54 Duramax build

[_AJ_]

I'm about done with my 54 so I thought Id share with everybody my progress on this thing. I started looking for a 47-54 truck about a year ago with intentions of doing an LS swap and taking it on the 2016 Hot Rod Power Tour. The plan got a little off track but it'll still be on the power tour come this June. I found this one locally (west texas) and its been a west texas truck its entire life so rust was almost none, cab corners, floor pans, all in great shape. Here it is the day I drug it home


I immediately started tearing the factory drivetrain out

In the middle of planning the LS swap an 07 LBZ Duramax/ Allison pullout popped up on CL locally for a price that I couldn't pass up. So I snagged it with no idea if it could be made to fit. But I figured it was worth a shot.

I got it tore down the the frame

I called Heidts and talked to them about the added weight of the diesel drivetrain and ended up ordering the MII front and 4 link rear setup from them.

I boxed the frame while I had everything off.

Then it was time to see if the duramax could be made to fit.


Got the cab on and started test fitting inner fenders, radiator, etc.



I had to trim the drivers side inner fender to make room for the power steering pump pulley, but other than that it fit nice and snug everywhere, everything is almost touching everything else, but that's ok. I obviously had to cut the cab to make room for the Allison


The outside will be left as is, I love the Patina on this truck but I wanted the interior nice so I got started on that.



So the truck likes this currently


It starts and runs, I've driven it around the block a few times. Gotta get the windshield put in and then I'll venture off to further parts of town to work out any bugs that might pop up. It seems this is sure an abbreviated version of how the truck got to where it is but hopefully its a good shortened version, lol.

[Advanced Design]

Welcome, and wow! That was a short summary. You have a very cool truck and hopefully you can make HRPT this year.

[Justin601]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Welcome, and wow! That was a short summary. You have a very cool truck and hopefully you can make HRPT this year.

--------------- What you do for a fuel tank.
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[Justin601]

What fuel tank you use.
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[T_Raven]

Awesome

[_AJ_]

Thanks guys, I feel like I could do an entire thread on everything from the wiring to the steering but figured Id leave all those details out. I've got hundreds of pictures of just about every step of the way but didn't feel the need to bore everybody with all that. Most of you guys have done all that already and probably did a better job than I did.
This thing will make the HRPT for sure, I need to order gauges and the vintage air setup and then it'll be ready. The only concern I have is about the radiator being a bit to small, but time will tell on that, if it is our Texas heat will bring that issue up for sure.

[Clay54]

Nice project AJ. I have a '54 and a duramax but I won't be putting them together. When you get the windshield in and hit I20, be careful the backend don't try to come around to the front so maybe you better keep several hundred pounds of sand in the bed to keep it straight. Again, nice project. Clay

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by _AJ_

Thanks guys, I feel like I could do an entire thread on everything from the wiring to the steering but figured Id leave all those details out. I've got hundreds of pictures of just about every step of the way but didn't feel the need to bore everybody with all that. Most of you guys have done all that already and probably did a better job than I did.
This thing will make the HRPT for sure, I need to order gauges and the vintage air setup and then it'll be ready. The only concern I have is about the radiator being a bit to small, but time will tell on that, if it is our Texas heat will bring that issue up for sure.

AJ, wouldn't be boring at all. Even if any of has "done that" before, we can learn a different and often better way. Besides, looking over a build sure beats watching TV!

[Coach529]

Awesome looking truck!!

[Nev68]

Originally Posted by _AJ_

Thanks guys, I feel like I could do an entire thread on everything from the wiring to the steering but figured Id leave all those details out. I've got hundreds of pictures of just about every step of the way but didn't feel the need to bore everybody with all that. Most of you guys have done all that already and probably did a better job than I did.
This thing will make the HRPT for sure, I need to order gauges and the vintage air setup and then it'll be ready. The only concern I have is about the radiator being a bit to small, but time will tell on that, if it is our Texas heat will bring that issue up for sure.

Cool project.
I like the details so would be interested in any further information you care to post.

[_AJ_]

Well the first major hurdle that almost sidelined the entire project was the fact that this motor and trans came out of a 4wd truck, so the trans needed to be converted from 4wd to 2wd, doesn't sound to bad just typing it out. I did some research on the duramax forums, didn't find a lot, but enough to jump in and try to tackle it, I found out quickly I was probably in over my head, on top of the known tailhousing section and output shaft there was reluctor rings and spacers and snap rings that all their own special place. I believe I finally got it all together correctly, it does seem to shift just fine but I worry about that still.
In an effort to give this radiator its best shot at keeping this thing cool I wanted to keep as much heat away from in front of it as I could, so I did a remote mount trans cooler under the bed with its own fan and used -10 hose to plumb it all up.

[_AJ_]

Here's a few pics of kinda how the motor sits in there, these were taken during mock up obviously but that's exactly how it ended up sitting. The downpipe went on the turbo just fine with enough room to slide atleast one piece of paper between it and the cab, lol. The duramax from the factory has a huge fan/fan clutch setup, well there was no way that was gonna fit, but it looks like the fan clutch plays a role in holding on the water pump pulley when its installed, so I took the plasma cutter and hacked up the fan clutch just to get the snout off of it so I could screw it back onto the pulley and hold that thing in place. You can kinda see it in one of the pics I posted earlier, its ofcourse centered up with the electric fan motor perfectly and wouldn't allow the radiator/fan to be installed so I had move the electric fan up and over on the shroud to make that all fit.

[Chevy-50]

Originally Posted by _AJ_

Well the first major hurdle that almost sidelined the entire project was the fact that this motor and trans came out of a 4wd truck, so the trans needed to be converted from 4wd to 2wd, doesn't sound to bad just typing it out. I did some research on the duramax forums, didn't find a lot, but enough to jump in and try to tackle it, I found out quickly I was probably in over my head, on top of the known tailhousing section and output shaft there was reluctor rings and spacers and snap rings that all their own special place. I believe I finally got it all together correctly, it does seem to shift just fine but I worry about that still.
In an effort to give this radiator its best shot at keeping this thing cool I wanted to keep as much heat away from in front of it as I could, so I did a remote mount trans cooler under the bed with its own fan and used -10 hose to plumb it all up.

What rear end did you end up running?
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[FarmerSid]

Too cool!

[84blaze]

Cool build. I'm very interested in thee diesel swaps,

[CHIZZLER]

Great build.

[Firstgenfan]

What did you use for the trans tunnel?

[_AJ_]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Rat-Street...134?nav=SEARCH

I used this one, I took the back part of the tunnel and cut it off, then used that part to finish the front against the firewall. Worked out great for my truck. I mounted my shifter on top of it and it's plenty sturdy.

[whitedog76]

Great work. Love that beefy trans crossmember. Should keep frame flex to a minimum with all the added torque.

[_AJ_]

Well I finally got enough bugs worked out that I decided to hit up the Lone Star Roundup in Austin, Texas. It's about a 5 hour drive from where I live. The wife and I left out Thursday with a group from here and headed for Austin.

Didn't have any issues getting there. I stayed with my brother who lives in the area, checked over a few things Thursday evening, all seemed well so we hung out at the show Friday and Saturday.


Had a great time at the show, saw more cool cars/ trucks than you could count and then came home home this morning. Took a few pics on the route home. All in all we drove 940 trouble free miles.

[lower50's]

Wow congrats on the trip. You must be so happy.

[lsjrl07]

Originally Posted by _AJ_

Well I finally got enough bugs worked out that I decided to hit up the Lone Star Roundup in Austin, Texas. It's about a 5 hour drive from where I live. The wife and I left out Thursday with a group from here and headed for Austin.

Didn't have any issues getting there. I stayed with my brother who lives in the area, checked over a few things Thursday evening, all seemed well so we hung out at the show Friday and Saturday.


Had a great time at the show, saw more cool cars/ trucks than you could count and then came home home this morning. Took a few pics on the route home. All in all we drove 940 trouble free miles.

I used to pass that Texas Flag every day on my way home. I used to live in Canyon Lake... Awesome truck! I have a 1950 Suburban that I want to do the same thing to...

[dug224]

Nice build. dug

[lsjrl07]

Made a deal on a 2008 Duramax with a cracked frame today!! Ready to go pick it up and start fitting everything! I'm envious of your build...

[_AJ_]

That's great news man. Congrats. You better keep us updated on your progress in your build thread.