1988 Crew Cab Build

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by joe231

73-74 is my favorite grill followed closely by the 89-91 deluxe grill, but the 89-91 work truck grill is growing on me lol

IMO, you can't go wrong with any square grill....
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I like the grill on your ruck, it looks alot tougher than the deluxe grille, need to throw some wide swampers on that baby with a huge heavy duty moose sheild running straight pipes so its loud as all get out!

[JPalmer81]

Well I have finally made it home on R&R and got to meet my new toy for the first time. I am very excited, here are some pics of the worst of the rust problems, the bed is in the worst shape, but still all together pretty straight and i am by no means dissapointed with my purchase.





And I took the camper off too....

[joe231]

Originally Posted by JPalmer81

I like the grill on your ruck, it looks alot tougher than the deluxe grille, need to throw some wide swampers on that baby with a huge heavy duty moose sheild running straight pipes so its loud as all get out!

I missed this before...

I'd love some swampers and I want to build a tube front bumper..

I'll pass on the loud pipes though, this is the family hauler now... The quieter the better

Originally Posted by JPalmer81

Well I have finally made it home on R&R and got to meet my new toy for the first time. I am very excited, here are some pics of the worst of the rust problems, the bed is in the worst shape, but still all together pretty straight and i am by no means dissapointed with my purchase.


And I took the camper off

Look good!!

Much better with the shell off!

My bed is in pretty good shape with only some surface rust, it may be available by the end of the summer
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[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by joe231

I missed this before...

I'd love some swampers and I want to build a tube front bumper..

I'll pass on the loud pipes though, this is the family hauler now... The quieter the better




Look good!!

Much better with the shell off!

My bed is in pretty good shape with only some surface rust, it may be available by the end of the summer
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I might be interested in it, I come home for good, Lord willing, at the end of the summer so it may work out just right. It looks so much better with all that stuff off it, just need to throw that lift on there and some sweet wheels and tires and i will be set!

[JPalmer81]

And here are some with the running boards taken off, without the camper and running boards this thing looks really long now!





Here is the SM465 that i recently purchased that will be going into the truck before too long...



And here is my beautiful family in beautiful Alaska, this is what it is all about, and my new crew fits all of us very nicely

[HarleyHauler]

Looks like the dog is camera shy!..great pic, thanks for sharing.

[Stew_Magoo]

I like it with the running boards. I may start looking for a set like that for my CC.

[joe231]

Much better without the running boards!

My truck had some of those running boards also...
First thing I ripped off

Yours may have been an old alyeska pipeline truck as well...
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[JPalmer81]

Are there some tell tell signs that it is an Alyeska truck other than the running boards?

[joe231]

I dunno
Mine has manual windows and locks, dual spare tire holders in the bed, a big "9571" painted in white on top of the cab, dual steering stabilizers, heavy duty coolers in front of the radiator, spin on coolant filter on the passenger fender, dual gas tanks, spin on trans and oil(?) filters behind the bumper, battery blankets, freeze plug heater, oil pan heater, and it did have an oil per-luber (all that's left of it is a battery isolation dealio on the drivers inner fender and looped oil lines behind the front bumper).

They added on a bunch of stuff!

I also have a 84 Burb that I believe was an alyeska truck as well, but it has power windows and locks...
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[joe231]

I think I just saw you rolling south on the Seward highway before bird creek.

Truck looks good!
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[76Charlie]

that's a pretty truck

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by joe231

I think I just saw you rolling south on the Seward highway before bird creek.

Truck looks good!
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Yeah that was me, took the wife and kids and dog for a little drive along the coast almost all the way to Alyeska, we just kept driving, it drives very nice and smooth. The tires are about shot though so i cant drive it too much till i get some new ones on there.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by JPalmer81

Yeah that was me, took the wife and kids and dog for a little drive along the coast almost all the way to Alyeska, we just kept driving, it drives very nice and smooth. The tires are about shot though so i cant drive it too much till i get some new ones on there.

right on!

[Leedogg]

Looking good!

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by 76Charlie

that's a pretty truck

Originally Posted by Leedogg

Looking good!

Thanks for the positive feedback guys, wish i could start on this thing and get some of the juicy pics on here.

[86c20]

if you are going to do a sm465 swap you may also want to do a ranger splitter too. you can overdrive every gear. also if you are going with the 6.2 at some point plz write it up well part numbers and makers as i would like to do some stuff to mine before it goes out and the detriot 453t or cummins commin rail goes in. as you can see i am not rushing for the 6.2 to die lol

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by 86c20

if you are going to do a sm465 swap you may also want to do a ranger splitter too. you can overdrive every gear. also if you are going with the 6.2 at some point plz write it up well part numbers and makers as i would like to do some stuff to mine before it goes out and the detriot 453t or cummins commin rail goes in. as you can see i am not rushing for the 6.2 to die lol

I am planning on just using the 6.2L for now, and driving it around these last few days, i think it has plenty of power for a pickup truck. All i plan on doing to it for now is just putting some headers on and making a better cold air injection for it to replace the crap it has on their now. I will take lots of pics when i get going on it. As far as the tranny, i have been looking into the ranger splitter with the 465, I really like that i can split all the gears with it. The price is a little steep, but would probably pay for itself down the road at some point.

[Mattman2010]

First off your truck looks really good. I would like to point out something about the 6.2 diesel motors. They like staying in their RPM range so they are very friendly with an Automatic transmission, when you convert it over to a manual you will realize how much the truck will lug down when you go from (L 1 2 3) 2nd gear to 3rd gear. The th400 will be a way better combo for that truck than the sm465 and it will really be a lot better when towing because you will be able to keep the 6.2 in the RPM range. I know this is your truck and you will do with it as you please, and I respect that, but from my personal experience the manual just doesnt seem worth it.

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by Mattman2010

First off your truck looks really good. I would like to point out something about the 6.2 diesel motors. They like staying in their RPM range so they are very friendly with an Automatic transmission, when you convert it over to a manual you will realize how much the truck will lug down when you go from (L 1 2 3) 2nd gear to 3rd gear. The th400 will be a way better combo for that truck than the sm465 and it will really be a lot better when towing because you will be able to keep the 6.2 in the RPM range. I know this is your truck and you will do with it as you please, and I respect that, but from my personal experience the manual just doesnt seem worth it.

I appreciate any and all input, I think you make a good point, and one i have been considering the last few weeks, now that i have gotten to come home for a couple weeks and see how it runs and drives. I think i might not have a choice now though, I think one of the clutch's is going out in it, when i put it in drive it is like the brakes are on, but after you drive it and get it warmed up it is fine, so unless i can find a 4L80E it is gonna be the good ole 465.

[Mattman2010]

Dont get me wrong I would rather have a manual over a automatic any day of the week. The 6.2/Sm465/205 is probably one of the easiest maintained drive trains that you could get in these trucks that will last a long time if well taken care of. For just driving around it will not be that bad. But I think you said you had a camper or trailer that you where going to pull. That is where you are really going to notice the split between 2nd and 3rd on these transmissions. I had a J-Code motor in my truck which is rated at more HP and Tq, and I was pulling our little 20 foot pumper pull stock trailer just to see how the truck did and man just to get out of its way I was putting the foot to the floor. I found out that the combo does better in my k10 (way lighter than one of these crew cabs) and so the crew cab is getting the cummins conversion. If you went with a range splitter that would probably help a lot. That would at least make the 2nd to 3rd shift half as much which would really wake up the truck. Im just trying to point out things I noticed when I did mine. I went with the 6.2 for MPG and it was great for just driving around but once I hooked it to a trailer it sure disappointed me. If you are just pulling your trailer a few times a year I think you will be fine. I went with a cummins not because I tow a lot, but i wasnt that happy with the 6.2 and my dream truck has a cummins in it and I found a deal I couldnt pass up. Either way you go man I cant wait to see it!

Matt

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by Mattman2010

Dont get me wrong I would rather have a manual over a automatic any day of the week. The 6.2/Sm465/205 is probably one of the easiest maintained drive trains that you could get in these trucks that will last a long time if well taken care of. For just driving around it will not be that bad. But I think you said you had a camper or trailer that you where going to pull. That is where you are really going to notice the split between 2nd and 3rd on these transmissions. I had a J-Code motor in my truck which is rated at more HP and Tq, and I was pulling our little 20 foot pumper pull stock trailer just to see how the truck did and man just to get out of its way I was putting the foot to the floor. I found out that the combo does better in my k10 (way lighter than one of these crew cabs) and so the crew cab is getting the cummins conversion. If you went with a range splitter that would probably help a lot. That would at least make the 2nd to 3rd shift half as much which would really wake up the truck. Im just trying to point out things I noticed when I did mine. I went with the 6.2 for MPG and it was great for just driving around but once I hooked it to a trailer it sure disappointed me. If you are just pulling your trailer a few times a year I think you will be fine. I went with a cummins not because I tow a lot, but i wasnt that happy with the 6.2 and my dream truck has a cummins in it and I found a deal I couldnt pass up. Either way you go man I cant wait to see it!

Matt

Yeah, I agree about the 6.2/sm465 being a very easy to maintain driveline and that is what attracted me to it. I have had several trucks with the 350/sm465 combo and they were perfect in my eyes, although I have had a 6.0/NV4500 combo that was very nice too. I dont have the camper yet, but it will probably be around 5000lbs and def not more than 10000lbs and I only plan to use it to pull that a couple times a year. I am hoping the upgrades I will be doing to the motor will put it equal to a stock early cummins, so if i can get it to that point I think the 465 will do just fine with it. I appreciate your input, that is what this site is all about, learning from each other. Any other input you have is welcomed. Cant wait to get home and get going on this thing!

[JPalmer81]

I think the wide wheel and fat tire bug has bitten me!!! What are some opinions on some classic white spokes say 12 inches wide with some nice fat thornbirds? I have heard some bad things about the thornbirds, but i have been drooling over them since i was a kid!!! Dont worry i will have a more reasonable set of wheels and tires for long trips, just think that for puttin around town the white spokes and thornys would be sweet and look really good on the crew!

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by JPalmer81

Yeah, I agree about the 6.2/sm465 being a very easy to maintain driveline and that is what attracted me to it. I have had several trucks with the 350/sm465 combo and they were perfect in my eyes, although I have had a 6.0/NV4500 combo that was very nice too. I dont have the camper yet, but it will probably be around 5000lbs and def not more than 10000lbs and I only plan to use it to pull that a couple times a year. I am hoping the upgrades I will be doing to the motor will put it equal to a stock early cummins, so if i can get it to that point I think the 465 will do just fine with it. I appreciate your input, that is what this site is all about, learning from each other. Any other input you have is welcomed. Cant wait to get home and get going on this thing!

Keep in mind that the Cummins engine behaves much differently than a modded 6.2. Power comes right off idle and they tend to put out their max torque at 1400 rpm while a 6.2 is around 1900 rpm. On a 6.2, you have to rev it like a gas engine to be able to take advantage of the power.

The 1st generation Cummins were rated at 160 hp. With a pair of Stans headers and exhaust, you should be able to exceed that. However, the difference is that at 2000 rpms or less, the Cummins will flat out run away from the 6.2 since at those low rpm's, the 6.2 is not anywhere close to it's peak horsepower. Peak horsepower on a 6.2 comes at right around 3600 rpm's.

[joe231]

momma always said if you don't have anything nice to say....don't say anything.