and they go through, they go through the selection,
we try to give them everything we believe that they will need to to accomplish that goal.
You know, and some customers will, you know, they'll select a few things. Some will buy
part or two at a time to make it happen. But at least it's an opportunity for us to say,
here's what you need. Like, now you can build it, right? Because there's always other people out
there making other things as well, which is great. Competition is wonderful, right? So, but at least
you have an opportunity to say, you know, this is this is what it takes. Most of our most of our
components, they'll have intercooler tubes and things of that nature too. As far as the super
duties go, I mean, if you're going through the kit builder, I mean, that's that puts you 90%
there. There's not much, there's not much else that's going to be, there's not much left to be,
you know, a mystery of shroud of mystery anymore. So, so super duties are definitely
diesel conversion specialists, like that's that's our that's been our bread and butter for
for many years. We also have GM products in there as well. Square, not some square body stuff,
a lot of IFS products as well. One of my first builds was a 99 crew cab
IFS truck with a 24 valve P pump Cummins. So with a 4L80 transmission. So there's kits like that
in there as well. So there's, there's, there's, there's some there's a flavor for everybody,
I feel like it's so as long as you make the selections. And if we don't have it, by all means,
give us a call. Like if it's something unique, we're answering the phone all day for customers
that and and we'll get you lined up with what we believe that you'll benefit from
under conversion, whether it be a standalone engine harness, or if you're looking to operate a
grid heater, or depending on how you're hooking up to your your cluster. So if we don't have it,
we usually know the sources that do. And we can we can kind of guide you in that sense as well.
So it's not, we just like to take some of that intimidation factor out of it. So
common question we get from you guys a lot is, Hey, I need a diesel engine. I either, you know,
I can't wait this long to get one or normal place I get stuff from it. It just takes too long or I
don't, they don't have the parts in it that I need. Maybe my truck's not stock or I tow heavy with it.
I don't want to go back with just a stock engine. DFC diesel is a sponsor of the podcast. We worked
with them, you know, hand in hand on doing episodes, answering technical questions.
They have a complete lineup of Cummins, Duramax and Powerstroke remanufactured engines that are set
to a standard of ISO 9001 2015 standards, which is a huge deal in the aftermarket. And there's
certain levels of quality testing validation that are required for that. So you know, when you get
one of those engines, the type of quality that's built behind it with an industry leading warranty,
that's really comprehensive. And you know, the other thing with that is, you know, sometimes
the options that are out there, it's just, it's a basic OEM engine. You want a little bit more.
You don't want to have the same failure again. So there's a bunch of different series of engines
that they have from core street tow haul and also the speed of air series, which we've covered on
the podcast before. There's a lot of really cool benefits to it. And if you have questions about
that, reach out to them. If you don't know the type of engine that you're looking for,
if you go to dfcdsell.com, there's a ton of info there. You can send an email
or you can reach out to them. Also, they're working with speed of air pistons, which it's
the only piston that pays for itself. And there's a lot of really cool technology behind it. So
you can add that into your build and be able to get better fuel economy, you know, increased power,
increased torque and better engine life out of it. Some of the most common engine applications
or series of engines that they have with that lead time, a lot of them are in stock or they have
really short lead times. So you can check your favorite retailer or go to dfcdsell.com,
check them out, see what's in stock, see what you can get. If you have questions, maybe you want
to do, you know, something that's outside of the normal series of engines, they have tons of choices
for rods, cranks, pistons, valve train upgrades, tons of different things. So if you're in the
market, definitely make sure and hit on over and check them out. Maximizing power, reliability,
and efficiency begins with clean diesel fuel. That's why fast fuel systems remove air and
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for your rig made right here in the USA. Visit fastride.com to find the perfect fuel system upgrade
for your truck. What was really cool is this last week I was doing a podcast. It hasn't aired yet,
but it's a guy who's doing a LLY Duramax swap on a 97 IFS truck. And after the podcast,
we're talking a little bit, and I said, Hey, I'm going to have diesel conversion specialists on
a podcast. And I know he really needs help with, I think some of the electrical stuff. So I, you
know, gave me your guys's info and everything, but it was really cool to see how like just doing
a podcast with somebody about this build related to, you know, a way that you guys, you know,
could help them. I was going to ask you with the like the kit builder, I think that's really cool
because that's probably, that's where I wouldn't know where to start. Like I might, I'd have the
truck picked out, I'd have the engine picked out, but I don't know what I need to make it work,
right? So with a like the kit builders, it's something where somebody can do it in stages,
like you'd mentioned, sometimes it's father, son, father, daughter, they're doing it in stages,
they can see, okay, this is everything I'm going to need, but this is where I'm going to start,
so they can kind of do it at their own pace. Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
It's, it's, it's fun, it's fun to let have, be interacting with these customers doing these
builds on at their own pace. It's, it's, it's pretty nice. You know, you, you wind up getting
them, there's a lot of customers where we wind up having, you know, they, the phone rings and
they're doing their build, they'll do their build for a few years long, right? And, and they do call
in, and then you wind up building the relationship with them. And, and that's pretty unique in this
industry as well, where we're able to have that opportunity. And we have enough knowledge base
that when they call, like, well, we have some pretty good ideas on what they should do, what they
want to do. And, and you, and you do wind up meeting some pretty neat people, like I said before, and,
and having those opportunities that get to know, get to know people that we've never, you never
would have, if you were, if you were renting in a shop necessarily every day, you see a few truck
drivers and stuff, if you get to the front area, but, but yeah, the phone rings with some pretty,
pretty excited people about their projects. So what would you say are the three biggest mistakes
that people can make when they're doing a swap? You might have touched on it a bit with maybe
picking the wrong truck or the wrong engine for it, but I was curious if you could expand on
what you've seen through your experience there. So somebody listening can avoid making that mistake.
Yeah. Some of the, some of the, I'd say some of the more painful things you see is
getting carried away, not, not, not being successful in the build, whether it be
from an unreliable shop, or just kind of getting in over their heads in that regard, where I mean,
next thing you know, they're, they're, they're thousands of dollars sucked into a truck that
still isn't operational. It's kind of like when you get, when you have somebody come in to redo
the kitchen and then they leave it half, halfway done. That's, that's probably the hardest thing
to see, I would say, in those regards. It's, it's something we try to, over the years, we've tried
to develop like a list of reputable shops. So when a customer calls us, like it's like, well,
no, we're not, we're not, we're not taking on a build, but hopefully we can steer them in a
direction where the shops that we're, we're recommending are, they're going to finish the
project and they're going to do a good job. You know, that's, well, I mean, it's just like given
the recommendation, you know, of a home builder, where it's like, no, that's, that's definitely
the most painful thing to see is, is that, is that lack of success or that abrasion there between,
between the shop and the customer. And then you'll get, you know, there'll be, there'll be three
shops in and the truck still isn't done type of situation. So, you know, if you're going to take
it to somebody, if you're not doing the conversion yourself, I mean, we, we work with individuals
building these trucks every day. Again, from a wide variety of skill sets, you know, they can be
16 year olds, they can be, you know, 80 year olds doing these builds and we work with all of them
and work through all that with them. But just if you're taking it to a shop, just be mindful of
where you're, where you're bringing it to. Make sure you make sure you know who you're shaking hands
with on that end. So hopefully they can get you a good product at the end of it.
That would be really helpful for, for me, if I was in the market to do a swap is to be able to
call you guys up and I'm getting parts from you guys and say, Hey, do you have anyone around?
Yes, this is where I live that you've worked with or within the state or something like that.
So that I avoid that kind of eternal project sitting someplace or I get it back and it's,
it's not finished. And now you have to try to fix it or get it to work and imagine there's a lot
of frustration with that. But I think that's a testament to the time that you guys have had
in the marketplace and the relationships with, with shops that you have. Yep. So that, that'd be,
that's one, if you're, if you want a second one, I would go with,
I'd say make sure like computers, like having, having your PCMs and ECMs
matching, make knowing that they're good. If you don't have that, like making sure your vehicle
is returned to stock on like a six-oh truck or a six-four truck, a lot of those vehicles have
been deleted. So, and, and not everyone has like the Ford IDS software, not everyone has the resources
to try to get a flashback to stock. And when you're, you have a tore apart in your shop or you
just got it back together, last thing you want to do is, is, is fight getting that, getting it,
you know, you want to turn that key and have something happen the first time. You just don't
want to just keep hitting that ends on it. So, so making sure on the onset, like having your, having
your vehicle flashback to stock so that when the conversion is through, when you hit that point
of where you're starting it, you are able to take it for a test drive. So those, those type of
situations are pretty nice when, when the customers, when the customers get that portion right,
things go smoothly for sure. So that and, and knowing the health of the truck before you,
before you pull it apart, if you have the opportunity to, for sure.
Is that a huge challenge with conversions right now, the PCM ECMs, TCMs, because of the age of
either the engine or the vehicle and maybe they're not made anymore by
Ram or Ford or GM, whoever it might be. Is it, is that a challenge to be able to find like
good ones if, if, if you need one? Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of, it seems to be a lot of resources
as far as getting one refurbished. But from, yeah, the age of the trucks are definitely getting,
they're not getting newer. We saw it, we saw it with, with 24 valves, like the VP 44 engines.
What we, what we've kind of seen is like there was a duration where they were just, I mean,
the teching, the tech side of them, we'd spend hours teching those engines and then not,
and then we started making those engines stand alone. Right? So, so now when you're buying,
buying the products for that era of engine, you know, 1998 and a half to 2002, when you're buying
one of our products, like that, that harness is new. Like you don't, there's nothing from the old,
old, that'll be there. The tech for that engine just dropped to the floor. Like
we hardly ever get a call on that, on that at that harness and that engine anymore,
just from, from that aspect of it. So yeah, as these, as these trucks age, yeah, you're, you're,
you're running into more of those, more of those things. And if, if the customer pulls the body
off and making sure you're making sure all your connections are made again, but that's a huge
one, grounds. Wow. You know, we live in Minnesota. So trying to find a ground that isn't rust,
next to impossible. And so if anybody's from, from the Northern, Northern Hemisphere, they,
they know what I mean. But yeah, just making sure those grounds are checked. And usually that takes
care of a lot of that, a lot of that stuff. So they, they're, they're still good, they're still
good trucks for sure. But like I said, I'm just being mindful about it and, and not surprised,
right? Manage, manage expectations. I think that's that, that, that kind of rains true in every
aspect of life is managing expectations. So that's a lot of really good advice, I think, for, for
planning one of these. And it kind of got my wheels spinning a little bit to ask you like, what,
what are some upcoming products or builds or things that are going to be new at diesel
conversion specialists that you're looking forward to, or that we should keep an eye out for?
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So I, I mean, so we have a couple, couple products we've tanked with
and have been working on. One, one that's going to be launched pretty quick here is a high mount
AC system for common rail engines. So all, all the five nine common rails will be covered. So we'll
have a, what it does is it pulls that accessory, the accessories, and it just kind of raises everything
up so that more narrow framed trucks or whatever you're putting the common rail in, more of the
narrow frame vehicles, it'll be more acceptable in those. So hopefully it'll be a good fit for
the GM, the IFS, IFS trucks in the 90s era of trucks. And like you said, your dent side
forwards and things like that. So trying to get everything moved up a little bit. So they are,
so customers don't have to cut in, cut into the frame, like in jeopardize and jeopardize the frame
in their trucks to get them in. We've done the same thing with like the seven three, the, the
super duty seven threes. Their power steering pump was, was pretty low in the, in the chassis.
So we went ahead and made a bracket to raise that up. And we're using a six four power steering
pump on those just to get it up and out of the way. So I have that in a 79 F, F 250. It's worked
out pretty good, pretty good in that application so far. There's always, always wiring. We're always,
we're always coming up with something in wiring. That seems to be a never, never ending area for,
for diesel conversion specialists. We've had a few, we have a few TDI products
that the customers have enjoyed. One is the, to the GM, like 4L60s, 700 R4 transmissions for the
little Volkswagen TDI engines. Yeah, and a couple manual, manual transmissions for the Toyota's,
the W56 and the R150 transmissions too. So yeah, we just, we just kind of, we try, we try to keep
expanding, I guess, and keep, and keep, keep more conversions happening. So like I said,
it's super wonderful when you can go to a show and, and, and you see that, you see that, you see
that product in a converted vehicle and you know that you, you, you got the opportunity to make,
make some of that happen. Like I said, standing back and watching, looking at that concrete floor
after you, after you poured it, knowing that you did something that day. So it's, that's,
that's the rewarding stuff. So yeah, we're going to keep, we're going to keep building things
and coming up with new stuff for sure. You got to tell me, like if I was at a show and I saw a 79
F250 and I'd hear it and I'd think, well, that's not, that's not a Cummins sound. Doesn't sound
like that. Sounds like a 73. Like how cool is that build? That's, I, yeah, I've, I've done a lot of
Cummins builds and there came a point where I was like, I kind of want to hear a 73 in a dense
side, right? Like it just like, it just, it just should be in there. So, so it was one of those
projects. I've really had an itch to see if I can make that engine stand alone and kind of
tinker with, with those seven threes. They're just, they're, they're a neat engine. I mean,
when I was, when I, when I did the construction crew stuff, there was, there was a few trucks that
I've ran with those, with those engines and they were half a million mile trucks, right? There are
500,000 mile trucks and, and still kicking. So I just, yeah, I really wanted to get one of those
in there and it's, it's fitting. No doubt. Did you, what did you, what did you do for the
transmission setup on that one? That one wound up with a four R 100 from the same era. So I wound
up taking, taking the engine and the transmission and the PCM getting it all standalone operational.
And then I tuned the transmission with HP tuners to set it up in that platform. So it wound up
being a really, a really friendly build. So that is so cool. It's, and it's so different. Like,
I love Cummins and Gents. I really do. But something is really cool about a 73 and a 79
where it's like, it's like America, you know, it's like, it's like, it just goes together
like that body style truck is so iconic and so well known. And then you have a 73, which is,
you know, one of, if not the most reliable diesel engine that's ever been put in a pickup truck.
And I think to combine those two, that's, that's a sweet build. Yeah. Yeah. And they're still,
yeah, they're still, they're affordable to play with still, just like the Cummins 12 valve. It's
like, you can, you can buy a set of six injectors and, and, and still have money in the bank, right?
To throw towards something else on it. So they're kind of the same, the same way in that regard,
where you can, you can still play with it and you don't feel bad and there's,
there's plenty of them around. So, but no, that was, that was a good one.
The TDI stuff, that one caught me off guard. I didn't think that I would
get as much joy from, from starting that up is what I did. So I put, I put a TDI
in a 97 Toyota Tacoma with a manual transmission. And it was from a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta,
that, that, that application. And so I wasn't here, here I've gone from working on semis,
right? You know, you know, 15 liter, like trying to hold the turtle up to it, right? Like, like
trying to put a clutch in one of those, you're, you're, you're throwing out your back.
So all of a sudden I'm like, wait a second, I can probably squat this TDI.
And I just wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel about it. But when I fired it up,
I was like, oh, that sounds, that sounds pretty good. And then with a few,
a few power upgrades, that, that little thing will catch you off guard for sure.
Oh yeah. I read that platform pretty, pretty fun. So.
Oh yeah, especially in that platform, I imagine it is. That's, that's cool. I think,
the thing I love about, like what we talked about today is the ability to create something. And
yeah, I think once we kind of get like our daily driver out of the way, and you know,
we're kind of rolling with that, we think, well, I want to build the ultimate truck or build what
I didn't, I wasn't able to get in my 20s or whatever it was. And, and there's so much out there in
the aftermarket, I'm sure you see it with guys who do like five nine common rail swaps and stuff,
they want compound turbos and they're, they have big plans with power, because you can create pretty
much anything that you want. And I think, I think it's important. And I thought, you know,
this podcast would be important because you're facilitating that through repeated, like repeatability
with whether it's electronics, whether it's with hard parts, whether it's with, you know,
education, because I'm sure, you know, in these projects, kind of with somebody, you know, for
years or months, however long it is to build it. And I love to be able to have a resource be able to
say, you know, go check out this company, you know, they can help you. Just like I mentioned,
doing a podcast last week, and he's stuck on something. Well, I've got a resource to be able
to send them to for people that know they're going to have questions and they're probably going to
be so varied because there's so many choices for vehicles and engines to put in. I want them to
be able to connect with you guys, whether it's going to the website, finding guys on social
media, phone number, what is the best way to contact diesel conversion specialists and talk
about their project? Well, if you want to, our website has been developed for quite a few years.
We have a lot of educational opportunities on our website. Even the builds, I've probably got four
or five of the builds that I've done. And I go through and I break down, I'll break down everything
in that build that is unique and different or that they might want to source for their build.
Beyond that, I mean, one of the first things you'll see if you go to our website is our phone
number. Do not hesitate to call us. We will talk you through stuff. We can, we'll figure it out.
And like I said, if we don't know, we'll find somebody that does, hopefully, or you know,
it's an educational opportunity for us as well, if we don't. So those are definitely the ways,
the best ways to get a hold of us. We also have our sales email. There's a few people checking
that every day as well. So yeah, we're not hiding ourselves. And the website is dieselconversion.com,
right? Yeah, dieselconversion.com. Perfect. That makes it easy. And I like said, the kit builder
is so cool, because it just lays out everything that's there. And I think
that would be where I would get stuck. So I love that you guys put that into a kit to be able to
tell me exactly what I need so I can build that vehicle I have. So that, that's definitely cool.
I really appreciate your time today chatting with me, Jeremy. Like I said, I've been getting more
requests for conversions. And I didn't have a lot of experience with them. Like I'd seen them over
the years, had a couple of friends that did them. But I didn't know all that went into it or,
you know, how to navigate all the choices that are out there. So it's great to be able to chat
with you, learn what you guys have. And yeah, if anyone's got questions, I encourage them to
reach out to you guys, you know, send an email, give a call, jump on your website,
and be able to connect. So it's great to chat with you today. I appreciate it.
Wonderful. Well, I enjoyed the conversation. It's fun to talk about the fun things. So no,
so no, thanks for having us, Patrick. It's wonderful. Thank you.
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really appreciate them offering that discount code just for Diesel podcast listeners. I also want to
give a shout out to some of our Patreon supporters, Robert, John, TSW, Diesel, all of our other Patreon
supporters, all of you who follow us on social media. We appreciate all your support here in
your 10 of the Diesel podcast and look forward to bringing you more of the content that you want
to hear in 2026. Until next time, keep the shiny side up.
About this episode
Jeremy from Diesel Conversion Specialists breaks down why diesel swaps still make sense in 2026—less about chasing power numbers and more about building a truck that matches your goals. He shares his path from heavy equipment to diagnostics to conversions, emphasizing the “finality” and pride of creating something unique. The conversation covers common hurdles (especially wiring/harnesses, PCM/ECM matching, and grounds), what to consider before buying parts (vehicle condition, gearing, transmission choice), and why standalone common-rail harnesses are opening up older builds. They also preview upcoming hardware like a high-mount AC system.
Original notes
Diesel swaps are becoming more popular and it can be overwhelming with all the choices. Diesel Conversion Specialists joins the show to give
tips for swapping a diesel and making it as seamless as possible. From
Cummins and Powerstroke swaps, to TDI’s and more, this episode covers
the swap questions you have!
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