1972 Longhorn 4x4 Diesel Project

[doubleb's69]

Hey Ryan I just found your thread. The longhorn is looking awesome. I knew you could fabricate but I didn't know you could do body work too! I was thinking about maybe starting a local 67-72 Chevy/GMC truck club. What do ya think. Keep up the great work and hope to see it at Good Guys next year.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by doubleb's69

Hey Ryan I just found your thread. The longhorn is looking awesome. I knew you could fabricate but I didn't know you could do body work too! I was thinking about maybe starting a local 67-72 Chevy/GMC truck club. What do ya think. Keep up the great work and hope to see it at Good Guys next year.

I won't make claims to being a body man. A club would be cool. If you're interested, a fellow member Lockdoc, Leon, is hosting a gtg at his place in Montezuma next Saturday. Go check out the Iowa section for details. They are always a good time!

[doubleb's69]

Sounds cool. I think Fulmer is on board for a club too. I won't be able to make it to the get together but I do have family that farms out in Monti and it would kill two birds with one stone.

[Beat68CST]

Hey Ryan, I started my 2wd swap, notched the top sides of the frame rails so the PS pump and AC compressor have a bit more room.

Doing a 95 P-pump with the 47RH behind it.
On your setup did you notice any flex in the frame?

Right now I'm cutting the main crossmember, the 84 disc brake one that I swapped in to lower it's overall height to get the crank centerline lower and some better oilpan clearence.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Beat68CST

Hey Ryan, I started my 2wd swap, notched the top sides of the frame rails so the PS pump and AC compressor have a bit more room.

Doing a 95 P-pump with the 47RH behind it.
On your setup did you notice any flex in the frame?

Right now I'm cutting the main crossmember, the 84 disc brake one that I swapped in to lower it's overall height to get the crank centerline lower and some better oilpan clearence.

I didn't notice any frame flex on mine. How ever, my frame is the same as a 1 ton's frame.

[mcbassin]

Nice progress Ryan! Sounds like you have a plan to get the truck back on the road. I like the way you make it sound so easy....I would have to spend several months on a small block swap let alone a diesel swap.

What kind of cherry picker/hoist is that so I know not to buy that one? I have actually been considering the elcheapo harbor freight mid grade model.

[Dieselwrencher]

Mike, thanks for the kind words. It was through like an Ace tool or some thing but I think it is a China POS! I was set on getting a HF hoist when they were on sale for $99 and should have. I'm sure this one cost me triple that and it's worthless to me. Not what I ordered from him for sure. On the swap, believe me this one is way better than the 2004 F-250 I'm working on now. I have to get this truck done and that's why there's no progress on the poor Longhorn. There's always something. Hopefully this weekend I can get the rings gapped for the new to this truck engine and get the engine back together. With the turbos I'm planning on running, this should be a sure set up for 700hp. I'll have to get smaller injectors than what I had in the car other wise it's going to be smoky.

[1972larry]

Awesome build thanks for great pictures . Im looking to convert my 72 3/4 ton and you just helped me with all your details

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 1972larry

Awesome build thanks for great pictures . Im looking to convert my 72 3/4 ton and you just helped me with all your details

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I'm slow to reply sometimes but I will. :lol; And pretty soon, I'll be starting a thread on another Longhorn 4x4 I'm going to be building for another member on here.

[1972larry]

What year of truck did you use front springs from? Or does it even matter im came across a cut of from 72 4x4 that has the correct brackets I need I figure its a start

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 1972larry

What year of truck did you use front springs from? Or does it even matter im came across a cut of from 72 4x4 that has the correct brackets I need I figure its a start

If you have the front frame section from a 72 then you can use those. I used 73-87 springs because they are a little longer and provide a little smoother ride and are easier to get it seems.

[1972larry]

Thanks for info man

[hgs_notes]

It's been a month. Been doing anything?

Here's some motivation...
http://www.enginelabs.com/news/a-die...427ci-duramax/

[Dieselwrencher]

That is pretty cool, but break out the c notes, you're going to need a lot of them.

I don't have any picture worthy progress but I've been buying parts. My goal is to get this truck road worthy by May. I bought new 33 12.50 16.5 BFG AT KO's for it, ordered the billet input, an aluminum dinner double deep trans pan, a huge Hayden trans cooler, a trans pressure cable from lokar, and picked up a column shift tilt for it. I'm going to move my batteries and install my oil filter relocate kit, change my air intake pipe, and ditch the stack. I'm going to run exhaust outside the frame under the bed and have it exit behind the rear tires. I'm also thinking about buying a new wire harness for it and maybe a gauge change.

The build thread for this truck is now in the diesel conversion area of this forum.