69 4x4 daily driver build

[Grun DMC]

My build;
69 Chevy Blazer with 1 ton drive line.
93 cummins 12v 47rh trans np208.
The cross member and engine mounts came from avalanche engineering.
The body has no serious rust maybe a little surface, but the top is trashed so im thinking of going with a soft top. A 6 point roll cage will come when i can find someone to either help me fab one or if i can buy one.
Il leave the diffs open and run some 35" all terrains, the only mud she will see will be if it rains on the drive home. (ive got a full size bronco to get dirty).
Il undercoat the body with 3m body schutz or durabak, probably durabak because im gonna do the body on the bronco with durabak.

Its gonna be a long road but i hope it will be done in a a couple of years depending on the time I can put into it and $$$. Eventually id like to 4 link the rear end and maybe a 3 link in the front and use firestone air bags for a nice smooth ride and a little hot rod touch.

Ill try and post some pics tomorrow of what ive got done as of last year, i need to shovel snow away from the trucks so it will melt faster lol.

[Grun DMC]

Heres a few pics of my dissasembly progress so far.

[Grun DMC]

I got a tilt steering column out of a 74 gm van and used the steering shaft out of my truck so the length was correct il get pics of that soon. The 74 and older vans had the ignition on the dash like my truck so it worked out good.

[99-LS1-SS]

Looks like a significant build! Good luck.

[Grun DMC]

Originally Posted by 99-LS1-SS

Looks like a significant build! Good luck.

Yeah I think the biggest hurdle will be staying committed and motivated. Its a big project so im giving my self 3-4 years for it to be 100% done. Lots of time to learn as I go.

[99-LS1-SS]

I'm in the same boat as you.

[Yukon Jack]

Sounds like a great build - will be great watching it. Definitely a big project.

[70cst]

Be sure to keeps the pics a coming as you progress on your build

[bouncytruck]

Originally Posted by Grun DMC

...the top is trashed so im thinking of going with a soft top.

How much snow do you get up there? The soft tops are great in warm weather, but they are drafty and I'd be concerned about snow build up causing some
stretching.

[Grun DMC]

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

How much snow do you get up there? The soft tops are great in warm weather, but they are drafty and I'd be concerned about snow build up causing some
stretching.

We can get a fair bit of snow across the country from northern Onatrio to the west coast. I imagine my truck will be used from april to november and garaged the rest of the time. I cant see these trucks being very warm in sub freezing temps regardless.

[mustardjimmy71]

in manitoba you need a top that is made of mosquito net

[Grun DMC]

A little update.
The motor is bolted in and the transmission is braced up so I can move the cross member and get it bolted in. It took a long time to get everything and a few friends in place to get it done but the hardest part is over. Il post some pics as soon as I can get to a highspeed connection.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by Grun DMC

A little update.
The motor is bolted in and the transmission is braced up so I can move the cross member and get it bolted in. It took a long time to get everything and a few friends in place to get it done but the hardest part is over. Il post some pics as soon as I can get to a highspeed connection.

Sounds like great progress

[NW_Ryker]

subbing to this one.

[Grun DMC]

Finally got to a highspeed conncection. We might have running water in Canada but not highspeed in everyhouse.
So heres a bunch of pics of the progress so far.

[Grun DMC]

more pictures

[Grun DMC]

Last of the pictures I have for now, more to come.

[chaptr2]

Amazing! Love to see this kind of work. Please keep the pictures coming!

[Firebirdjones]

Any reason why you went with a cummins for the diesel swap??

I only ask because I see cummins swapped in everything. There is a Ford pickup running around out here with one, a 72 4x4 suburban with one, and a couple others.

Seems I see all the vintage diesel swaps with cummins and I can't figure out what the attraction is.

From what everyone tells me, the Duramax is a better package to start with, but I never see that swap done.

What's the reason? Is it availability of parts? Easier to swap? Cheaper to buy?

Just curious, should be interesting when it's done.

[rsavage]

Cummins is a great diesel engine. Proven design and longevity, durable, powerful, and plentiful. Straight 6 design has 40% fewer moving parts than a V8 diesel (according to them) and is a torque monster. They are American and made in Rocky Mount NC and Jamestown NY. They have been making diesels for big trucks and heavy equipment for decades. Duramax was/is a joint GM/Isuzu venture and I think they are put together in Lorraine Ohio. They have had several revamped variations and lots of injector problems since 2001.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by rsavage

Cummins is a great diesel engine. Proven design and longevity, durable, powerful, and plentiful. Straight 6 design has 40% fewer moving parts than a V8 diesel (according to them) and is a torque monster. They are American and made in Rocky Mount NC and Jamestown NY. They have been making diesels for big trucks and heavy equipment for decades. Duramax was/is a joint GM/Isuzu venture and I think they are put together in Lorraine Ohio. They have had several revamped variations and lots of injector problems since 2001.

I didn't mean for this to turn into a debate, I just hear from more people than not that the duramax is a better package. So much so that Ford diesel is a basic copy of it, and I wonder why I don't see them in more retro swaps.

I always see the old cummins in retro swaps. I figured it was a packaging issue, more parts availability?? I'd just like to be enlightened as to the reason for the choice, that's all.

And the injector issue is old news. That hasn't been a problem for many years now. Definately not a reason to turn away from that package.

I'm guessing that since cummins has been around so long that the engines are more plentiful and cheaper and easier to buy???

[Grun DMC]

I went with the cummins for a number of reasons, the main one being that they are easier to find and more affordable. I payed $3500 for my 93 dodge and would have payed more than double for a duramax donor that would probably be a wrecked truck. My 93 is mainly mechanical so it only takes a few wires to hook it up and a fuel source and it runs. The motor mounts and cross member from Avalanche Engineering makes it virtually bolt in and id say 98% of the custom fab work is taken care of with their kit. The 89-93 dodge has the passenger side drop transfercase so that works with our trucks, and im going to run a floor shifter for my auto so using the dodge transmission is ok with me. (im not brand loyal, if it looks cool then i like it dont care who makes it or where its made.) The Dmax is a cool engine but it would have been a lot more electrical work and not as many people have done them so to source out info would be harder and seeing as this is my first build, Ive had a lot of questions. Finally I went with a cummins because I love the sound of an inline six. Big rigs, strait piped dodges hell even high end sports cars with inline six's I just love the sound of them. (Dont get me wrong a V8 sets my heart on fire too!) And the also the fuel economy I will hopefully get with a mildly built cummins will be nice.

[Firebirdjones]

That's the kind of info I was looking for. Very interesting. Thanks DMC.

Sounds like the cummins is more simplistic and makes the swap that much easier. Appears to fit good in there too. It looked good in the 72 suburban I spotted earlier this summer.
Nice that someone makes all the mounts and takes care of most of the fab work. That would be a big decision maker for me too.

Crank the boost up and it should be a but puckering ride with that short wheel base Can't wait to see more.

[rsavage]

Wasn't debating - just pointing out why they are good choices for many folks i.e. plentiful, durable as GRUN DMC pointed out for part of his rationale. And the injectors aren't an old issue to those still dealing with them. My Buddy's 06 which he bought new has been in 3 times so far. Chevy will replace only the bad injector at a time. He has 70,000 miles on his truck.
In any event, nice progress on this swap. Keep us posted - love to see the photos.

[1970BLZCST]

any update on the diesel build?