87 Chevy Crew Cab 4x4 Converion/Cummins swap

[lower50's]

Wow just read your build you did a great job. I totaly agree with the built not bought. I love the mechanical diesels, very little to go wrong. I have plans to put a 4bt in my '87 jimmy some day.

[DieselRat]

We used to comment on each others builds in the 47-54 section. Maybe you saw my post that I sold that truck and brought you here! Thanks for the comments. Now if I had put this 6BT in my 54 GMC, I'd probably still have it!!!

[DieselRat]

Got tied up and didn't get out to a good photo spot to show off the truck, so I got some cleaned up driveway shots instead. Picked up a bunch of pieces to put together a proper intake this morning, and new gasket for the MC because suddenly the paint on my frame started to shrivel up from brake fluid splashing out of the reservoir!





eventually that big loom on the firewall will disappear, didnt't want to hack anything up until I knew I didn't need it!





my driveway has been through hell from this build!

[Dieselwrencher]

Man, that is one clean truck. You did a great job on the 4wd swap and the cummins install. Great work.

[NastyBuzzard]

It looks awesome!

[Eyegore]

I agree your truck looks great!!!
As far as the driveway just look at it as your truck sweating

[lower50's]

Yes I saw you sold it and saw that you where building this. Looks real nice.

[DieselRat]

So sounds like I've got a bearing squeeling or something going on around the clutch area. Only seems to happen when I get some speed up, seems to come in around 45mph or so. Doesn't really go away with the clutch in or out, in gear or not. I'm thinking in the clutch release bearing, but no idea. I think tonight the TC and trans are coming out before something creates more damage than it needs to!

[AnotherWs6]

That thing is beefy. You did some good work there.

Whispering........tuuuuuuurbo

[DieselRat]

Thanks! More I drive it the more I like it. Its different going from a 24v with a built auto and an edge box that RIPS, to shifting a 12v, but equally cool in each respect.

I may have jumped the gun on my trans noise, I'm NOT planning to yank the tranny YET. Did some cruising around last night, and the noise is a constant, it doesn't build or get louder as driveline speed increases, and its actually more below to behind the shifter, not in the bellhousing area. I need to find someone else to drive so I can stick my ear closer and see whats what.

I did pull the AFC housing last night to do a little investigating and sure enough it already has a fuel pin in it but the star wheel was backed out almost all the way and the 'smoke screw' was played with, so that sort of explains why I get a jump in low end power and some hazing, then dies out on top end. I didn't mess with it too much for now, but glad to know that saved me $100 on buying a new pin!

[NastyBuzzard]

Making me wish more and more I could afford a cummins.

[DieselRat]

Deals are out there, but all in all if I was to do it again I would look for a rotten 4x4 truck to use as a donor and get all the pieces in one shot! It was just easier to do a little here and a little there, but the numbers were all the same in the end.

[Chevy3+3]

Originally Posted by DieselRat

Thanks! More I drive it the more I like it. Its different going from a 24v with a built auto and an edge box that RIPS, to shifting a 12v, but equally cool in each respect.

I may have jumped the gun on my trans noise, I'm NOT planning to yank the tranny YET. Did some cruising around last night, and the noise is a constant, it doesn't build or get louder as driveline speed increases, and its actually more below to behind the shifter, not in the bellhousing area. I need to find someone else to drive so I can stick my ear closer and see whats what.

I did pull the AFC housing last night to do a little investigating and sure enough it already has a fuel pin in it but the star wheel was backed out almost all the way and the 'smoke screw' was played with, so that sort of explains why I get a jump in low end power and some hazing, then dies out on top end. I didn't mess with it too much for now, but glad to know that saved me $100 on buying a new pin!

Is it an NV4500? Were you hearing the noise more in 5th gear or any gear?

[DieselRat]

Mostly 4th and 5th. I'm aware of the 5th gear problem, which is the curse is trying to find OTHER problems because thats the go to problem with these trans. It had the 5th gear nut fixed.

[Chevy3+3]

Originally Posted by DieselRat

Mostly 4th and 5th. I'm aware of the 5th gear problem, which is the curse is trying to find OTHER problems because thats the go to problem with these trans. It had the 5th gear nut fixed.

I swapped an NV4500 into my truck. It hadn't been ran in a while because the truck was wrecked but had about 10K on a rebuild. I bought it from the guy who decided to part out his truck. It made a little noise but anything with gears is noisier usually anyway.

I decided to change the oil in it. They recommend filling them 1 qt over the fill plug. The last quart will need to be added thru the shift tower. You can't use just any gear oil. Most everyone says use GM or Dodge oil. It is worth the price of gold at about $30/qt. I actually used Amsoil MTG. It is specifically formulated for the NV4500 transmission and I got mine bought for around $12-13/qt. I have not had any problems with it and my transmission has gotten quitter and shifts smoother. I believe that Redline oil makes an oil specifically for the NV4500 also.

[Chevy3+3]

Originally Posted by DieselRat

Got tied up and didn't get out to a good photo spot to show off the truck, so I got some cleaned up driveway shots instead. Picked up a bunch of pieces to put together a proper intake this morning, and new gasket for the MC because suddenly the paint on my frame started to shrivel up from brake fluid splashing out of the reservoir!





eventually that big loom on the firewall will disappear, didnt't want to hack anything up until I knew I didn't need it!





my driveway has been through hell from this build!

Could you do me a favor and get me the measurement from your front wheel well opening to the ground? I am just curious to see how high it sits with the springs you used compared to mine. Thanks

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Chevy3+3

I swapped an NV4500 into my truck. It hadn't been ran in a while because the truck was wrecked but had about 10K on a rebuild. I bought it from the guy who decided to part out his truck. It made a little noise but anything with gears is noisier usually anyway.

I decided to change the oil in it. They recommend filling them 1 qt over the fill plug. The last quart will need to be added thru the shift tower. You can't use just any gear oil. Most everyone says use GM or Dodge oil. It is worth the price of gold at about $30/qt. I actually used Amsoil MTG. It is specifically formulated for the NV4500 transmission and I got mine bought for around $12-13/qt. I have not had any problems with it and my transmission has gotten quitter and shifts smoother. I believe that Redline oil makes an oil specifically for the NV4500 also.

He hit it on the head. I'd replace the fluid and see how it sounds. Over fill it a quart like mentioned. Midwest trans in Minnesota has the fluid and it is affordable too. The 5th gear synchro can get noisy on these things. I've had some be noisy for ever and ever.

[DieselRat]

I'm already with you guys. Got Amsoil MTG in the trans and it was filled about 1 qt over. I may try changing out the fluid just to see how it looks and for the hell of it.

Aside from that I put some miles on it, runs and drives nice! Wife and kids are very happy with all the room. Started to put my HX35 on it last night but it got wicked chilly and just didn't get to finish.

I will get measurements for you tonight on the height of it. So far it has settled a tiny bit in the rear but hardly at all in the front which is opposite of how I thought it would go!

[Chevy3+3]

Originally Posted by DieselRat

I'm already with you guys. Got Amsoil MTG in the trans and it was filled about 1 qt over. I may try changing out the fluid just to see how it looks and for the hell of it.

Aside from that I put some miles on it, runs and drives nice! Wife and kids are very happy with all the room. Started to put my HX35 on it last night but it got wicked chilly and just didn't get to finish.

I will get measurements for you tonight on the height of it. So far it has settled a tiny bit in the rear but hardly at all in the front which is opposite of how I thought it would go!

Good deal. My wife didn't care my my CC at first. She just wasn't brought up driving older trucks. That's all I grew up with was riding in squarebodies. Since she's rode in it now for a couple of years she is starting to like the truck more and more because of all the extra room the CC has. Although she's still amazed how my almost 30 yr old trucks turns more heads and gets more compliments than brand new trucks on the rode, lol.

I love the way your truck looks now. This body style and the fact that its a dually lets you get away with running a slightly smaller tire and still have the extra lift look good. I like the way it looks. You did a great job on the conversion.

[DieselRat]

Thanks a lot! I was just blessed to have my wifes support through the whole project. Not many guys get away with 'hun, I'm gonna buy a 1987 truck, and tear the whole thing apart, swap the engine yada yada and its gonna be out 'new' replacement truck'....say whaaa!

But really, I've had my 00 cummins for about 5 years now and its been a great truck, but with 2 growing kids, hauling us and all our crap in an ext cab short bed just doesn't fit comfortably. Plus I'm trying to become debt free, not in debt more and certainly not for a vehicle. After selling my 00 I will only have a couple grand more into this chevy than my proceeds from that sale. Plus like you said, the cool factor went way up!

Oh and I pulled the cap off to haul in a new couch the otherday, I will update with some cap-less pics tomorrow.

[DieselRat]

Haven't driven the truck all week. Decided I was going to try and get this HX35 put on and plumb up the charge cooler setup. Figured I would start on the turbo side since there was a little more going on there than intake side. Got the turbo on and clocked, a little massaging of the passenger inner fender and it was good. Put the intake ram on the other side and wouldn't ya know it hits my brake master. Scoured the web looking at pics of other conversions and I guess just my luck with engine placement theres no room and no way to make it work. Went down to the cummins shop near me and scoured through their misc pieces trying to find a different elbow and just wasn't coming up with anything. So I got a hold of a piece of 3" J bend stainless pipe and made up my own! Its not welded to the flange yet in this pic but heres what I came up with.



Hopefully finish that up tonight, planning monday to go back down to the shop and check my timing and some other things and get it running better.

[Dieselwrencher]

Do you have a pulse adapter to hook to a timing light to check your timing?

[DieselRat]

I don't, I'm taking it down to a shop near me to do a couple things including timing on monday.

[DieselRat]

Just a little update.

Put the stock turbo back on and took it down to the shop. Timing was off a bit so we adjusted that. Then played with the pump some. Definately woke it up a little. Didn't want to go to crazy until I get a set of gauges, so theres definately more to be had once I get that all sorted out.

Also figured out I am definitely going to need to get a drop pitman arm. My steering rod ends are a little out of their comfort zone. Hauled a crapload of firewood this weekend, gotta love a 1 ton. Didn't matter whether I had 1 piece of wood or an overflowing bed full, it didn't seem to notice a difference either way.

So now that I am broke, I'm going to order a new pitman arm, then just drive this thing for a while and save up for some gauges. Then the short long term plans are, gauges, injectors, finalize the turbo upgrade and finish my exhaust up right, carpet and more sound proofing. oh the list goes on...

[Chevy3+3]

Sounds like you've nailed down a plan. I wouldn't have thought you would need a drop pitman arm. Do you have a picture showing the angle of the steering arm? I'm thinking about bumping my lift another 1 1/2" but I hate to change out pitman arms, lol