Tatra 813 Conversion to Cummins 8.3L

[duncan]

Crank centerline to the top of the engines are within an inch of each other.

Whoa, wouldnt have guessed from the picture!

Either way, as many people on many forums said before, the old 813 is a bit underpowered for modern day driving. But then I couldnt live with myself without that sweet sweet sound of the massive v12. I put single straight 3.5 inch stack on it with open muffler from a racing truck. When the engine has to work (ie. put the trailer behind) it sounds like singing angels

 

[noveske]

Yeah, I miss the sound of the engine. I put a straight muffler on mine too.


But, I am sure I will like the sound one of the new one. Hard to argue with a winding up turbo.

 

[tatra813]

how the motor install going?

 

[noveske]

Good. Waiting for a few more parts to come in. The fly wheel and beep housing just came in.

 

[tatra813]

hows the motor coming?

 

[noveske]

The engine is getting mounted. From the position in the pics, it will go down about 1.5" and forward about 2". We may mount the turbo on the side, not sure yet. Pretty fun. See the adaptor to take the old drive line.

 

[tatra813]

looking good! cant wait to hear how it performs. I like the adapter, did you have a machine shop make that for you?
Keep us updated pics look nice

 

[duncan]

Looks good man, engine seems so small compared to the original

On a side note, which tires are on there, and do they fit the original rims or did you swap them? (Can never have enough leads on tire options).

 

[spicergear]

Very cool thread! Love the pics!

 

[tatra813]

Any progress?

 

[noveske]

The shop doing the work, RPM Diesel, does their own machining. Right now, the engine is hanging from a forklift, and about to be dropped on to the new engine mounts. We are cutting out the old mounts where they mount to the frame, and replacing with new angle iron so we get a little more width on the contact surface.

The tires are goodyear, and fit the original wheels. I think they are the only US made tires for a 21" wheel.

 

[tatra813]

your killing me hows the progress?

 

[Flat Black]

Not sure how I missed this before, definitely bad ass...

I want to say Vermont Unimog was offering 815 with Cummins conversions in them.

Looking forward to updates.

 

[T815-8x8]

Re Vermont Unimog , don't know how he could, he has never imported 1 or know how to do it himself, he even has the T815 that I own listed as available for purchase ----///////:!!!! Guess any ---- can copy post pics 1 of the webs curses

 

[noveske]

The project is coming along nice and slow. The engine is in, rigged, and about to set the cab back on. We put the radiator in the back on a pump motor, and are routing air intake up the back of the cab. Sorry for the delay, I have been super busy, and putting pics up takes forever with resizing and all.

 

[florin]

WOW!
That's something else, I'm telling ya!

I like what y'all are experimenting with this tatras, but I'm the kind of guy that like to kip things as original as possible.
If you want more power then what the 17l V12 naturally aspirated T813 engines offer, then you could find a V8, V10 or even a V12 tween turbo Tatra engine from the 90's and newer, and with minimal modifications you could probably add even an air to air cooler that would boost power some more and still have the sound of a V air-cooled engine.

Well, that's just my opinion!
Anyway, it's really cool seeing people have fun with the 40 year old Tatra trucks that future a superior high mobility drive-train even by today's standards.

Thanks for the picks!

 

[Rambling Wreck]

Subscribed opcorn:

 

[EasternStoc]

great project. in the second pic, is that a custom skidplate?

 

[mixmiguel]

Tatra engine for dakar 750hp

 

[danomano]

This is way cool! Any progress?
Thanks