55*6BT My 55 w/ Cummins power

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[1972RedNeck]

Don't know how I missed this one - subscribed.

[II_Slow]

Put the fenders back on the bed, finally got happy with the positioning of the bed and permanently (yeah, right!) mounted it, then centered up the rear end and dialed in the pinion angle. Tacked the lower shock mounts and spring perches on, then dropped the rear end back out and permanently welded the brackets on. Lost about a quart of brakefluid over night, that stuff is just nasty! Thought I had it capped good enough, but obviously not. Also pulled out the driveshaft and removed the u-joints to make sure I got the right replacements. After several failed attempts, I gave up on reassembly without a press. I need to have a new driveshaft made (actually just re-tube what I have), so I'll just let the driveshaft shop install the new u-joints. I did get my temporary drive shaft laser straight but I dont trust the butt-weld or balance. I just cut down one section of the factory driveshaft, then used hose clamps to secure each end into a piece of 3-inch angle iron and that worked great to keep it straight. It's also a little short. Re-tubing my driveshaft using my old yokes is only about $100 and it will get balanced so why not.

I spent the evening stripping some harnesses and connectors off of a few donor trucks for the cruise control and ABS. I was expecting to be eaten up with chiggers this morning since the trucks were all in tall grass but so far so good. I also got the cruise control servo I needed so I'll find a good spot to mount that. I trudge on.......

[II_Slow]

Dropped the drive shaft off at the shop this morning for a quick retube and balance.
Woke up yesterday to rain and cool day - we don't get that often here in Texas in July so I spend the morning cleaning up the shop and confirming the wiring on the keyless remote start. I'm convinced it's wired right so I'm going to send it back in for bench testing. Also connected the tach output from the alternator to the Dakota Digital dash. It reads about 3000RPM at idle and sweeps when I rev the engine so it should just need a calibration if I can find a timing light with a strobe feature. Worst case I can just back the idle readig down to about 750-800 and it will be pretty close for now.
Picked up my brackets from the fab shop this morning. Just plates with slotted holes to allow me to set the fender positioning. I can't wait to get the driveshaft in and the fenders pinned in place. She's getting a road test at highway speed soon, who needs a windshield anyway?

[lower50's]

Sounds like some good progress! When you get it up to about 80mph put some goggles on and your mouth shut.

[II_Slow]

Well the driveshaft is too long. I gave him dimensions from both the tailshaft flange, and the end of the tailshaft which protrudes 1-1/4" beyond the seal. He said he was only interested in the masurement to the flange. Guess he should have listened, now he has a do-over on his dime......
Also ranout of options in the Guard Dawg keyless ignition - it is going back for bench test or replacement.

[Kim57]

Cool.
Kim

[lower50's]

Very cool. It's nice to prove with black marks all over town that yes it runs and has gobs of torque.

[brimc]

Weak or not that is pretty awesome!

[II_Slow]

Oh, well. I've got this too if i really want to make some smoke and leave some marks.

[lower50's]

What motor and what ET?

[II_Slow]

394 CID 18-degree SCB with about a 400HP nitrous shot (38/32 tune in the fogger).
5.20's at 138 in the 1/8th mile which would be very low 8's 1/4 mile. She's been sitting a lot since I'm spending so much on the 55!

Let's see, racing a Chevy-powered Ford, pulled by 55 Chevy truck on a 99 Dodge frame with a third-party (Cummins) diesel engine. Sounds about right.

[lower50's]

Oh sweetness is!!

[Dieselwrencher]

That's an awesome mustang man! Sure gets with it too! Very nice!

[II_Slow]

I drove the 55 about 3 miles to a local car show this weekend. Got the class award as under construction. This was the first time at highway speed!

Ran through the gears great (just 1-3, no overdrive and lock-up yet as those will be under PCM control). I finally have the bed sides, tailgate, and rear fenders mounted securely, as well as the front fenders so all of the rattles are gone except for the steel bed floor which is just laid in place. Just as I got up to highway speed (with no glass, no seatbelts, no lights, no insurance, and no registration no doubt), I drifted over onto the rumble strips cut into the highway just out side the white stripes. Man I thought she was coming apart! Vibration in the steering wheel, the bed floor rattling, etc. Very loud without glass in the truck. Steered back off of the rumble strip and and was well, just scared the crap out of me for a couple of seconds.

It's almost 100 degrees here every day lately. Too hot to work on it very much except weekends and after dark so progress is slow.

It was good to get her out of the shop and out into the sunlight though.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice! Those first drives you're always listening and waiting for any surprises. Congrats on the win! Can't beat that!

[lower50's]

Sweet!! you will remember that drive forever. Did you check your shorts after the rumble strips? LOL

[Purcell69]

One more big step!

Congrats!

-Joe

[II_Slow]

I think I have the bed setting too high on the frame. I have never had the steps on so I'm not sure how the bottom of the bed aligns to the cab, but the top of my bed looks low relative to the features on the back of the cab. If I have to raise the bed, I'll move the spring perches up on the fame to lower the ass end. I'll get my ride height where I want it - it's too important not to. Stance is everything!

[II_Slow]

Lots of stuff going on outside the shop lately. Go tboth kids in college, had to relocate my daughter to Virginia (20 miles from home!) where's she accepted a softball scholarship (pitcher), the boy is back at A&M. Got way behind on projects around the house, and was shopping for a travel trailer but finally got back in the shop. Modified the back of the cab to mount some filler panels, LizardSkinned the back of the cab and the backside of the panels.



Waiting to sort out the speakers and the center console before burning them in permanently.



These should just need a little padding and upholstery.

Working on the remainder of the center console now.

Found my transmission leak - the pan flange is warped/bent. Probably just buy a cast alumnium pan which will help with cooling and capacity any way.

Can't wait to get the truck on the road. Should be pretty cool towing 29-foot travel trailer behind the '55. I considered a classic Air Stream or similar but just couldn't pass up the deal I got on a new one.

[Dieselwrencher]

Life sure has a funny way of eating up project time. That's awesome your daughter got a scholarship! Congrats on the new purchase. It will be cool to see it behind your 55.

[lower50's]

Congrats to your daughter. Can't wait to see the trailer on the '55, it will get there some day soon.

[II_Slow]

I have been working on the console and wiring a little here and there. the console holds the stereo, heat/AC controls, push button start, window and door lock switches, USB and Audio jacks, charger, etc. so theres a mess of wires to manage. Ignore the big red bundle, that's just temporary to keep it mobile (fuel shut-off, fan, alternator, etc.).



I also tried to mount the steps for the first time this week. Guess I got duped and bought the wrong steps so just when I thought I was through buying body panels but I guess I'm in back in the market for steps.

[II_Slow]

Sorry - no recent pics. Just lots of wiring. I’m getting it all squared away. It looks a lot better with the temporary wiring cut out.
AC/Heat controls done in the cab, not done under the hood.
Stereo controls done except I don’t have switched 12-V from the ignition yet
Wipers done, including washer.
Alternator wiring done
Fan controls done (except the signal to run with AC on)
Oil Pressure and Water Temp done
Fuel level mostly done (need to terminate at the tank)
The harness to the back of the truck is done and the lights are hung, but not connected yet
Harness for front low beam, high beam, left, right, park lights, and horn is ran but nothing terminated.
USB/Audio jack wired.
PB start button mounted and wired
Headlight switch done
Steering column wiring done except horn and cruise.

Sill a lot of wiring to do. I want to go ahead and pre-wire for door locks and window power. Pretty neat to see everthing start to "come alive" on the truck. I'm an electrical Engineer by trade so the wiring is the least intimadating thing on the whold build.

Since I had cut out all of the temporary wiring, I did not even have the fuse box or ignition powered. Temp got down to low 20's here last week so I needed to add anti-freeze and run the engine to circulate it. No problem on this 12-valve. Just tiewrap the fuel shutoff to the run position and run wire over to the starter. Took about 20 minutes to get hot enough to open the thermostat but she ran without a singe wire connected (except the primary wire to the starter post). Just cut the tiewrap when I was ready to shut her off.

I also powered up the stereo for the first time. Thank God it worked just fine (bought used). Lots of cool features - XAV-601BT with 6.1 inch touch screen. Trying now to find space for two 6x9's, a 1200-watt amp, and a 10-inch sub. Damn these cabs are small!

Bought new bed steps from Brothers. I hate buying new metal - I would have much preferred old OEM metal but I've had my fill of chasing parts.

Anyway, sort of feels like I'm on the home stretch now. Just need to get her shipped off to paint in a couple of months. She starts right up and runs great. Can't wait to turn up the p-pump.

[lower50's]

Sounds great!!! One word of caution, where your trans cooler is. I mounted mine there under the bed and had to move it due to not enough cool air. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!