1972 Chevy 4wd Longhorn Project: Never Ending Changes

[Dieselwrencher]

Here are some pics of the truck as it sits on my trailer right now.




I did remove the bed to make it easier to do the rear suspension and I will install more than likely a marine plywood floor so I can get the truck usable.

[Dieselwrencher]

I did get my tilt from Sharpie installed too. Thanks again Dennis! I also put my wood grain gauge cluster and cheyenne super glove box door in, a long with a borrowed seat from Brothers69c-10. Thanks Mathew!

[Dieselwrencher]

It has a 4" lift with 285's on it right now.

[dammitmitchell]

sexy

[mosesburb]

Looks great!! Man that motor is low!! I thought I set mine low, but I think you have got me beat by four inches or so. I would have gone a bit lower, but my front diff clearance was getting slim where I have mine. What are your plans for the water inlet on the motor?? Judging by where your motor is height-wise, I'm guessing it should be pointing directly into the frame rail.

I like the red paint. That is one thing I wish I would have done is paint the motor a color. Mine kind of gets lost in the "sea of black" under my hood. The red sure highlights how huge the P7100 is. I know it is large, but from that angle with the contasting colors it really shows how immense it actually is.

Once again, great job!! It looks like you are building it to last!!

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks! Yeah, I did set it in pretty low, but that is because I wanted plenty of clearance for exhaust and around the firewall for the bell housing. My biggest intent for setting it so low is I plan on putting a P-pumped 24v with twin turbos in it before spring. It is in my friend's truck right now until he gets his newly rebuilt 12v fixed. The color is actually chevy orange. It was pretty funny last weekend I had a couple of guys ask what 6 cylinder it was because it was so dang big. As for the water inlet, I have an industrial one that points down going straight out forward of the engine. I have some elbows I am going to weld to it and I have a formed hose that will connect to the radiator. The radiator is another issue. I only have 4 core radiators for 73-87's, and they are too tall to fit right in the 67-72 supports. However, I did set one in there and the hood will shut, so I'm thinking about modifying the stock 4 core mounts to use the later radiator. I have been searching for a stock 4 core with no luck, and don't really have the extra cash to buy one right now. I have to decide how bad I want a D80 in the rear of this, and I'm really leaning on going that direction.

[madmopar]

awesome build. love the diesel idea... love that its all coming out of a dodge! I'll be following along...

[Dieselwrencher]

Cough, cough, parts from a tractor, dodge, and chevy.

[Dieselwrencher]

Here are some pics of the engine that Wayne took at the All Truck Nats last weekend in KC.

[madmopar]

Alright, what I meant is: I like the idea that i could get a DODGE donor truck and have everything I need to do it myself... well, except for the knowledge of diesel engines... My daily driver pickup is a 98 ram 1500 and my wood truck/trailer puller is a 77 dodge W250 w/ a 440. I've thought seriously about getting rid of both of them and getting an early 90's dodge w/ a 12v in it... get the fuel mileage and power in one package... but those trucks are so ugly! I like most dodges but the 82-93 dodges are hideous. I'd take a newer dodge w/ a cummins too... if I could afford it! Also thinking my 70 LWB chevy 4x4 might replace my woodtruck/puller dodge in the near future.

[madmopar]

love the attention to detail and the chevy color!!!

[watahyahknow]

it looks like it belongs in there

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks man. J P, that is a good idea. If I could have purchased the complete truck that I ended up getting the tcase and D60, I would have. The first gen dodges are finally getting affordable as a parts truck, but can still be pricey. If you start looking for one, try to get a 91.5-93. They are intercooled and have a little more power. They have a VE rotary injection pump and everyone swears the old VE engines get the best mileage. Another thing, if you find a 89-91 4x4, beware that the axles will be a D61 in front and a D71 in rear. These axles have 3.08 gears and can not be fitted with different carriers or gears. But, I believe yukon just started building a ring and pinion specific to those axles. But as far as I know, they are the only ones right now. The 89-91 autos were just 727's on steroids. The 91.5-93's had a A518 which is a non lock up with over drive trans. I believe all the manual transmissions were getrag G360's. Some people love them, and some hate them.

I do have to say, thank goodness for the dodge line of trucks. It has made parts availability for me doing swaps a lot easier due to the parts they used.

[watahyahknow]

i also heared sumtin about some pin that works itself out over time near de distributionbelt it was a common thing on those engines , think i seen it on some trucks internet tv show usually they tab it back in and lock it in place with some bolt and a little plate over it , not sure wish of those engines they where talking about though

[Dieselwrencher]

Yes sir, good point. I forgot all about that and I just did do that to this engine as well. I make my tabs for these. This is commonly referred to as the "KDP" or Killer Dowel Pin. This pin will wiggle out, drop down and fall in the gears and either come up through the front gear housing breaking it and damaging the gear train, or other times it will miss everything and end up in the pan. Here are some pics for reference.
See how this dowel pin is out of the case about 3/16" of an inch, it should be back flush with the gear housing.

[Dieselwrencher]

While we are on this subject, if anyone is doing this job and your front seal has ate in to your crankshaft, cummins offers a kit with a wear sleeve to repair it without removing the crankshaft and having it machined or repaired. Here are some pics of this.

[Dieselwrencher]

Also, the front seal should be driven out throught the outside towards the engine side when you remove it, and installed from the engine side towards the outside with the little tool provided in the seal kit. I have a nice cummins installer since I do so many of them. The tin tools can be a pita.

Seal Installed

[mosesburb]

Your motor looks great!! I like the orange with the black wrinkle covers.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

The radiator is another issue. I only have 4 core radiators for 73-87's, and they are too tall to fit right in the 67-72 supports. However, I did set one in there and the hood will shut, so I'm thinking about modifying the stock 4 core mounts to use the later radiator. I have been searching for a stock 4 core with no luck, and don't really have the extra cash to buy one right now. I have to decide how bad I want a D80 in the rear of this, and I'm really leaning on going that direction.

You can make a tall four row from a 73+ work in these trucks. The rad in mine is a Delco replacement that is made in aluminum with plastic tanks, but shares the same dimensions as the one you have (Delco does not service the copper/brass unit anymore). I made a new lower plate and made my own retainers for the 73+ radiator bushings (GM p/n 6264100). You may be able to re-use the stock lower mounting bracket. I had to remake mine because I moved the condenser behind the core support which required moving the radiator back. The upper mounting was a bit more fun. I had to layout and bend up a new upper mounting plate. I also welded the bushing retainers into that. As you already figured out, the room for the radiator is there, but the mounting components need to be made to work with the taller rad.

There are a few pics throughout the thread in my sig, but this one will give you an idea of what I ended up with:

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks. I noticed in your build thread yesterday you had done the same thing. This is what I am going to do. Seeing how I plan on not running a mechanical fan I think the larger radiator will be cheap insurance. Very nice build by the way!

[mosesburb]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Seeing how I plan on not running a mechanical fan I think the larger radiator will be cheap insurance.

It is amazing how cool these motors can run in extreme conditions. With any amount of vehicle movement, my fan clutch will not turn on (provided the A/C is not on). The only time the fan clutch will turn on for engine temp is slow speed wheeling. It kind of surprised me when it kicked on the first time on a trail seeing as how it will almost never turn on in town even with 115* ambient air temps. I turned the electrics on and that pretty much kept the fan clutch turned off. With the A/C, the fan clutch will usually turn on for the high side pressure switch request, but not engine temp. Last week we had a cold spell with daily high temps in the high 90's to 100*. It was great because at those temps I don't need A/C so the motor ran great without that mechanical fan horsepower sponge spinning. Are you planning on running electrics on yours??

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice build by the way!

Thank you!!

[propanemudtruck]

That's one of the many benefits of diesels...

Lean Condition on Gassers - HOT
Lean Condition on Diesels - Idles along or Stalls

They build the heat when they're pouring the smoke

real trucks don't need spark plugs!

Nice work on this project DieselWrencher!

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks Propanemudtruck!

Mosesburb, I am planning on running 2 electric fans on relays. I have done a few conversions with electric fans and really like it. I have only had one real problem with electric fans, and it wasn't the fans' fault. It was a wiring issue. I'll give you an example of the 5.9's cooling features. I used my Dad's 91 F-350 2wd that I put a 5.9 in to haul my corvette to Ennis Texas this past April. We lost the electric fans in Joplin Mo. Dad had 3 fans on the truck. One on the front side of the radiator support on the trans cooler, and 2 on the back side of the radiator. The main power wire rubbed through the ground on the main 2 fans, shorting them out. We removed the power to them and hooked up the last one we had left. We drug the car down to Ennis and back to Iowa, and only had an issue with it getting hot when we got into stand still traffic in Dallas. It got up to 215* but we were there in that jamb for way longer than anyone wanted to be there. It definitely had me nervous, but it turned out pretty well. I can honestly say, if you had a big block, you would have been stuck there.

[watahyahknow]

still couldve cooled the engine by cranking the windows open and run the heater at full blast inside the cab

[Dieselwrencher]

Could have, but it was Texas.

[1985-GMC]

The truck looks great! I would love to have that engine!