Perkins T6.354 install in a W300


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Posted by AAA on Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 10:08AM :

I spent last weekend removing a tired Poly 318 car(blue) engine from a 63 W300, and installed a T6.354 in its place.

This engine was transplanted in a 74 Chevy 3/4 ton 2wd, that I bought on E-bay about 2 years ago. It came with a rebuilt Clark 280VO, and Spicer 5381C auxiliary trans. Having a double OD behind this engine provided 27 mpg, and a cruising speed of 100 mph.

The bell housing is a direct fit to the pre-69 W300 crossmember. I removed the bell housing from engine and put it in place using the stock rubber mounts. I used my trusty W500 boom truck to lift the engine 6-7' up, then pulled the W300 under the engine, too hard to try and back up a W500 without swinging the 1000# Perkins block.

I pulled the coil wire to prevent starting, and just crank on the W500 to lower the engine slowly, turning the big PTO type Tulsa into an electric winch, better control, a little hard on the starter.

The engine just goes in with the fan removed.
I lower the engine into place, but the oil pan sump hits the DANA 70 front gear housing, as I expected. I remove the sump, and get the engine to rest on the front crossmember. A little bit of manuevering and I mate the bell housing to the engine and install the bolts, done from the inside of the bell.

Last night I took the stock front engine mount, and welded a piece of angle iron to allow the rubber mount to move forward, and drilled new holes in it. I will install it tonight and drill to new holes in the motor mount that was used in the chevy, a big plate than goes under the front pulley and attaches to each side of the Perkins. Easy conversion so far.

I will have to either modify the sump to allow better clearance, or add a front leaf and get the stacks re-arched. The PW300 factory diesel has the sump in the front, and the alloy pan is notched by the factory to help clear the axle. That may be the only Perkins pan that was ever modified by Dodge in this fashion,as the engine was typicall in a 2wd medium duty truck.

There is little room for the radiator, but one will fit, I use the PW300 as a "template". Trick is to cut down the water pump shaft to the face of the nut, so the fan can be installed easier.

Another obstacle may be the clearance of the Clark and the t-case lever mount, we will see. Will keep posting the progress if other W300 owners are interested in this nice fitting re-power, it was meant to be.

AAA





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