89 GMC Cummins conversion

[COS399]

Thanks guys. Having one of these heavy beds is the only way to go on a dually. Yes, it has 1st gen motor and Getrag transmission. I had it put in 14 years ago and only cost me $7k back then. I had the 4.10s removed and dropped in 3.55s about 8 years ago.

[COS399]

The $7000 cost was: 3,500 for the wrecked 93 donor truck, 3,000 for labor, and 500 for additional parts. Of course he couldn't put the 1st gen intercooler in so I had Ken do it in 2005 or so.

[COS399]

I started my truck yesterday morning and when I started to turn the wheel I noticed that the steering was firm, it then loosened up and felt normal. After parking it and shutting it off I noticed the power steering fluid must have had air again and overflowed out of the reservoir. Ken thought that it may have gotten a little low and sucked air.

Has anyone else had this problem and if so what is the solution?

[Dieselwrencher]

I've had this happen after a fresh build and I came up with it must be from air pockets in the system working their way out. I've had some trucks that were an utter pita to bleed out before and others that were cake.

[84chevyguyid]

[QUOTE=Dieselwrencher;6531233]Those Lokar dipsticks have sure went up. I'm going to wait to see how a manipulated stock one fits my truck before biting the bullet and buying one. I hate filling the trans in my Vette that has one. Such a small dang fill hole.

I had to use a lokar dipstick on my vette, tried every way to use the stocker and just couldnt get it to fit. The good thing is that once you get it full you dont have to do it very often. I didnt have a dipstick assy for the allison I am using on the crew cab but I had the stock replacement one that I bought for the 4l80e that wouldnt work in the vette. Its going to be tight to the firewall also and the bends just werent in the right spots, I tried heating it and adjusting it a little and that didnt work either. As an experiment I measured the overall length and cut both ends off and used a piece of silicone oil hose to connect them and I think that will work pretty slick. The dip stick goes in and out of it just fine and no tiny hole to try to fill it through. Nice project by the way COS!

[COS399]

[quote=84chevyguyid;6562313]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Those Lokar dipsticks have sure went up. I'm going to wait to see how a manipulated stock one fits my truck before biting the bullet and buying one. I hate filling the trans in my Vette that has one. Such a small dang fill hole.

I had to use a lokar dipstick on my vette, tried every way to use the stocker and just couldnt get it to fit. The good thing is that once you get it full you dont have to do it very often. I didnt have a dipstick assy for the allison I am using on the crew cab but I had the stock replacement one that I bought for the 4l80e that wouldnt work in the vette. Its going to be tight to the firewall also and the bends just werent in the right spots, I tried heating it and adjusting it a little and that didnt work either. As an experiment I measured the overall length and cut both ends off and used a piece of silicone oil hose to connect them and I think that will work pretty slick. The dip stick goes in and out of it just fine and no tiny hole to try to fill it through. Nice project by the way COS!

84ChevyguyID - Thanks. Filling up the trans was a PITA, but what I didn't care for is that on the factory dip stick you have your "cold" and "hot" range and on the Lokar it only registers when your in the "hot" range. That is if I had the correct OEM dipstick, not sure since I bought it used.

Your project us coming along nice as well. I think Mud Lake is off of I-15 on the turn off to Rexburg and St. Anthonys correct?

[84chevyguyid]

Yup, exit 143. Rexburg is east, Mud Lake is west. Where in MT do you live? Hey, found a pic of the dipstick. I think I will build some shielding around it to keep some exhaust manifold heat from cooking the handle. Its further away than it looks in the pic. I couldnt go any longer with the length of the dipstick.

[COS399]

Looks good and I'm sure it was a lot cheaper. I wrapped my exhaust down pipe up to the transfer case. Of course that wrap is kinda pricey as well. I am off of I-15 just north of Shelby. We ride out at St. Anthony a few times a year and most of the time we go down the Interstate and turn at the Mud Lake/Rexburg exit, but once we went the "scenic/tourist" route east of the interstate down to St. Anthony. It's a lot closer than Glamis and Glamis is too hot after February.

[84chevyguyid]

What do you ride on the dunes with? I dont get over there very often anymore. Back in the good old days we used to ride our sleds on the dunes all the time and that was a blast but now they are closed through the winter. They are fun on the 4 wheelers I have but only when it rains and it doesnt ever seem to rain here anymore

[COS399]

We ride Sport ATVs. Last year we rented a RZR for a day. I remember in 2006 it seemed like it rained every night we were there and made for some good dune riding. This past July we were about a mile from camp and got hailed on, managed to make it back to camp, changed clothing and went back out to enjoy the wet sand. We were about in the same spot when the rain and hail came back. After that we decided we would stay for the evening.

[COS399]

Not much done on the truck this weekend. I think I finally figured out how to properly bleed the air out of the HB system, when all else fails read the manual. I ordered up some speakers from Crutchfield last Sunday and they showed up on Thursday. The truck came with an aftermarket stereo, but no speakers. There was evidence of one of the speaker outputs being hooked up but the PO must have taken his speaker with him. I suspected my alternator wasn't working and sure enough my suspicions were confirmed when it wouldn't start after driving it home in the dark and letting it set a few days.

Tires and wheels should be here Thursday.

[collect t/as]

[COS399]

6BT 56 - the picture above is of my '88 12valve that my brother posted. My plans are to clean up the wiring and such later this year or at the least a good winter project.

[COS399]

On the firewall you can see the external voltage regulator that I merely unplugged after putting in the internal VR. This picture is about 3 years old and I have since removed it from the firewall. The mechanic that did this install back in 2000 never even tried to reduce the wiring under the hood.

Getting the exhaust system finished up later this week as well.

[COS399]

You can never have too many trucks.

[COS399]

Out with the old,

[COS399]

And in with the new.. I will add a tip when I find the right one.

[COS399]

I was hoping to show you the new sneakers as well but for some reason there was a glitch and they won't be here for another week. Go figure.

[84chevyguyid]

So are you going to be driving the truck the next time you come to ride on the dunes at St Anthony? I need to check it out if you pass through with it.

Mike

[COS399]

Mike - I still need to see if it fits underneath my FW toy hauler, otherwise will be using the W. Hauler. I will let you know when we are headed your way.

[COS399]

Need your input: Chrome tip or late model D-Max Bazooka tip??

[ryanroo]

i like those dmax tips. i rather hate chrome. thats my vote.

[Dieselwrencher]

I'd do a stainless tip. But the dmax tip would keep people wondering.

[6BT 56]

How funny would it be if the exhaust dumped down near the rear axle . Then you had a 1 7/8 tail pipe just hanging out the back to keep people wondering as you pass em in the hammer lane with a few thousand Lbs in tow . lol

[COS399]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

How funny would it be if the exhaust dumped down near the rear axle . Then you had a 1 7/8 tail pipe just hanging out the back to keep people wondering as you pass em in the hammer lane with a few thousand Lbs in tow . lol

Yep, I seriously considered leaving the dual exhaust that was on it with the small tail pipes for that exact reason.