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

[rgreathouse]

notched the flare in the front frame rail on passenger side.





Boxed frame rails in front and rear of motor mounts with 1/4"







Angle iron will be used for removable engine crossmember also sleeved frame for steering box mount

[rgreathouse]

I got a 73 and newer crossmember with sway bar mounts and welded it in. and got the whole frame painted with POR15 and chassis coat.



Tore apart the Dana 60 for rebuild and paint





Hung back under the frame from 6" leafs with new ORD greasable bushings and HD shackles



And set motor back in

[Drewbee]

Nice build! I am working on something similar myself. I have a question as I'm buying things as I save the money, but would you box the frame in before or after putting the engine in? I got the money to clean and box the frame up and to buy the rest - axles lift, etc to make it a rolling chassis. I want to go ahead and box the frame in, but not sure if I should wait and mock the engine into place first then box the frame in. What are your thoughts?

[rgreathouse]

I may be selling the 16.5x10s, hubcaps and leafs... But I still cannot post in the classifieds, how come?
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[RatRod68]

so why did you take a giant chunk out of the passenger frame rail?

Any updates since May?

[rgreathouse]

The section I cut out is where the frame flares up. I had to flatten this section for my water neck to clear the frame, also it made boxing the frame simpler. Not much in the way of updates, I moved to a new large shop and Im still getting squared away there. The goal is to get motor fired up this month and start cleanin up the body.
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[rgreathouse]

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[RatRod68]

OOOOOOHHHHHHH....... I kept looking at the frame thinking "where the hell is that chunk he took out??" LMAO!

Love the build buddy. Doing a cummins swap in the Ranger (3.9) and C30 (5.9)

I'm interested to see how the Dodge motor mounts work. Everyone keeps telling me "Go with the liquid filled ones from a Box truck". Glad to see something else being used.

[That Mud Truck]

Dang i wanna see this truck done...it looks really nice.

Im still on the edge on what to put in my 69... 350 sbc,454 bbc, or the cummins like you. Its gonna be my daily driver so i dont really want the 454 because i wont get good mpgs but i really have no experience with the cummins i mostly work on ford 7.3s. Has anyone ever put a 7.3 in one of these?
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[RatRod68]

Originally Posted by That Mud Truck

Dang i wanna see this truck done...it looks really nice.

Im still on the edge on what to put in my 69... 350 sbc,454 bbc, or the cummins like you. Its gonna be my daily driver so i dont really want the 454 because i wont get good mpgs but i really have no experience with the cummins i mostly work on ford 7.3s. Has anyone ever put a 7.3 in one of these?
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You couldn't pay me to install a 7.3 in anything. Ever. I even debated removing the 7.3 from my 02 super dooty and replacing it with something more efficient.

If you're looking for an easy swap in a daily driver, look no further than a 5.3 out of a early 2000's silverado/tahoe/suburban. They are not DBW and average 17-20 mpg in these old trucks.

[obijuan]

if i were you id remove the steering block on the driver side knuckle. those studs tend to shear, and there is a better alternative out there. instead of that, ive used a dropped 4x4 pitman arm coming off the box. 90% sure its sold by superlift. its basically the stock one with a few inches drop.

[rgreathouse]

If I didnt do a cummins I was planning a 6.0l vortec. These motors are so simple and make tons of torque and great power. They are very simple motors and get better mpg than any gas motors.

Obijuan- I have been thinking about going to crossover instead of dealing with this block.
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[obijuan]

its worth it. especially with how tall those springs are. on mine i have noticed a little more side to side movement of the frame when you turn the wheel while youre stopped. a panhard bar might be something to look into. my solution to that was hydro assist. although it drives awesome on the street, i wouldnt do hydro assist for anything other than a dedicated offroad rig.

[That Mud Truck]

I want my truck to be a good daily driver and good when goin offroad. I mud alot and everytruck i own has to go through mud
Im just worried about not having enough power with the 5.3 or the 6.0 but i really dont know? The only thing that i dont like about these newer engines is all of the wiring. im just worried that i wont know where the wires go or how to hook them up... I absolutely hate doing any wiring and it takes alot of knowledge about electrical which i dont have
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[Mr. 250r]

Not enough power from a 6.0.... that is a confusing statement lol but if your looking for the 1000+ torque the diesels make then i guess i can agree

As far as the build goes its pretty awesome i see a lot of guys doing this now and i would eventually like to do it but with a crew cab to make that my new tow truck

[RatRod68]

Originally Posted by Mr. 250r

Not enough power from a 6.0.... that is a confusing statement lol but if your looking for the 1000+ torque the diesels make then i guess i can agree

My thoughts exactly. lol

When you buy a harness from somewhere like Howell or the boo-koo-billion other companies out there that do plug and play harnesses, it takes 3 wires to hook the LS motor up. Starter, Alternator, ground. If I can do it, ANYONE can. lol

[That Mud Truck]

My 2002 6.0 never could pull and the tras would constantly slipmaybe it was the trans? I dont know and the 6.0 fords are horrible with the head gasket problem and the efi


I saw one guy on here doing alooot of wiring for his ls1... He did all the wiring for the fuse box and everything maybe it just looked complicated
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[RatRod68]

I use a 2002 Silverado HD to haul my crawler all over the south east. It pulls 80 on the interstate with no problems. Sounds like yours was the trans.

I installed my LS1 with no change to anything other than under the hood wiring. I bought a harness and computer, and my buddy (i was in San Diego at the time) installed it for me. The hardest thing was changing out all the fuel lines (which isn't that hard)

Ok, enough thread jacking....

Post some more pictures of this thing rgreathouse!

[rgreathouse]

Hopefully I'll have some updates soon, wheels are at powdercoat.

I ordered a boyd welding aluminum fuel cell that should be here next week, Im working on running fuel lines and hopefully I'll start this thing soon.

[VA72C10]

Nice looking build!

Originally Posted by rgreathouse

I may be selling the 16.5x10s, hubcaps and leafs... But I still cannot post in the classifieds, how come?
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you would need to be a subscriber to sell items Subscription information

[rgreathouse]

awesome, thanks! also picked up a hydroboost unit off a 82 one ton..I've searched for threads on 73-87 hydroboost setups and only found one thread with good photos.

anyone else done this?

[McMurray76]

What was the "Air Pressure" gauge used for?

[rgreathouse]

Originally for big trucks with air brakes. I will use mine for either boost or on board air.
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[DBear]

Great work so far bud! That is gonna be a beast!

[Beetle]

Smoke a little smoke

Nice build man! Like seeing something like this.