Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

The truck is back in the shop and getting worked on again! A friend of mine wants to drive it to Good Guys this year because he doesn't have anything old enough. We help each other out all the time, so this truck is first, then his super duty is next. So with any luck tonight I'll be able to post up pics of the battery trays, and maybe a removed carrier bearing cross member. I'm getting excited. I can't wait to hear it run and drive it! It's been a long road coming!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

awesome on getting back to work on the truck! I'm jealous! What are the two of you planning with the SD? loose the boring body and drop on a high-boy?;)

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Nope, it's losing it's 7.3 and 4R100 and getting a triple turbo 5.9 12v cummins and a NV4500. :lol:

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Ok, some progress and a road block! :lol: Adam got the old carrier bearing cross member out of it.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2578.jpg
He got the RH battery box built. I wanted to use group 31 batteries because I have a brand new set sitting here for it, but they won't fit with out alot of modifications. So I had to settle on group 65's.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2576.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2577.jpg

Now, the road block is the intercooler. I was planning on using a 2nd gen dodge intercooler. When I installed the hood latch, the intercooler will fit below it but the inlet and outlet are pointing right into the lower portion or the radiator support. I don't mind cutting 2 holes in my support, but I really don't want to hack a nice support. So tomorrow I'll try to trim and rebuild the hood latch so the intercooler can be moved up more and get it in a better location.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

I played with the positioning of mine for a bit too. I haven't decided on anything yet but I did flip the intercooler upside down which put the inlet/outlet up in the middle of the core support. I didnt want that either which is when I flipped it and it looks like it might work like that. Youre lookin good so far. Keep it up, youre closer than I am!

Derek

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Now the RH battery tray is done as well. This is the first time this truck has had inner fenders since I tore it down many years ago.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2580.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2579.jpg

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

:metal: :metal:

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

My friend Adam managed to get the seat brackets finished up. We just have to remove them and do some finish grinding and paint them. I also had him make some battery hold downs on the battery trays. We continue the cummins theme as we used head bolts for the hold downs. :lol: They aren't finished yet, but close.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2605.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2606.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2607.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_2608.jpg

And no, it won't have Motorcraft batteries in it when done. :lol: And now I'm trying to decide if I want to purchase a pair of stock style saddle tanks or build some. Now that I am planning a camper for this truck, it kills my stake pocket filler idea.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Hey dieselwrencher, how does a guy get to have afew extra cummins around? That's a skill I would really like to have.:metal:
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Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

You scour craigslist, ebay, and the local parts hook ups. I have purchased 3 out of medium duty trucks as cores and rebuilt 2 of them. I have purchased donor dodge trucks as well and then parted them out when I was done. Right now there are 2 VE 12v's on my local CL but I need to get some other things done before I go buying more engines. :lol:

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

He is still doing better than me, at least his are in vehicles. One truck...5 Cummins. Who has splitter boxes and can figure out how to mount em all on one truck?

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

:lol: Now we have to find you another truck. :lol: And I think I found you a 96 or so crew cab chevy in Northern Mo yesterday.:smoke:

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Today we came back with a donor box to maybe use the floor for the Longhorn, and an a/c cab that is better than the current cab on the truck. Pics tomorrow.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Well we had an accident! Some how some dynomite got put under our azzes and the body blew off this truck!





























:lol:
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0048.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0049.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0052.jpg

Next up is ditching the in cab gas tank. I have 2 16-17 gal aluminum tanks and we're going to put one in the rear for now. But the problem with that is, the rear cross member is in the way. So I decided to move it back and I will build a new one for in front of the fuel tank to add as a mounting point and to try to keep the frame from twisting in the shackle hanger area of the frame. It ended up going 10 3/4" back. This should give us enough room for the rear axle to clear the tank.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0047.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0046.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0050.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0053.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0054.jpg

I removed all the old brake lines and clips, and some exhaust hangers. Tonight I'm going to wire brush the frame and set the new to me cab on the frame. Then I'll trial fit the trans and install the trans cross member. Put the tcase on and measure the drive shaft and see if I get lucky there.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0051.jpg

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Man I need to get a hold of some of that dynomite! Haha looking good!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

YAY! Progress!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Damn send some of the motivation my way..

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

We're going to get this thing running and drivable to take to Good Guys for the 4th of July weekend so we are busting tail on it!

We unloaded the new to it cab and set it on the frame. Tipped it back for an assesment, and it is way better than the turd that was on it! :smoke: We cleaned it up a little and sprayed it to try and give it a new feeling.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0055.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0057.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0056.jpg

This morning I rolled it back down and started removing all the stuff off the firewall and degreased it the best I could. Then I started sanding it so I can rattle can the firewall so we can get this cab bolted down.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0058.jpg
Hopefully we make some big progress on this pig this weekend!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Lookin Good, I have been following this one closely!!
Jason

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Looking great Ryan! Nice work.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

awesome!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

We got the front of the cab primed and poof canned last night. We also got the new body bushings installed and the cab is bolted down. Hopefully tomorrow there is more news to this story to add. :lol:

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Here we go again. 2-3 weeks went by but there was progress. It didn't make Good guys because other projects ate up time, parts didn't show up, or the money tree went dry. You all know the drill. :lol: I'll lay out the pics as I can and give some details about what was done.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

We placed one of my aluminum fuel cells in the frame and got it in position. Placed jack stands under it and cut some angle iron to mount it to. The fuel cell had aluminum angles already welded to it for mounting purposes and I decided to keep it mounted that way. The fuel filler will be on the RH box side when done. The weirdest deal about this is, there were 4 bolt holes in the frame to mount the angle iron too. Kind of crazy if you ask me.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0099.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0094.jpg

We also made a rectangle tubing cross member for in front of the fuel tank to give the frame more strength in the shackle portion of the frame since we moved the cross member that did support them back to the rear of the frame.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0095.jpg

We also got the fuel inlet, return line, and rear brake lines ran in the frame. We will remove them to paint the frame and reinstall them after that.

Next up was getting the new to this truck's cab prepped for primer and paint. We sanded and sanded, repaired some rust holes, removed the glass and interior, blew off, and wiped down to blow it all off. I must have missed the dash because when I sprayed the paint over the primer, I had some areas that fish eyed. I repaired them the next day.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0094.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0098.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0096.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0097.jpg

Now the primer and paint. I have to fill in the gas tank filler, and reprime some scratches from the windshield being installed, but it turned out ok. I went ahead and primered these fenders even though I may not be using them. They may have to work for now. :lol:
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0100.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0104.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0103.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0102.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0105.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0101.jpg
You can see my youngest brother in the last pic posing. He's home from Ca and will be leaving soon to go to training in the desert then off to Afganiland in September. I wish him luck, and will miss him again until next time. We did get his 92 F-350 running so he could drive it while he was home again. Man, I forgot how nice that truck was. :lol:

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

keep up the good work!!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

tell your bro "Semper Fi"

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Will do on both! Thanks guys.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Lookin Good Ryan! What's your latest due date?:lol:

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

September 5th 2011. :lol: In all seriousness, I'd like to have it running soon so the parts aren't scattered through out the property. I'm tired of trying to figure out where I hid it all.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

It looks great Ryan! Keep it up!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Lookin good!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Hopefully I can get started on the trans this weekend. Or at least get the trans cross member situated and done. We got he seat mounted in the cab. Let me tell you, I love that there is fuel tank in side the cab now. More leg room, and the console will flip up again.

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

You know, it really doesn't matter how this truck comes out in the end, as long as that tach works it will be friggin sweet! I keep looking back at that and wishin!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

:lol: :metal: You know what's real funny? Last week after work I went over there and my youngest brother painted the top of the dash for me. I unmasked it, set my new dash pad on there, and then put in the gauge cluster. Holy cow, it looked sweet. Of course I didn't snap a pic. I will in the morning though. I need to try to get my hydra boost on there so I can get this thing moving down a high way off of a trailer. :lol:

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Not much for progress, but I have more pics. :lol:

Here is part of my 5" exhaust. This is the tail pipe and muffler delete.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0238.jpg

Windshield is in with a new gasket. (Needs cleaned badly.)
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0237.jpg

Seats are in and mounted in the new cab. You can see the rear window is in as well but it has to come back out. The gasket got torn on the install. The front fenders are edged, hood is sanded and waiting on some primer. We started sanding the doors, but they need some sand blasting done on them.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0236.jpg

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Wow! and I thought 3" was going to be alot.:lol:

Nice progress, looks great!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

3" on one of these is stock. We can't have that! :lol:

Here's a little more progress. I got the glove box door, hinge and stop, and ash tray cleaned, sanded, primed and painted. Tomorrow I'm going to do the door hinges and start on my interior color switch from dark olive to black.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/588_0018.jpg

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

wow looks awesome!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

Thanks Rick!

Re: Finally starting my Longhorn 4x4 conversion
 

I got the glove box lid back on, ash tray in, dash pad sat on, and gauge cluster screwed in. I took some pics because I am loving the new look from that green. :lol:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0022.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0023.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_0024.jpg

I'll post pics later of my latest shopping spree I had to go on today so I can try and get this thing buttoned up. I might even start estimating how much I have in this thing as well. That could be scary.