Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Thanks! How are your projects going?


This week I got my front bumper brackets re-configured. Now I need to put the bumper back on the truck and drill the mounting holes. I also got my grill filler panels in, as well as the radiator top plate cover. I'm working on saving pesos up to get a cruise control kit now. This weekend we start our yard fence project. Once that's done, I hope to get some truck project time in.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Other than collecting parts the GMC has been on pause for the last few years while I decide what direction I want to go with it. I'm finally to a point to where I can start making some good progress on this suburban project I started a few months back so now it should start moving along pretty quickly.


http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...psujcvq0aq.jpg

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Nice burb project! Where's the build thread at?

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

I had those same things run through my head...

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Just enjoyed going through the past 7 years of your life over the past couple days. Awesome looking truck! I will definitely go back through your build and use it as a resource for my build. I'm not doing anything close to yours but you definitely have info and resources I will need. Thank you for documenting your build.

Nathan

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Err well... I hadn't started one yet. I was thinking about waiting until I was finished then I'd start one and just do a huge photo dump in one post lol

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

The truck is looking great. Congrats on the new place. Hopefully I can meet up with you at Judds next week.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Truck is looking great! What front leafs are you running? And tires are 33/12.5/16.5?

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

That trip isn't happening now. I'll let you know when I'll be getting up there.

Thanks. The front leafs are rough country 4" lift springs. Yes, the tires are 33 12.5 16.5 BFG AT's.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

would be kindah neat to make it intoo a panelwagon
http://www.ewillys.com/wp-content/up...bridges-mt.jpg
cut the rear of the cab of behind the door and move it to the rear than fill up the space between with sheetmetal mount the lights straight on the rearsteel and channel the whole lot over the frame so it sits a bit lower and you have to cut out fenderopenings in the rear

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Have you gotten the Dakota digitalis hooked up yet? I have been looking at this setup. Where will the additional gauges be displayed?

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

hey did anyone seen this :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4eJCLbDrfs
been talking to the guy about his dash and from wat he tells me its pretty close to production ready , he is selling them
he allso gave me some info on it
it uses his own sensors so no canbus or ecu needed
it allso displays the indicator lichts for blinkers handbrake lights and all the other stuff you see in a analog dash
the guy is russian but he made an english popup menu for the program
it runs on a arduno (i believe) and some stuff he put together himself and the displays in the dash can be customized to fit a stock dash facia (as long as its within the size of the flat screen offcourse )
navigation can be included (prolly google maps or simulair i bet)

the price he gave me for the complete kit was around 700 dollar

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

No, I haven't gotten them installed yet. I need to get on it in the next week or so.

I haven't seen that. It may be an option for some out there.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

After reading this thread non stop for the past few days, THIS TRUCK IS FREAKING SWEET!!. Also i probably should work more ahem cough cough..

i might have missed it, but where is the video of this beast running and burning rubber!? And you really are a terrible influance.. i am going to have to do a diesel build next. thanks

Can't wait to see more progress

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

2 weeks until goodguys. Let the thrash begin.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Oh, that old good guys song and dance again...

Haha

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Yeah, we'll see. I pre registered the Bette and the horn. Hopefully the magic wand works. :lol:

Shouldn't you be designing an over head cam or something? :haha:

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Dude. i can't even imagine the investment in hours that would take. not even sure it would make enough difference. ill stick with some easier cool guy parts. whenever that machine actually gets operational and i have 8 extra months of my life to sink in development. oh yeah, and buy a modeling program with enough powa to do what i want.

food for thought. i should be able to make a real jig to locate a cylinder head. then in one trip through the machine it could cut the shelf, do a little port job, and drill and tap the intake mounting holes. i have an idea working in my head for the rest. i need to do some reading about runner length and volume in how it affects the boosted diesel side of things. see if i cant come up with an air flow benefit whilst making a cool guy part and not being in the way of everying around the drivers side of the engine. i see this being expensive in programming hours.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Why not just buy a Hamilton head?

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

i think investing in a good intakemanifold a cnc portjob , propper tuned length turbo exhaust headers and a hotter cam will make a bigger difference than converting the head to an overhead cam
unless youre bending valvetrain parts i wouldnt even start on it
the overhead cam would be a lighter valvetrain setup alowing for more revs without valvefloat but thats about the only advantage i see

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Hey Ryan. Don't mean to hijack ur thread but I wasn't sure how to pm u. You always seem to have input . Any ways . I'm looking at a versatile tractor , actually a ford 9030 to be exact . They rock for loader and snowblower work . Anyways , they have ford industrial diesels that are extremely hard to get parts for . Ford has remains available but at 10k for a na 4 cyl that's pricey . The earlier tractors had 4bt's in em . I need some sort of ford to cummins adaptor then I will make this one cummins powered as the eng in it is bad . You have any input on adapters ? Nothing shows up when you google but destroked stuff. Any input on oddball adapters ? What's that place you always mention that does lots of cummins conversion stuff ? Again sorry for the out of place input but I figured you would have so thing good to say .

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

These guys mainly do red tractors, but I'd call them and see if they can either:
A build you the pieces yuo need
B Tell you someone who can build/sell them to you.

If the early tractors had 4bt's in them, can you use the engine mounting plate from one of those?

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Who is these guys ? Also you are correct , finding a early parts tractor would be the easiest option thus using the cummins s bolt on parts . Then maby I could put my spare 5.9 in there , maby a few pump mods? I think 250 ish hp should blow some snow ? Lol.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Awesome build. Been reading and reading. Question for you, somewhere you said you were going to run the np241dhd flipped to the passenger side. Did you end up doing that? Ive been searching and not coming up with much info on the subject. It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to move the pickup and vent. But could I get a exhaust past it in a 91 crew cab with a 24 valve?

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Yes I did do it, but I went to a NP205 when I went to the auto trans. I had to redirect the oil pick up hose out side the tcase and relocate the pick up and sump after flipping it. I still have the tcase and will get some pics of it for you. You should be able to get the exhaust past it. I had 5" going by mine with a boxed frame.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Pics would be awsome. Now I have another question can I put my vss 205 behind the re? I know it will bolt up but I don't know if I can swap to a dodge 205 input. The info I keep reading about t-cases is very contradicting so it's confusing me

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

You might be able to swap in a dodge 23 spline input and get it done. I know the 29 spline ones require a big bearing case. The smaller 23 spline might be the same as a chevy case, but I'm not 100% on that.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

It's time to give a worth while update. Over the last 2 weeks a lot of work got done to the truck. Last week my youngest brother came over and worked on it with me so we could try to get the truck done to take to good guys. We had it done enough to trailer there but the trans didn't think it was ready. I need to do some investigating, but it's either a way too loose of torque converter, or an issue with the trans.

Installed 2 LED lights in the cargo lamo for a third brake light

Started installing the AAW fuse panel, and the LH kick panel speaker panel

Got part of the radio wired and the ignition installed

Got the rear bumper sanded, primed and plasti-dipped

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

I converted my hub caps to 3/4 ton ones by pushing out the centers. Then I painted the bow ties blue.

My brother swapped out the differential covers with my aluminum ones and replaced the gear lube.

We got the front bumper on, and drilled the mounting bolts.

I installed a dodge type throttle assembly. Then installed my Lokar trans throttle pressure cable. Once that was done, I installed the Lokar trans shift cable kit. I have to adjust it and may have to change a couple things to get the throw to get down in to 2nd and low. I also shortened my steering shaft so my RV tilt column would work in there.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

I got some of the inside of the cab wired. The next part was adding an extra fuse panel to supply power to my relays for the truck's vitals. Then I added one relay block and wired the fuel shut off solenoid, starter, and fuel pump. I still have to tie everything up and add more stuff.

Scott installed the new valve cover.

I got the Dakota VHX cluster installed. I only have 3 gauges hooked up at the moment. I have to add bim modules and finish the rest still.

We sanded the front bumper, primed and painted it with plasti-dip. Then put it back on the truck. I replaced all the lights on the truck with LED's except the head lights. I might go with led bulbs for them too. One of my head light housings is cracked. So I have to get another one of those too.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Here it is sitting out side after a natural wash job. (rain) :lol: There are some pics of the LED's as well.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Here's another pic, and pics of the VHX gauges while it's running. I still have to make a console to hold some switches, the trans controller, and some drink holders. I stil have to finish my tail pipes. In these pics, it has a turn down under the bed. It's coming together slowly.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

:smoke: lookin good brother

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Thank you sir.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Love the wheel, tire, hubcap combo! Can you explain the mods you did on them? Not like I'll get that far on mine anytime soon

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Your truck looks great Ryan! Digging the gauges too.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

The hub caps are different from 1/2 tons to 3/4 tons. I never paid any attention to it. The 1/2 ton ones are dished in, on the center, and the 3/4 ton ones are dished out to clear the hubs. Although, the half ton ones fir on my wheels even with a D80. I used an acetylene tank cap with the rounded end down, put a block of wood on top of it, placed the hub cap on a card board box with the center in a folded end. I got everything set, then centered the tank cap in the center of the bow tie in the hub cap. I smacked the block of wood with a big hammer. It doesn't take much to get it to go out. But it does take some work to keep it from moving back in. I ended up taking a large bearing race driver cone and putting it on the inside diameter of the rolled bead in the hub cap. I smacked it multiple times to help set a memory in the hub cap to keep the center from popping back in. It worked pretty nice. My hub caps were for 73-75's, so I had to paint the bow ties blue.

The fronts. I had one with a hacked hole cut in it and another with a very ugly center. I used a die grinder and a carbide bit to frind a better circle in the center of the hub cap on th eone that was already hacked. On the one with a bad center, I drilled a hole in the center, then used the gas axe to cut a circle around the stamped circle in the center. I then used the die grinder and ground it smooth. Once that was done I used a flap disc on a die grinder and sanded/smoothed the openings. That's about all the mods I had to do to the hub caps other than straighten some dings and dents out of a couple. The fronts aren't perfect, but who makes them for D60 front hubs any way? :lol:

Thanks Mike.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Haven't been over here on the diesel side for awhile, I Love the new look in your truck!! Wheels and bumpers really make it look Tuff!

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

That there is one beautiful truck !!
Do you another picture of your throttle cable setup? I need to figure one out for mine.

Re: 1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes
 

Thanks. I do like the look of the steelies. I hope so, it wasn't a cheap look. Haha

I can get more pics for you. I have some other brackets off engines I can get pics of too.