Cummins Swap Terms Glossary

Diesel swap forums and listings throw around a lot of acronyms. Here is what they actually mean.

Engine Terms

12V (12-Valve)

Refers to the 1989 to 1998 5.9L Cummins, which has 12 valves total (2 per cylinder on 6 cylinders). Mechanical fuel injection, no computer.

24V (24-Valve)

The 1998.5 to 2002 5.9L Cummins with 4 valves per cylinder. Uses an electronic VP44 injection pump.

CR (Common Rail)

2003 and newer Cummins engines using a high-pressure common rail fuel system with direct injection. Includes both 5.9L (2003 to 2007) and 6.7L (2007.5 and up) variants.

P7100 (a.k.a. "P-pump")

The Bosch mechanical inline injection pump on 1994 to 1998 12V engines. The most popular Cummins fuel system for high-horsepower builds because it can support 1000+ hp with the right tuning.

VP44

The Bosch electronic rotary injection pump on 24V engines. Reliable when new, but a known wear item.

Transmission Terms

NV4500 / NV5600

5-speed and 6-speed New Venture manual transmissions used in 2nd-gen Dodge Cummins trucks. Both are popular swap targets.

ZF5 / ZF6

5-speed and 6-speed manual transmissions used in 1987 to 2010 Ford Super Duty and OBS trucks. The ZF6 (S6-650 and S6-750) is the strongest factory Ford manual.

5R110 (TorqShift)

Ford's 5-speed automatic used in 2003 to 2010 Super Duty trucks. Strong enough to handle a stock-power Cummins swap with our adapter and flexplate.

6R140

Ford's 6-speed automatic used in 2011+ Super Duty trucks. Heavier-duty than the 5R110.

4R100 / E4OD

Earlier Ford 4-speed automatics used in pre-2003 Super Duty and OBS trucks. Common targets for 12V and 24V Cummins swaps.

Adapter Hardware

Adapter Plate

A CNC-machined steel or aluminum plate that bolts to the back of the Cummins engine block and provides the correct bolt pattern for the Ford transmission bell housing.

Flexplate (Automatic) / Flywheel (Manual)

The disc that mates the engine to the transmission. Cummins uses a different bolt pattern than Ford, so a custom billet flexplate or flywheel is required.

Starter Spacer

A precision-machined shim that repositions the starter so it engages the new flexplate ring gear at the correct depth.

Ford Truck Generations

OBS (Old Body Style)

1980 to 1997 Ford F-Series. Pre-Super-Duty.

Super Duty

1999 and newer Ford F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550.

6.0 / 6.4 / 7.3 Power Stroke

The Ford diesel engines being swapped out. 7.3L Power Stroke (1994 to 2003), 6.0L (2003 to 2007), and 6.4L (2008 to 2010). All have varying levels of reliability problems that drive owners toward Cummins swaps.

Other Acronyms

ECM

Engine Control Module. The computer that runs the Cummins engine on 24V and CR builds.

TCM

Transmission Control Module. Runs the 5R110 or 6R140 automatic transmission.

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer. Refers to parts made by the original automaker as opposed to aftermarket.

CAN Bus

The high-speed data network that modern vehicle modules use to talk to each other. Becomes a wiring puzzle on CR Cummins swaps.

Did we miss a term? Email famm.llc@hotmail.com and we will add it.