89 GMC Cummins conversion

[MTCK]

Nice work. I had this micro sub from JL in my 77 and it sounded awesome. I've thought about getting the double driver version for my crew cab but it isn't cheap.

http://www.jlaudio.com/cp108lg-w3v3-...-systems-93133

[COS399]

MTCK - Thanks for the information. A lot has changed since the last time I bought a sub woofer or amps. I know I am dating myself but back then two Punch 45s were all you needed. I had some Punch 15" and then went down to 12"s.

[superduty_59]

Looks great. I love the diesel conversions especially the Cummins conversions. I have always wanted to do a 24v but p-pumped. No electronics and no expensive vp44. Yours wasn't too bad to wire up then?

[COS399]

Superduty_59 - Thanks. No, it wasn't that bad to wire up. Dieselwrencher has a 24V with a VE pump.

I got my front differential put back together last night and tonight I will replace the brake master cylinder . On Friday she has a date at the alignment shop. Still working on the stereo, but I have to get the truck out of the garage to be able to use my table saw and build my sub box or boxes.

[COS399]

Well, I got the alignment done and the new tires put on. I did not have my laptop when I went to the alignment shop and haven't reprogrammed the transmission controller with the new tire size until tonight. What a difference it made. I have put about 200 miles on it with the controller still thinking it had 30" tires instead of 35" tires. The fuel mileage seems horrible and it takes a lot of pedal to get it moving. Now that I have reprogrammed the tire size it takes off like it used to with the smaller tires. I will be filling it up tomorrow to find out how bad the fuel economy actually was.

The alignment shop informed me that I need to decrease the angle between the steering gear box and the steering knuckle as well as replace the tie rods that connect them both together. The caster or camber also needs to be adjusted but I need to buy some more parts for that as well. I am not sure of what brands I should use and which ones to stay clear of. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

As for the subwoofer box, it is still on the back burner.

[MTCK]

That's exciting that you're up and running! I like Napa chassis parts if you can find the higher dollar made in the USA parts. They usually have two grades of parts if I recall correctly. How much lift do you have? Might need steering correction. Looking forward to the pics.

[COS399]

Originally Posted by MTCK

That's exciting that you're up and running! I like Napa chassis parts if you can find the higher dollar made in the USA parts. They usually have two grades of parts if I recall correctly. How much lift do you have? Might need steering correction. Looking forward to the pics.

I believe it is a Rough Country 6" but there were no steering correction options for this kit. There were however other options with some of their other kits.

[MTCK]

Unless you are going to go get all flexed out on the trails, I'd get the D60 kingpin block and stud kit. At the same time put in the steering brace that they sell.

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/steeringcorrection.htm

[COS399]

Well the F*rd 6.0 starter has already gone south. I have only put about 300 miles on the truck and started it up about 100 times. Yesterday I drove it down the road and shut it off and when I went to start it up it wouldn't do anything. I had to travel 120 miles , one way, just to go get another starter and pay $172 for the starter plus the fuel to drive up and back.

It was a good thing I wasn't far from the house because you have to grind a relief in the mounting flange of the new starter to get it to fit. It's funny because when I was installing the first one I thought that I should probably buy a second starter and grind the relief in it and then store it in the toolbox just in case something like this happens. Maybe Ken will make it right and then I will have my spare starter.

[Dieselwrencher]

Good luck getting a replacement fo free man. My 95 goes through 1 6 uh oh starter a year. I baught a life time warranty one from Napa and I literally have put 4 starters on the truck in 3 years. Biggest down fall of the destroked adapter IMO!

[COS399]

I talked to Ken, at Autoworld Conversions, this morning and he said to drop the starter off and he would give me another one fo free. Ryan I sure hope your wrong about having to switch them out that often. If that's the case I may have to keep two spares in the toolbox and consider going back with a 6 speed M/T.

[84chevyguyid]

Now you guys are making me nervous. What exactly goes bad on them? Burning out? The drive? I ground the rib down on the block on my motor so the stock starter fits it, thats what Destroked told me to do.

[Dieselwrencher]

The solenoids seems to crap out fairly soon on them. I've had 3 starters stay engaged after you crank the engine. Not cool. I keep a spare solenoid in mine in case I get in a bind where no parts store is open at least I might be able to get it going. Worst case I can pop start mine though.

[84chevyguyid]

Is this on the 6.0 motors or the 5.9 conversion ones?

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 84chevyguyid

Is this on the 6.0 motors or the 5.9 conversion ones?

If you use a Destroked adapter plate, they are designed to use a 6.0 PSD starter. So even if you use a chevy, or ford trans, you have to use the 6.0 starter on a Destroked adapter plate.

[COS399]

Originally Posted by 84chevyguyid

Now you guys are making me nervous. What exactly goes bad on them? Burning out? The drive? I ground the rib down on the block on my motor so the stock starter fits it, thats what Destroked told me to do.

I went back through the directions that came with my conversion kit and I did cut the rib down as much if not just a tad more than what was written. I did not want to go further and possibly compromise the block for the starter bolt. I sent you a PM with dates for the dune trip.

[COS399]

A friend of mine was going to Great Falls today so I had him drop off my defective starter at AutoWorld Conversions and Ken switched it out with a new one.

Also, on the NAPA starter there was a note to not over tighten the main wire nut to prevent damaging the solenoid. I guess we will see what happens. The starter in my 12 valve has been in there for about 12 years and has never left me stranded.

[COS399]

Well, it's a good thing I got that starter back from Ken, modified it to fit and put it in my tool box. Yes, the "New" Napa starter has already gone out. Nine days and maybe Nine starts and it's toast. Same symptoms as before, no start.

[COS399]

This reminds me of my 12 valve swap. After it was put in, it ran good for a few months and then started acting up. If someone would have come by and made me an offer to buy the truck I probably would have sold it. I kept telling myself that whoever bought it would fix it for less than $10 and I would be kicking myself in the pants for not finding the problem and fixing it myself. After rebuilding the injection pump and 2 of the 6 injectors, it still didn't work. I talked to Cummins repair shop and after telling me that it was going to be $90 per hour to work on it, I decided that I could change a lot of parts myself for that kind of money. I changed the lift pump with no resolve before deciding to fuel the lift pump from a 5 gallon fuel can. It ran great and this helped narrow down my search. I bypassed the electric fuel pump, that the mechanic that did the conversion, placed between the lift pump and tanks with a piece of fuel line and two clamps. Problem solved. So for less than $10 I fixed it myself.

On this truck I am not sure what to do? It's a good thing nobody is close by waving money at me. Maybe my flux capacitor is putting out too many Jigawatts??

[ryanroo]

I had a WHOLE year go by once when my jeep gave me some guff. even worse, i was about 99% sure i knew what the problem was. it was a $125 new ECM and five minutes to fix. at no time in that year was i financially unable to buy the part, i just never did. then one day, i make one phone call and three days later it was purring like a kitten just like nothing ever happened. I am really glad i didnt sell it during that time. my biggest advantage was that it was parked at the shop where i work and i didn't ever see it.

some times they test you a little.

[COS399]

Ryan I'm sure we all have these kind of stories.

Well I just came back from installing the new starter with negative results. I pulled it back out and bench tested them both and they both seem to work fine. I put Kens new one back in just in time before it started raining. I couldn't get it to crank so I left it sitting in the parking lot at the office. The bad thing is that is suppose to rain pretty heavy here for the next few days. I guess when the rain quits I will start to dig back into it. Stay tuned everyone.

[Dieselwrencher]

Did you use a solenoid to trigger the starter, or what else is in your circuit now?

[brimc]

If you "bench test" and they seem fine, have you tried jumping the sol while its on the engine? Also does it engage or "click" and no spin or just nothing at all? It sounds like it may be an issue in your starter circuit, not the starter itself.
We all need the rain but I hope it lets off long enough for you to figure it out.

[COS399]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Did you use a solenoid to trigger the starter, or what else is in your circuit now?

No solenoid to trigger the starter. I have a wire going up to the electrical block on the firewall which feeds the whole truck except for the amp. The amp is wired to the battery with an 80 amp fuse in line. IIRC the alternator goes down there as well.

Originally Posted by brimc

If you "bench test" and they seem fine, have you tried jumping the sol while its on the engine? Also does it engage or "click" and no spin or just nothing at all? It sounds like it may be an issue in your starter circuit, not the starter itself.
We all need the rain but I hope it lets off long enough for you to figure it out.

As for trying to jump it while it was on the vehicle, I did try this and it sounded like maybe the solenoid kicked the gear out sometimes but no spin. Also, when the key was on and I tried jumping across, there would be a spark and nothing. When I removed the screwdriver you could hear the lift pump cycle.

Still raining so I probably won't get to it until next week.

[COS399]

The rain stopped long enough for me to mess with the truck but still no luck. I put the 2nd starter (Napa one) back in and all it does is click a little bit as if the batteries are nearly depleted. When I hooked a remote starter switch from the positive side of the battery to the small trigger contact and activated the switch, the solenoid would kick the gear out but it would not turn the starter motor. When I used a set of jumper cables to ground the starter and hook the positive side to the large lug, where voltage comes in to the starter, I could get it to crank over slowly. I took another set of jumper cables to go from one vehicle to the other but it didn't make it crank over any faster than before.

I brought home both batteries to charge, both starters, and I will probably need to add a ground from the battery straight to the starter, look at possibly replacing the new cables that we built when we were putting the truck back together. Give me some time and I will figure it out.