Backyard Cummins

[1972RedNeck]

If you want to run more boost, you should look into Mighty Diesel's head bolts - still not as good as studs but much cheaper.

[Dieselwrencher]

Just retorque your stockers and save up for actual studs. A broken allen bolt is no fun to get out.

[C20scott]

Plasti-dip was a bad idea on the door panels. It is somewhat abrasive/porus, and collects dust. Also, i started picking at it and it peels off very easily. The door panels need a slick, hard shell of paint, for getting in and out of the truck.

I have been changing jobs/locations over the past few weeks, no visible progress to post.

[C20scott]

Pulled the batteries out of the engine compartment, and mounted them on the frame underneath the bed. Used pre-made battery boxes from summit racing, and fully reinforced them with angle and square tube. Lighting is terrible for these pics...

[C20scott]

Grover Stuttertone 1510. Fire Truck Horn. Check out a video on youtube if you want to hear it.

I plan to have a full time on-board-air setup with a 20lb CO2 tank. A friend of mine gave me a tank for free. Once again, the lighting is terrible in this pic, makes it look like crap underneath the cab.

[C20scott]

Finally extended my exhaust past the passenger fenderwell. I added a 4" flex-pipe for engine movement, then adapted it to 5" once it leaves the fenderwell. It tucks up nicely, you cant even see it from the side of the truck. Eventually i plan to route it through the bedside in front of the rear tire. But for now it just dumps out. bad pics again sorry

[JointTech]

destroy anything that I might back into.

awesome

[ky-donzi]

Nice truck.

One thing, be aware you may have altered your rear pinion angle with the shackle flip. I have a shackle flip on a 80 K20, it kept eating U-joints and finally figured out what the problem was. IMO shackle flips cause more problems than they solve... if your not sold on it, or you have problems with u-joints, or tire-well aliment you may want to reconsider..... Other than my 2 cents......
AWESOME RIDE!

[C20scott]

The flip definately bettered(lessened) my pinion angle. I am running a double-cardan joint in my shaft though, so there is no issue with t-case to pinion alignment.

I can say that i am regretting the decision to do the flip because of the axle alignment issues, but i have already dumped to much money into this to change now! If i have issues down the road i will switch it back up.

[bignbad]

any up dates?

[C20scott]

Im pretty far behind on this project, i have been driving it around for the last few months and putting very little work into it.

I rebuilt a set of stock leafs that i got for free, urethane bushings, and the ORD offset blocks. My axle position and ride height are right on the money now...

[C20scott]

Then i spent some time aligning body panels. I was sick of looking at the truck the way it was. I spend about 70 bucks in krylon camo paint, 15 bucks in stickers, and an afternoon doing a light sand/prep job. This will be my temporary paint job.

[C20scott]

The short term list includes these items:

- Rear bumper install

- 40" tires and fender flares

- Getting gear ratio, diffs, and steering linkage dailed in

- Cleaning up wiring/relays and on-board air system

- Re-engineering the radiator shroud out of tube steel(i cant stand the hack job that i did to the stock one)

I have been driving this truck everywhere lately, mainly to see what its weak points are. Havent broken down yet...

[Dieselwrencher]

It's nice to hear you're drib=ving it and enjoying it. It is looking nice too. Keep at it!

[C20scott]

Decided to scrap the frame rail rear bumper idea and start fresh. 3/16 plate and tread plate. It isnt done yet, still need to box the backside in and make diagonal supports to the frame.

[PBO]

C20Scott, I'm currently working on putting a 5.9 Cummins in a conversion. It would be very helpful if I knew a couple of dimensions. I have no "old" Dodge chassis to refer to and I need the horizontal distance between the motor mount notches and the difference in height from one side to the other. The motor mounts on the engine have had the rubber centers removed by the previous owner and I now have the engine "hanging by chains between the rails. Info appreciated; great job you're doing. PBO

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice bumper! I like it a lot better than the frame rail one!

[ryanroo]

I agree on the bumper. way better than the framerail thing. Looking good!

[C20scott]

PBO - I could give you dimensions, but I would advise against fabbing up a complete set of custom mounts without some sort of test fit. If i did it all over again, i would move the motor 2" further back and 1/2" down. It would have saved me from needing to chop up the radiator shroud and hood(something that more experience would have solved). And You can buy those inserts pretty easily, I think energy suspension sells urethane ones...

Code6 - Get a piece of 1/8" sheet, or slightly thinner, cut a square hole. The dodge clutch master cylinder will basically "twist-lock" into place. Once i had that part perfectly sized on my workbench, i cut a larger hole in my firewall, then welded the sheet into place. I am in the process of reinforcing mine because i dont trust the plastic clutch MC.

[Code6charles]

Thanks for the reply, care to share your new ideas on the MC?

[1985-GMC]

Nice build! Not sure how I missed this one

[C20scott]

Dang, i like that yours is removable, and much cleaner. I welded mine to the firewall. I might have to cut it out and start fresh while im in the process of re-doing everything that i am not happy with. Im stuck in wiring land right now.

Here is the start to my relay/distribution box. the goal is to clean up the engine compartment. I may be mounting this inside a toolbox in the bed...

[seth7843]

Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time and doing a build thread that is informative and detailed for those of us looking to do a Cummins swap in the future. Also, props for doing this all outside in the driveway! Keep up the good work.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on your relay install and wiring work!

[C20scott]

Back after a year! This truck has undergone another major overhaul, especially in the last 2 months.
- Completely rebuilt rear axle with detroit locker, anti-wrap bar is in the works
- Revised fuel tank and filler, again.
- Revised suspension, longer leafs front and rear. DIYB52 kit up front. Longer rear shackles.
- Reworked wiring throughout engine compartment
- Fully custom radiator shroud to allow use of stock hood latch, new hood.
It rolled for the first time in 6 months last week, here are some photos.

Pic1 - Ditched the silverado seats, went back to stock. Cleaned up a bare seat frame, cut the foam myself, had it reupholstered locally.

Pic2 and 3 - I stripped the paint from the door panels, and wrapped them in my favorite camo vinyl wrap. I used the high quality stuff and took my time, great option in my opinion. They are in the truck now, no pictures yet.