1989 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Man everything looks awesome! Super jealous!

What condenser are you using on this truck Chevy, Dodge, universal? Whatever it is you should go with a parallel flow like all the 94+ vehicles have.

It has the stock condensor in it which is like you describe.

[1985-GMC]

So is it stock or a stock replacement with the new design? The type of condenser makes a world of difference, I used the stock one when I fixed mine because I was tight on money at the time but I should have just waited and bought the parallel flow one. I'm running R152a in my truck and it does really well even with the old condenser. It's one of the refrigerants that may get used when R134a gets banned in the next few years, and you can get it at Walmart for $4.97 per 12oz can. They use it in keyboard dusters and it is actually more efficient than R134a. Here's the condenser I was planning on using: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-UNIVERSA...ab4f4a&vxp=mtr
And what the R152a comes in: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ultra-Dust...igger/16630941
I do have to mention that is it slightly "flammable" under curtain circumstances, it will light with an open flame but it wont support a flame.

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks for the info. I'll be getting one of those for my 76. I'll advise the owner and let him make the call on it. I doubt he'll want to change it since we have half of thea/c lines already made. The a/c worked fine before so we'll see.

[ryanroo]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

You a Slacker Yeah right. You have a 44lb spool compared to my dinky 10lb'r. My new welder will hold a bigger spool I hope. And my cylinder isn't a T unit either. Another reason why you suck. Haha

Go big or go home right? what are you looking at for new ones?

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

So is it stock or a stock replacement with the new design? The type of condenser makes a world of difference, I used the stock one when I fixed mine because I was tight on money at the time but I should have just waited and bought the parallel flow one. I'm running R152a in my truck and it does really well even with the old condenser. It's one of the refrigerants that may get used when R134a gets banned in the next few years, and you can get it at Walmart for $4.97 per 12oz can. They use it in keyboard dusters and it is actually more efficient than R134a. Here's the condenser I was planning on using: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-UNIVERSA...ab4f4a&vxp=mtr
And what the R152a comes in: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ultra-Dust...igger/16630941
I do have to mention that is it slightly "flammable" under curtain circumstances, it will light with an open flame but it wont support a flame.

that was an awesome link. ive been entertaining the condenser in the back of my head, not really worrying about it. i need to get it figured out so i can mount it and get the hood latch done. i may try to run R12 since it works so well and i like vintage....

Ryan

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

Go big or go home right? what are you looking at for new ones?

Ryan

I ordered an Auto Arc 222, it should be here in a week and a half.

[ryanroo]

cant go wrong with blue! im not familiar with the auto arc, but the 212s have pretty much the same output, and i liked those a lot. i did and do a lot of structural MIG work, so i wanted something i could spray arc with at home. just in case i stumbled into some side work or something. Ill be interested to learn how it welds! and it should support the big rolls of wire.

[1985-GMC]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

Go big or go home right? what are you looking at for new ones?



that was an awesome link. ive been entertaining the condenser in the back of my head, not really worrying about it. i need to get it figured out so i can mount it and get the hood latch done. i may try to run R12 since it works so well and i like vintage....

Ryan

That one should be fine as long as you can make it work with your latch, Ive thought about putting two hood latches on either side of the intercooler and just remove the one in the center.

I plan on running R-12 im my GMC because I want it freezing cold and I already have a couple of cans saved I just need a couple more. I'm also thinking about switching over from the fixed orifice tube to an expansion valve like the 67-72 trucks to save the A6 from dieing.

[ryanroo]

i'll force it to work! hahaha it looks like ill have plenty of room, ill probably just have to hang it down a little. the I/C is away from the latch far enough that itll barely require a trim. i have plenty of space in front of it, and nothing stopping me from going down an inch or so as needed.

mosesburb has a set up in his burb that he says is an icebox. so i may use his plans and run the more modern stuff... that is to far away for me to worry about to much.

[1985-GMC]

With R-12 and a parallel flow condenser you will have icicles coming out of the vents!

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

With R-12 and a parallel flow condenser you will have icicles coming out of the vents!

This brings back a funny memory for me. We went to pick up my friend's dad's 64 T-Bird convertible from his step dad's barn. It was mid July and hot as balls out. We finally get the car running and pull it out of the barn. This poor thing was nasty dirty, and had a huge hole in the top from the coons tearing it up. Anyway, we were BSing by a tree and my buddy turns and runs thinking the t-bird was on fire. It was just frosty air from the a/c. I'll never forget that. That was crazy. The car barely had any power, but the a/c was better than most refrigerators.

[ryanroo]

I had a 77 c20 that was that way. i bought it to part but drove it for few days first. my mom borrowed it to haul some rocks for her garden. as she got in to go get them she made some comment about getting the raw deal on the swap(i had her trailblazer). i just smirked. when she brought the truck back she whined about how cold it was inside

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

cant go wrong with blue! im not familiar with the auto arc, but the 212s have pretty much the same output, and i liked those a lot. i did and do a lot of structural MIG work, so i wanted something i could spray arc with at home. just in case i stumbled into some side work or something. Ill be interested to learn how it welds! and it should support the big rolls of wire.

The auto arc's are made by Miller and use all the same components. I'm not sure what the real difference is. I have an auto arc 182xlt now. I'm just upgrading before my current welder says bye bye.

[Dieselwrencher]

More progress. I made a new bracket to mount the rear brake line to. I transferred the brake lines over from the old 14 bolt, and installed a new rubber line.



I also finished welding the tail pipe up. I had to remove 1" above the rear axle so the tail pipe wouldn't hit the fuel tank shield. This whole exhaust kit started out as a 4" after market kit to fit a 1993 Dodge cummins truck. I've modified what needed to be to make it work on this Burb.



Tony, the owner of the "V Rig", made this cool skid plate to protect the trans cooler. It is made from 1/4" aluminum, and has a hinge on the front so you can lower it down for maintenance or cleaning.

[1985-GMC]

Oh that's pretty cool! I might make something like that because I have a PTO winch to go under the front like that and that should protect it pretty good.

[Dieselwrencher]

Tail pipe cleaned up and painted.

[1985-GMC]

Sweet! Do they make a 5" for the first gens like that?

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Sweet! Do they make a 5" for the first gens like that?

No they don't. I don't think you can get 5" over the tcase and then over the rear axle on a first gen. Maybe over the axle, but it'd be really tight.

[Dieselwrencher]

I got the exhaust all finished up and installed. I didn't get as much done this weekend as I wanted to. I went hunting yesterday, and Saturday I took a conceal carry class and we had my daughter's 2nd B-Day party.

[v-man]

I can hardly hold my pants on. I can't to drive that bad ass and give that dump trailer a workout

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by v-man

I can hardly hold my pants on. I can't to drive that bad ass and give that dump trailer a workout

The driving part will be really soon! The radiator hold downs are made and drying right now. In the morning I have to finish the trans linkage set up, finish the grid heaters, and source parts for the vacuum lines. Fill the coolant system, drill and tap the exhaust manifold for a pyro probe, and go over wiring and such. It's really close.

[mosesburb]

Looks great man!! A word of warning on that skidplate for the cooler though; there are nowhere near enough holes in it to allow the cooler to be effective anymore. It needs to be more holes than metal and even at that, it will still be a SERIOUS restriction to airflow. Maybe some expanded metal with large holes would work better, but even that is a large restriction to free-flow air. Years ago a buddy of mine was running a racecar/engine development testbed and he was experimenting with different screens across the frontal opening to keep track debris/stones/etc out of the radiator and even wide pattern wire mesh creates a significant reduction in airflow. I never would have believed it myself, but it was hard to debate the actual test results. He ended up runing a wide mesh for the purpose really surfing the fine edge of cooling system preservation vs engine temp control. Not quite chicken wire, but closer to chicken wire than door screen. Just some food for thought.

[v-man]

Point well taken, Ryan thought it might be a problem but it looks so sweet on there, might have to remove until we can come up with something different.

[v-man]

Maybe drill 2 giant holes in that cheap tin foil front bumper on both sides of the winch and make some kind of ram air.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by v-man

Maybe drill 2 giant holes in that cheap tin foil front bumper on both sides of the winch and make some kind of ram air.

We can try that. Worst comes to worse, we can put a small electric fan on the cooler its self.


For some good news, we are making progress. Today Tony found the correct strap kit for the front frive shaft at the D60 yoke. So the drive shafts are done now. I got the radiator hold downs completed, and started on the trans shift linkage. The list of 35 things 2 weeks ago is down to about 8 now. Wahoo!

[Dieselwrencher]

Well, I didn't get as much done today as I would have liked to. When I got to my shop this morning, nothing wanted to light up due to the lovely temps. Any way, I did get the radiator hold downs installed, and finally got coolant in the system. Has anyone used Champion radiators before? I'm not real pleased with this one. First off the small fitting for the over flow hose was stripped out in the radiator neck. I repaired that last week. Today I went to tighten the plugs they provide for the 2 extra ports in the RH tank. They were both cross threaded. I had to drill them bigger and re tap them. Then go to Tompkins and get bigger fittings. What a PITA! Anyhow rant over.