1968 Custom Camper Duramax

[Bdb68]

Quick history;
A friend of mine bought this truck off of craigslist for parts. We drove 5 hours from Kentucky to northern Ohio. It was dark when we got there, checked everything over with flash lights and loaded it up for the 5 hour drive back. The next day in the light after looking the truck over I decided I liked the patina too much to cut it apart. I bought the truck from buddy and decided I wanted a quick and cheap build using what I had laying around. The truck started out as a C-20 two wheel drive Custom Camper. The truck was in pretty good condition, the motor and trans were gone, but someone had taken care when removing them. everything was unplugged and tied up, not cut. The truck had the usual rust in the rockers, cab corners and radiator support.

[Bdb68]

Pictures

[Bdb68]

Phase 1 Quick and Cheap.
Several years ago I bought a Suburban body on a rolling frame to build a crew cab. The frame had been converted to 4x4 and was powder coated. The plans for the crew cab are to set the body on a late model truck frame. So I stole the powdercoated 4x4 frame from the Surburban for this truck. To make it fit under the pick-up we had to move the some of the cab mounts around and drill holes for the bed to mount. We also cut a few inches off of the back of the frame so the bed would fit. The wheel base was off around 2 inches but we fixed this with later model longer springs and moved some things around. We installed a 305, 350 turbo and 205 transfer case. I picked up some 3/4 ton rearends from a buddy and we had the truck running and driving in around 3 weeks.

[Bdb68]

Picture 1, the 14 bolt converted to disc using parts for the same year model front end and a set of brackets made by a friend of mine. The springs I had were junk so I bough a 4 inch Rough Country spring lift.

Picture 2, the 305 I had laying around, has about as much power as a golf cart

Picture 3, Interior Untouched

Picture 4, shows how good of shape the floor was in and my homemade shifter comming through the floor.

[Bdb68]

Phase 2, The fun begins.
After about a week with the 305 we decided it needed more power. I drove it into the garage. We removed the 305 and had planed to install a 6.0L LS with an adapter flywheel to use the 350/205 trans and transfer case already in the truck. Sometime overnight the plan changed from doing a quick and cheap ls swap to a diesel convesion. A few weeks prior, I picked up a Duramax LB7, Allison and transfer case on Craigslist. It came with the wiring, computers, radiator, inercooler and other parts. This was going to be the powerplant for the crew cab. However I decided it was taking up entirely too much space and would be a while before the crew cab was ready for an engine.

[winslowgoodwin]

nice

[71blksuper4x4]

It's looking sweet. Are you using Ken for the stand alone wiring? 4 or 6" lift?

[Bdb68]

Originally Posted by 71blksuper4x4

It's looking sweet. Are you using Ken for the stand alone wiring? 4 or 6" lift?

Thanks everyone.

Yes Im planning on using Ken from stand alone harness. I am planning on mailing it in tomorrow. 4 inch Rough Country liftkit. Progress has been a little slow lately because I have been traveling a lot for work lately.

[Dan Castilleja]

Originally Posted by Bdb68

Phase 2, The fun begins.
After about a week with the 305 we decided it needed more power. I drove it into the garage. We removed the 305 and had planed to install a 6.0L LS with an adapter flywheel to use the 350/205 trans and transfer case already in the truck. Sometime overnight the plan changed from doing a quick and cheap ls swap to a diesel convesion. A few weeks prior, I picked up a Duramax LB7, Allison and transfer case on Craigslist. It came with the wiring, computers, radiator, inercooler and other parts. This was going to be the powerplant for the crew cab. However I decided it was taking up entirely too much space and would be a while before the crew cab was ready for an engine.

What motor mounts did you use?

[Dieselwrencher]

Welcome to the 67-72 board, and very nice truck! That all worked out well. A 4 door build is on my list of to do's some day as well.

[Bdb68]

Updates:
Homemade lift pump and dual filters (same as cat filters)
4 inch mandrel bent exhaust with flow through muffler
The huge Allison transmission fits under a stock high hump
Drivers side battery box
Passengers sides inner fender modification to fit stock air filter box

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work. Is that lift pump a knock off holley blue?

[Bdb68]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work. Is that lift pump a knock off holley blue?

Dieselwrencher, I can't remember if its a knock off or the real deal that has lost its stickers. I am going to give it a try because I had it laying around. I made the mounting plate for the filters extra wide, so if the Holley doesn't work I'm going to go with a purpose built lift pump like in the picture below. The picture below is where I got the idea, I found the picture on Google, not sure who it belongs to. Also, I really like your truck and build thread. I have done several LS swaps but this is my first Diesel swap. If you have any ideas or advice, or if you see me doing something that could cause problems please comment or send me a message. Thanks

[hick]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2018 just got really good for reading material...

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks, and no problem, will do. I got burnt on a knock off holley blue is why I asked. I happen to have an airdog for a duramax setting in my shop. I don't know if it even works. I can't remember where it came from.

[Bdb68]

Dieselwrencher, If my home made set up doesn't work out I might be interested in it.

[Bdb68]

Picture 1 and 2 show the new front cross member. The old one probably would have worked, however it was bent pretty bad and it got in the way of the stock Duramax radiator hoses. The new cross member also ties in the front spring hangers and incorporates a standard size receiver through the bumper for a portable winch or removable tow hook. I may make a license plate holder that slides into the receiver to cover up the hole. The last picture is of the added gussets in the engine area for the added weight of the engine.

[Dieselwrencher]

That will work out great for a portable winch! Great fab and welding too!

[1972K20]

Good looking build

[rgreathouse]

awesome build I'll be following this one!

[Bdb68]

Thanks guys, I cant take credit for all the welding. All of the heavy welding was done by my buddy Mike.
I have just about figured out the brakes and steering. I started with a hydro boost unit from a 2005 gas 2500 Chevy, I assume they are the same as a Duramax truck. I cut the studs off of the mounting bracket and drilled holes to match the studs coming out of the 68's fire wall. I removed the clocking tabs on the bracket so I could spin the bracket upside down to better align with the 68's studs. I had to enlarge the hole in the firewall so the large nut from the hydro boost would fit. I used the stock 05 lines from the power steering pump to the hydro boost. The 05 line from the hydro boost to the steering box had to be modified. The late model lines are O-ring and my steering box is flare. So I simply cut off the o-ring, and flared the end. I had to do a little modification to use the nut off the 05, but I would recommend finding the old style nut made for a flared line. I then used my old return line from the steering box to pump and the 05 hose from the hydro boost to the pump. If anyone wants a better explanation or more pictures of this just ask.

[Bdb68]

For the time being I decided not to mess with a heater. So to bypass my heater core I used this hose from Autozone. I have used the same hose to bypass a heater on LS swaps. One side is 5/8 the other 3/4. Simply trim the long side till its the right shape and hose clamp it on.

[Bdb68]

Exciting update: I received my computer and wiring harness back and got the engine to fire up over the weekend.
Harness was doe by Ken at standaloneharness.com
Computer was tuned by Nate at Stulldiesel here in KY
Once I got it primed and found enough battery power, I had to jump it off my 16' Duramax, it fired right up. No smoke, and surprisingly quiet coming straight out of the down pipe. One note, my lower inner cooler boots had not yet arrived so it had no boost. see the link below for a start up video

https://youtu.be/s2cPyPCa_TY

[Dieselwrencher]

Awesome! Is that a 55 setting next to it?

[Bdb68]

Yes it is. This is my 55 Chevy rat rod. 2005 6.0L with a magnacharger, 4l80e, and a Ford 8.8 narrowed rear end. If I ever get around to making a build thread for it, I will post the link on here.