Yes, it was amazingly well taken care of, there are actually many areas of dents, while many are not bad, they still need to get fixed. I plan to do, or have done as much body work as possible and not just fill the dents with bondo.

Ignorantly I thought it would not be as much work as it is, but I will have one amazing truck when it is done. A prized possession for me and my company to use for shows and events.

Yeah the 39 was the only year with the unique stainless front trim and the California special... I had NO idea what I was buying when I looked at it. All I knew is that it looked cool and would be a good project because it was in overall good condition. When I looked at it, it was parked under a tree, a few windows broken, wet in the rain and it was dark. You know the best conditions to look at any project vehicle... NOT. I just got lucky!

So today I finally felt better, I was able to clear out a room in the shop clean up some of the other stuff, moved the engine onto an engine stand, separate the trans again and put the engine in the engine room. I have a little wiring to do to get the room all set up. So now I have a clean place to work on rebuilding the engine and trans. Just need a good work table, and more shelving, I have tons in the shop but it is all full. I am sure I will need loads of shelf space for all of the parts.

 

Ya I agree with you I would love to have my dream car 1970 dodge challanger or (charger) with 440 six pack so far lack of money and most are in really bad shape Right now my Project is a 96 dodge in my sig. Goals are 500hp and paint might be a dark blue with silver

 

Good plan on your truck. Much of my project is just surplus steel ($0.69/ lb) electricity, grider wheels from Harbor freight, welding wire and gas... but there have been some expensive parts like the air ride, front and rear axles, and extra donor truck, and in the near future all of the stuff to build up the engine, trans and paint for the whole truck.

 

thanks, my goal is 500-650hp daily driver with about 28mpg on the highway, how long it's going to take to get there i dont know one pice at a time starting with tranny then engine

 

I know everyone wants photos... So I have been taking some over the last few days. Enjoy;

I think it is time for new injectors


Looks like some water got in when I was cleaning it


Uh Oh, hope this is not deep


Bottoms up


Old cam looked good, but still planning a new one


Cheap Valve compressor from Harbor freight only $13


Use a magnetized pick to take out the keepers


Some needed a little motivation to break free


Nasty


Is this a bad sign, looked bad to me


All of them out and lined up


I started to hone the exhaust side, there was parting lines, bumps and all sorts of stuff to clean up. I am not sure how far I want to bore it out, mostly just looking to reduce the turbulence. I was so dirty I did not want to mess up the camera... I will take them in the AM

 

Well today actually turned out to be a good day. We started by setting up for a tradeshow, and had the thing set up really fast and easy, we were not able to drive in and there was not a forklift. But we found a large cart to haul stuff in and a nice guy setting up his booth helped set our branded 10’ long lighted sign atop the 8’ walls.

We then planned to go to a few parts yards and find some parts I needed, the first one had no Cummins trucks, I called 4 more that had nothing. I am amazed that there are no diesel trucks at the parts yards, that may be why people have been stealing parts from me… they can not buy them. So we finally decided to go to a semi truck parts place. I love this place, tons of huge engines, parts, and everything from torn down semi tractors, and all sorts of stuff. Today when I went I saw a guy who is normally there, told him I would look around for what I wanted, but he was feeling nice and allowed us into one of the buildings. He then found the guy who knew where everything I needed was and without much effort we found the exhaust header, thermostat housing with a different elbow, there had to have been 50-100 York compressors, bendix engine mounted and other types of air compressors that would work on my truck. I was able to find the serpentine belt pulley and clutch for my compressor. It seems like each time I go there I am introduced to another building filled 20’ high with every part for any larger truck. Pistons the size of buckets, fuel tanks… ok sorry but that was a great find and it seems to just be getting better with each visit. When I went to the office the guy said he knew me to get a better price, well it did not really work so I paid $125 for the pulley, exhaust header and thermostat elbow. I guess it was an ok price but we had to search, the parts were in bins of seemingly discarded 5.9L parts that apparently had been there for 3 years. Anyways the guy who helped me find the parts “accidently” put the rest of the air compressor in my basket as we were leaving, so that was a great deal.

So after that score I headed over to The Steel Yard, I picked up some plate I need to fabricate the AC Compressor mount. I found what I needed there, they sent me down the street for a 2” 90* elbow. I was able to pick up a 2” schedule 40 weldable pipe elbow, a little extra 2” pipe for coolant nipples, and a threaded bung for the heater and accessories that take coolant from the system. It looks like I now have most of the stuff I will want and need to build the accessory mounts.

Everyone was especially helpful and nice today, it was refreshing. The first time I went into that parts place they just looked at me like what the hell is this yuppie doing here and tried to get me out of there before I got dirty and complained… now they know better that I don’t care about getting dirty and love to look at the parts and possibilities.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

 

So I am looking into other transmission options. I really hoped that I could just build up the one I have but it seems increasingly silly and expensive. The transmission I am looking at is the Allison MD3060 the issues are the diameter is larger and does not taper as much as the 47RH so I may need to revise the floor and the firewall for the 3rd time. The transmission is also electronic so it will be more complicated than the older transmissions which are mechanical.

Anyone have working knowledge of the MD3060, have you done a conversion on one before?

Here are the specs on the trans;
6-speed automatic with lock up, push button shifting
Gear ratios:
First: 3.49:1
Second: 1.86:1
Third: 1.41:1
Fourth: 1.00:1
Fifth: .75:1
Sixth: .64:1
Reverse: 5.03:1

Stall torque ratio.........TC 411-2.71; TC 413-2.44; TC 415-2.35;
TC 417-2.20; TC 418-1.98; TC 419-2.02; TC 421-1.78

Standard Rating
Gross input power (maximum).......................275 hp (205 kW)
Gross input torque (maximum).................800 lb ft (1085 N�m)
Net input power (maximum).........................265 hp (198 kW)
Net input torque (maximum)...................780 lb ft (1058 N�m)
Rated input speed (minimum-maximum)..............2000 - 2800 rpm


Guess I also need to figure out which torque converter ratio to use???

 

I am getting close on finishing the honing of the exhaust side of the head. I found that the sanding things I am using work well on the exhaust for a while then they break lose and are like a flap disc with one flap and that is when I go to the intake. I have been able to take out the parting lines and clean up the overall flow of the intake this way without needing to mill off the intake. I am not increasing the diameter much if any but I am increasing the flow by reducing resistance. I was surprised to look in there and see the pieces sticking out. I guess it is good that none of the pieces broke free and went into the engine! If you take your head off, look in the intake side with a flashlight that should scare you.

Once I get the rest of the intake and exhaust cleaned up I will go to the coolant part of the head. I just got the Band saw today so I can get to work on fabricating up the twins and the accessory side of things. I am thinking I will get the fabrication of everything on the engine done then send the head off to inspected and decked. I do not want to get the head all perfect then f it up with the fabrication.

I have not been taking photos of the time consuming process of honing the exhaust, sorry but it not that interesting.

 

SO after spending time cleaning up the saw, making sure it was in good and safe condition I set up a piece of 1" thick plate to cut... the blade came off at least 20 times. So after cutting that piece, I spent a lot of time tweaking everything I finally was able to keep the blade on, so I got to cutting the second time. I walked 20' away came back to find the motor on fire, flame shooting out of each end of the motor. WTF

Here are some photos of what I have been trying to figure out. I am trying to finalize the location of the turbo, compressor and where to put the compound turbo. I had to take the waste gate off to get the turbo to fit in a few places, if I put the turbo down it is so far back the exhaust is going to be difficult. Forward and up and there is little room for the alternator.

 

Sweet build!