***Dream Truck Build*** 72 swb fleet with a cummins and one tons

[rgreathouse]

Hello everyone,

I have been lurking around here for years and I am finally ready to start my own build thread!

The truck I am building started out life as a 1972 2wd long bed 1/2 ton inline six 4spd with 90k miles that I bought from the original owner. The truck has some sentimental value to me since it was originally purchased at our local chevy dealer.

7 years ago when I bought the truck my dream truck was a 72 swb cheyenne super, and me being a huge cummins fan I naturally wanted it to be powered by a cummins.

So after everyone telling me not to build my 72 lwb 2wd into my dream truck I am doing it and couldnt be more excited

Here are the plans SWB fleetside, one ton axles, 12v cummins, nv4500, 29 spline np205 ( suspension height still undecided) after everything mocked up I want to get it on the road and drive it for a while then tear it all apart and powder coat the chassis and finish paint, body interior etc.

[rgreathouse]

On to some pics

The Truck when I started



Found a 1993 12v cummins locally



Replaced oil pan gasket, front seal, rear main seal, front cover seal, intake gasket, valve cover gaskets, lift pump all from cummins. I also tabbed the KDP and added a 24v intake manifold.





Picked up a 1995 nv4500 minus bellhousing.( needs a new countershaft)



Finally found a bellhousing and adapter.



29 spline np205 out of 1992 cummins

[rgreathouse]

Bolted everything together so I can get it mocked up, still need a clutch and trans rebuild. And need to paint up trans and tcase.

[rgreathouse]

Bought a 1977 single rear wheel to part out for the axles. D60 and 14 bolt.



1972 swb 4x4 frame, already por15.Bolted up new axles with 6" front leafs I had laying around with stock rears until I decide on suspension height.



And mounted up cab and front clip.(still needs 4x4 body mounts to sit level with bed and perches not welded on rear axle in pics so isnt quite centered.)

[rgreathouse]

That pretty much brings everyone up to date, Im hoping to get the motor and trans mounted up soon and start some sheetmetal work on the bed.

[Chevymaniac]

Off to a get start with this project. So how much do you have into project now money wise? I'am in the same boat as you, but you are farther along than me. I was thinking of a cummings swap, but just too costly for me to do. So i decided to do BBC swap instead. Can't wait to see more on this project. Are you reinforcing frame at all?

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Chevymaniac

Off to a get start with this project. So how much do you have into project now money wise? I'am in the same boat as you, but you are farther along than me. I was thinking of a cummings swap, but just too costly for me to do. So i decided to do BBC swap instead. Can't wait to see more on this project. Are you reinforcing frame at all?

My dad bought a 3/4 4X4 ton for $3500. A BBC would eat that in gas pretty fast these days!

[rgreathouse]

Thanks I am pretty excited. I am into this project for a total of $2,000 out of pocket as of today, and that includes original purchase of truck. I have parted out a couple trucks to recoup money and have done pretty well. My goal for the build was to get it on the road for $5000.

A cummins swap can actually be pretty reasonable if you keep an eye out for good deals and sell off what you dont need.

I just picked up a sheet of 1/4" plate and some 2x4 steel to build crossmembers and box sections of the frame. I plan on boxing a 12" section where the engine crossmember will be and a 12" section where the trans crossmember will be.

Does anyone have any input on how much of the frame I should box? any well known weak spots? Plans for the truck will not include any wheeling, no tires over a 35", around 400hp max. Pretty much a truck I can drive on the street regularly and tow a ski boat and car trailer with.

[mknittle]

this is going to be cool!

[rgreathouse]

This weekend I got motor mounted and trans crossmember done. Just gotta do some more boxing and finish welding.. Ill get pics up tomorrow.

Everything went well, just have a little interference with turbo and heater core. And trying to decide what to do for driveshafts.. Any input on what to use and have shortened?
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[mknittle]

Originally Posted by rgreathouse

This weekend I got motor mounted and trans crossmember done. Just gotta do some more boxing and finish welding.. Ill get pics up tomorrow.

Everything went well, just have a little interference with turbo and heater core. And trying to decide what to do for driveshafts.. Any input on what to use and have shortened?
Posted via Mobile Device

I Go shopping at wrecking yards. I just look for a good straight one that is longer. And have drivline service in West Sacramanto shorten them. we have been having them do our Big truck drivelines for over 20 years.

[rgreathouse]

Thanks mknittle, I was thinkin about starting with a 73-87 one piece from a 4x4 and getting it shortened... As long as it will bolt up to my 29 spline np205.

Hows your build going?
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[Eat Soot]

Did you just build your own engine crossmember then? Waiting for pictures...... Ha

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by rgreathouse

Thanks mknittle, I was thinkin about starting with a 73-87 one piece from a 4x4 and getting it shortened... As long as it will bolt up to my 29 spline np205.

Hows your build going?
Posted via Mobile Device

I am pretty close to doing somthing other than measuring.The rain has been giving me some problems but It will be spring soon.I have a bunch of stuff to shuffle to get the parts where I can get to them. And there are a couple things I need to use the Dodge for before I pull the body off.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by rgreathouse

Thanks mknittle, I was thinkin about starting with a 73-87 one piece from a 4x4 and getting it shortened... As long as it will bolt up to my 29 spline np205.

Hows your build going?
Posted via Mobile Device

I used 1350 spicer yokes on my 68. it had 1050 or something like that. pretty small ones. Kind of odd for a divorced 205.


This may help.

http://dana.com/offhighway_systems/p...it/J300-P4.pdf

[rgreathouse]

So we picked the only weekend this year we got snow to mount the motor in the truck. But we went through with it and put up a easy up and went to work.

72 loaded up and tanking it to my buddies shop who helps me with most my fab work.



Front clip off



I bought some second gen cummins motor mounts and made mounting plates out of 1/4" plate.





Plates are fully weled inside and out. Plan to box frame rails front and rear of mounts and build new engine crossmember.
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[rgreathouse]

Motor is off set slightly to passenger side. And angled back 5 degrees.

Built a trans crossmember using stock nv4500 mount. But had to make the piece that goes between trans and mount.

The crossmember is removable and the frame is boxed 12" with 1/2" nuts welded on the inside to make removing the crossmember easier.






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[rgreathouse]

All mounted up and front clip back on.







Fits pretty darn good, harmonic balancer clears, fan clears, radiator fits, valve covers all come off fine, exhast manifold fits.

Only clearance issues are turbo to heater box and my 24v intake manifold hits the brake booster.

For the intake I can either run a different intake or convert to hydroboost.

For the turbo to heater I can either shave the heater off the firewall and run a under dash unit... Or it barely clears with the manifold flipped uoside down.


Soo well see. Goal for now is to get the body off and finish any weldimg and the frame boxing and build a couple more crossmembers.
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[mknittle]

how is it going?

[rgreathouse]

its coming along great, slow but steady. I had my nv4500 rebuilt, new synchros,bearings, seals, new countershaft and fully splinned main shaft. Had the np205 rebuilt painted both and bolted it all up with a new luk clutch.

Bought some new goodies, factory tach dash with air pressure gauge that ill use for boost pressure. 16.5 x9.75 camper special wheels with 1972 factory hub caps. new 6" rear leafs and u bolts. shifters for np205 and n4500.

Ill get pics up this week off all the new parts and the progress, currently its stripped back down to bare frame to finish welding and paint.

[mknittle]

You have been busy!

[Chevymaniac]

Looking forward to seeing some current pics on your truck. My progress is alittle slower than yours right now. I just insured my truck so i can enjoy the low rider before i convert it over to 4wd. Just about got all my crossmembers from donor truck out, than they will be blasted and powder coated. Can't wait to see the finished project. Your truck will be sweet one when you are all done. What color are you painting the truck?

[mknittle]

Gotta love the old trucks!

[rgreathouse]

Finally an update:


Its made itself into a garage for the first time. Put my cherry 69 grill on it.

[rgreathouse]

picked up a couple other goodies,

original tach dash with air pressure gauge that I'll use for boost psi



oem 16.5x9.75 with caps, still undecided if ill run these



new 6" pro comp leafs in rear



Rebuilt the nv4500, new syncros, seals, bearings, countershaft and fully splined main shaft. Rebuilt the np205 and bolted it all up with a new LUK clutch