Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

OK so it's been awhile, still driving the snot outta my COE. Crossed the 100,000 mile mark last month. Took the truck down to the Run to the Sun car show, it was real popular with 1000s of people climbing inside to have a look. Camped in it for a couple of nights on that trip and about 20 nights since I installed the camper, It gets a lot of use. The picture of the Red bus is someone else headed to the show, nice ride. Next picture is when it turned 100,000 miles. Last picture is how it looked before going drag racing the next day. Yes, that's a walker attached to the hitch for a wheelie bar, Ha, had a blast.
More to come

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Wow 100k miles that's awesome!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

It was nice to finally meet you and see the truck in person at Nashville .

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

That's cool....love that bus....

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

so sick, kinda sad I sold my COE now:(

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

100k! you might be the project mileage champ. I think I hit 1100 in my 41

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Wow that is a bunch of miles. I thought I was doing good at 10,600mi in my third summer. We should try and meet up end of October when I go to Charlotte NC.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I like the versatility of the COE, camper and stake sides, nice that's it's multi use and also that you use it.
Mudman.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Gotta love the walker, HAHA. Congrats on passing the 100K mark!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Good to see a project being driven and enjoyed! Congrats on 100k!

-Joe

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Rob PM me. Hoping we can meet up end of October.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Hey Lower, make some space in your inbox, tried to PM you, all full. Mine was also. Autofair?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I have space now. Goodguys show Charlotte motor speed way this sat. I'll be camping near there Thursday eve till Sunday morning

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I have been asked to post up my wiring for my shifter. It is included in the attached picture. This is the drawing I made for my speaker panel, which folds down. The 2 wires which leave the switch labeled shifter go to a 12 volt linear actuator, 3.5 inch stroke, 250 foot pounds of force. Bought off E bay. Basically I use the switch ( DPDT ) to switch polarity to the actuator for push/pull of the shirter arm on the transmission. The lights give me an indication of what gear I'm in. This has worked well for over 135K miles, so it has been tested.
Hope it helps.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Are you starting a new build? I was browsing Google and spotted your rig with some sheet metal for another COE. I don't know how old that picture is?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Actually, I had bought another one, a '54 with the intent of a new build, but word got out and someone had to have it real bad so it was sold before I ever got started. All that being said with the last year I have been working on a BUSARU ( Subaru engine swap into a 74 VW bus), a 79 VW Bug convertable, sold my 51 Burb and bought and sold a 35 Ford Tudor. Also retired and started a part time job doing custom work for a local truck shop. And the truck, still driving the snot out of it. almost 140K miles now. It has not been with out issues. on the 3rd transmission.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Time for a 4L80e swap!

Glad to hear you're still racking up the miles.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

congrats on retirement! do you miss china right about now?


agreed, I wondered at the outset how that 1/2 ton 4l60e was going to hold up to even that big flatbed. do you have a trans temp gauge? I hear that trans temps over about 250 cause exponential damage. get a stacked plate cooler in addition to the rad cooler (or get 4 extra coolers haha), or like marc says, time for a 6 liter/4l80e!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Yeah, with the original 4l60e I got 220K miles on the factory unit with no cooler, about 70K of that was in the COE, the rebuilt trans only lasted 16K miles. Again no cooler. The guy I bought it from was great and sent me a replacement no charge. Problem was that one was junk right out of the box. He sent me another one again no charge. For this one I installed a large cooler and it has all the upgrades so I hope it will last. This will be my last 4l60 if it lasts under 150K. As far as a new engine, mine now has over 280K on it and still runs great. I do have a low mile 5.3L setting in the shop just in case. Hard to upgrade to the 6.0 due to the extra expense up front and the loss of gas milage. I'm still pulling 16.5 with the 4.8. The power could be better it will still hold 70MPH on most grades with the camper on the back (2000#), so a 5.3 should also do the job. Maybe a small cam will be added to this one.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Rob, unless you stick with something like a BTR stage 1 or 2 drop-in Truck cam, I wouldn't worry about it. You'll lose too much down low. An LS already likes to run higher in the RPM range.

And definitely what Russ said, heat kills. Keep it cool and use good synthetic fluid for long life! I religiously change tranny fluid and filter at 30k in all my stuff. Get the biggest cooler you can fit!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I have been wondering if anyone has installed one of the big forced air oil coolers like found on some of the duramax trucks, or those found on some of the raptor trucks?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

honestly, water to oil (submerged cooler) is so much more efficient than air to oil, and has the benefit of heating the trans fluid in cold weather. running just an air to oil cooler can be problematic because at a certain temp the flow keeps the cooler from being efficient and a runaway temp increase under load still happens because the oil doesnt spend enough time being cooled to impact the trans temp. air is a terrible conductor of heat especially when the ambient temp is high. honestly its why your body sweats, the conduction of heat through sweat is better than without it.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Welcome to Whitehorse!

My wife saw your truck parked near our house. Through some google foo I found this thread.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

oh man ... now i need a mileage update! haha

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

WOW Rob you do get around lol . Are there adventure pictures coming?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Just read the entire build ... WOW !

Now that’s a great project and the mileage put on without major problems is amazing .

About transmission cooling , I put a deep aluminum pan , a remote filter and 2 B&M stacked plate coolers in front of the radiator on my ‘98 Tahoe to keep the 4L60E happy when towing . This is what the main purpose of the Tahoe was and after 150,000 miles it’s still going strong and the fluid is still clean and fresh .

Your build of the truck moved along fast and turned out great ! Kudos !
Now the build of the camper again Kudos ! Like to see more of the finished project .

Congrats on TotM and the shirt and the awards at the car show .