1989 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power

[Indian113]

Looks like that thing belongs in there! Good Job Ryan

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Looks like that thing belongs in there! Good Job Ryan

Thanks Ray!

[Mattman2010]

Dude that thing looks so beast!
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[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Mattman2010

Dude that thing looks so beast!
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Thanks Matt!

[Mattman2010]

I need to bring my truck up there so you can just finish it for me haha
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[6lcummins]

Originally Posted by Mattman2010

I need to bring my truck up there so you can just finish it for me haha
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That would be a big HELL NO....

Well not until he gets the Longhorn done. Then maybe you two can work something out lol

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by 6lcummins

That would be a big HELL NO....

Well not until he gets the Longhorn done. Then maybe you two can work something out lol

Haha I know. I was just kidding. He keeps telling me his ford needs work and needs to get the long horn done so he can fix it.
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[Dieselwrencher]

Come up here Matt and I'll put you to work.

[Dieselwrencher]

Here's a butt shot of the Burb.

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Come up here Matt and I'll put you to work.

I would if I could!
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[ryanroo]

Smokey burnout vids?

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

Smokey burnout vids?

No not quite yet..................

[Dieselwrencher]

I made big progress on this this weekend. I got it running and moved outside and then the trouble started. It was icy-er than crap out, I can't get good fluid pressure to the rear brakes, so it only has front brakes. The trans was going crazy in drive, and the truck would push through the brakes and it would just slide out. I left it outside and thought I was going to have to remove the trans. Well after thinking on the couch last night, I figured I'd trouble shoot it first. This morning I went out and crawled under it and unhooked the valve body sol connector. I started it up and let it warm up.







The oil pressure gauge is working. When the engine temp got to 140* the oil started warming up and the oil pressure was down to 50psi. That gauge is hating life.

Last night the alternator wasn't charging, that was a simple fix. When I was tying up wires and such I must have pulled the connector part way out. I plugged it back in and now it charges. Imagine that.

Next issue, the idle is too high. I'd just adjust it down, but since the adjustment screw is under the head, I get to loosen the injection pump all back up and adjust the idle, then put it all back together.

I found out the problem to the trans too. Last night it was making a weird noise, and on top of the pulling issue, I was real leery. Come to find out, the over drive and lock up circuits were complete and the trans was just trying to do its job. Plus the trans was low on fluid, that was my noise. I forgot you have to check these in neutral, not park.

I need to modify my shift linkage setup. When the shift lever is in 2ND, the trans is in drive. I'm going to shorten and change the angle on the column rod's lever and hope that fixes it.




I need to recheck toe and set it too. Problem there is the clamp bolts don't want to turn in the nuts, so I need to replace those so they aren't a PITA! Over all, it's very, very close. The heat works awesome, stock gauges all work, even the horn works.

[v-man]

i dont see a smokin hot LBDP decal on the underside of the that hood

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by v-man

i dont see a smokin hot LBDP decal on the underside of the that hood

There will be one soon.

Today Nick started on the idle issue, and I fixed the trans linkage, replaced 2 missing bolts in the front drive shaft, and found a inspection plate for the trans. I cleaned it up and installed it. Tonight I'm going to hit the rear brakes after work and see if we can get this mobile for the next snow storm coming in tonight.............

[Dieselwrencher]

I ended up having to pull the trans out of this. We tore the trans apart and found a sealing ring on the front pump in the wrong spot. SOB! The trans and tcase are back in, so tomorrow I'll be trying it again.

[ryanroo]

here i'd thought you died! gonna say it again, SMOKEY BURNOUT VIDS!

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

here i'd thought you died! gonna say it again, SMOKEY BURNOUT VIDS!

Well, still no smokey burn out vids. I got it all back together, fought getting the RH tie rod bar clamp bolt. Finally ended up cutting it, replaced the bolt with a new one, set the toe, and fired it up. At first it was fine. I pulled it out side and checked the fluid. Got it to the cold range and tried to go drive it. It does the same crap it did last time. Tomorrow I'm going to swap valve bodies. If that doesn't work, I'll be throwing a different trans in it to get Tony going.

[Dieselwrencher]

No dang luck. I swapped valve bodies, and it'll move a little better in 4 low, but not in high side. I ordered a new torque converter and I'll be installing a different trans on Monday or Tuesday. After the truck is driving, I'll tear apart this trans and see if we can find out why it's being a PPITA!

[Dieselwrencher]

We pulled the trans Tuesday, got everything swapped over wednesday morning, and my trans jack crapped out! So off to Harbor Freight my bro went. He got back and we stabbed the trans and tcase. I started putting it back together, then went to work. After work I went back and we finished it up around 11:30. Took it for a test drive, and it was pretty sweet. Trans shifts so nice, the truck drives awesome, especially considering we were having 25mph + winds, it has plenty of power and cruises down the road at low RPM's. I'm betting it should do really well for mileage. I think my 76 might have to get lifted now..... It is gone back to the owner now! I didn't get any vids tough.

[6BT 56]

Its always nice to hear another one has hit the road. Have you ever had any exerience with newer chevy's . We have a 02 2500 burb that id love a cummins in. Makes me scared thinking abt making all the dash work tho. And I dont think they fit that nice unless you swap in a solid f axle. I would considder that tho if i was able to keep the lift to a bare min . Still needs to be the family hauler .

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

Its always nice to hear another one has hit the road. Have you ever had any exerience with newer chevy's . We have a 02 2500 burb that id love a cummins in. Makes me scared thinking abt making all the dash work tho. And I dont think they fit that nice unless you swap in a solid f axle. I would considder that tho if i was able to keep the lift to a bare min . Still needs to be the family hauler .

The newest chevy I've done was a 96 and we retained the 4x4 IFS. I got the engine, trans, and tcase in place and mounted up, and the customer finished the rest. I'm sure it can be done in the new body style. The dash stuff is just time spending reading schematics and getting your plan of attack.

[6BT 56]

How did it fit ? I was under the impression the oil pan was a no go around the Ifs diff. I kinda had a vision of a 90, 93 cummins, use the 4L80 and stock t case . Maby use a ford dana 60 up front. Very little lift and stock wheels . Or maby use another dodge as a donor . Use that dana 60 and the 205. I dont know much abt dodge overdrives tho. They expensive to rebuild ? Likely cheaper than a standalone controller for the 4L80. I wish I could talk the wife into a older burb like the v rig.

[6lcummins]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

How did it fit ? I was under the impression the oil pan was a no go around the Ifs diff. I kinda had a vision of a 90, 93 cummins, use the 4L80 and stock t case . Maby use a ford dana 60 up front. Very little lift and stock wheels . Or maby use another dodge as a donor . Use that dana 60 and the 205. I dont know much abt dodge overdrives tho. They expensive to rebuild ? Likely cheaper than a standalone controller for the 4L80. I wish I could talk the wife into a older burb like the v rig.

4L80 wouldn't last long behind a minimal build on a 6BT. Even if you have a lot of money to put into one. 47RH isn't horrible to build if you are going to stay under 500hp, but then again I'm used to people wanting to price a full race trans($8500-10,000 depending on where it comes from). You can do a refreshed 47RH, valve body, converter, and minor internal parts for roughly 4k shipped but it will be reliable up to 500hp, after that its time dig deeper in the wallet.

[6BT 56]

Not looking for high hp at all. Just a big truck for haulin the kids and the mutts tp the cottage. 200 hp at the rear wheels would be just fine by me .