91 D350 to Shortbed Utiline 4x4 build....pics :)
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Ok lets see...bought a 91 NIC cummins single cab long bed D350 auto for $2500 with 260k on it when it stopped counting. Sorry I don't have better before pics, I pretty much bought it, drove it for a week, started tearing into it.
Attachment 33408 Attachment 33409 Couple things wrong for me here, auto<--- NOT a fan, 12v although dependable, was tired and the bed was side swiped into something heavy and stationary by the previous Attachment 33410 Hit it so hard it broke the leaf and shoved the pass side axle back 3" creating a wicked crab walk down the highway. Still drove like a dependable old hag though. :rocking: Attachment 33411 It was 2wd and I just aint having that nonsense :tu:...and just plain ugly. However...I am in love with 1st gen Dodge Cummins trucks. So I removed the bed.... Attachment 33412 Attachment 33413 Started to unbolt everything 2wd and started on the grille as well.... Attachment 33414 Attachment 33415 Then started cutting all the remnant's of the 2wd junk out of the front in prep for the 4x4 conversion.... Attachment 33416 |
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Ok, heres where some of you may gasp, laugh, agree or cry.... but after much reading and deliberation I came to the conclusion that I DID NOT want a 1st gen D60 for a lot of reasons but mainly due to just the lack of dependability in the long run. Those are my opinions based purely on what I read across many forums. So I started to hunt..and I also came to the conclusion that for what I want a NV4500 is a MUSt and in stock form they have a drivers side drop, 1st gen D60's are pass. So I decided to go with a ford front and rear combo....so I got this. :jump:
Attachment 33399 Attachment 33400 Out of a 07 F-250 complete with Spring buckets, links, and brackets. And this... Attachment 33401 Out of an 04 F-250, I haven't looked up gear ratios yet but I will shortly. Gears are one of the last items on my immediate list. So I cleaned up the frame and crossmember a bit and started mock up.... Attachment 33402 Attachment 33403 Attachment 33404 Shortly after I started taking measurements, I had my first hurdle. The spring perches on the axle are 8.5" wider then the frame on each side totaling 17" total difference, and I REALLY want to keep the coils, so seeing the advantages of a wider separation in springs I opted to keep the axle susp stock and just build brackets for the frame. Got my fab tools ready...:yeah: Attachment 33405 Built a welding table in the process... Attachment 33406 Attachment 33407 |
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So I wanted to come up with a design from the standpoint, "If I jump this mother across the grand canyon, I want my engineering to be the only thing that stays in tact" So I came up with a design that brings a flat surface for the spring buckets 8.5" off the frame, and has attach points on both sides, top and bottom of the frame.
Attachment 33397 Attachment 33398 Once tacked in, this bracket will be fully boxed to the frame with 1/4" Ok, so my next obstacle was finding a bed. I REALLY wanted a Utiline bed in short form. I waited and looked for about 2 months and finally found one in Kansas. Off on the yellow lane road I went to claim my prize. It has no floor in the bed due to them being wood, but 0, Z.E.R.O. RUST through or soft spots!! Ill post pics of it tomorrow due to the bed being out in the barn and not in the shop. So here's where Im at as of today. I need to remove quarters/hood/radiator, radiator support etc. Remove the Cummins/Auto combo, build a 4wd crossmember from my 2wd, drop fuel/brake lines, mount the bed, cut the frame down to SWB status, reweld everything back in place, Replace fuel tank, fit the rear axle, order the NV4500/Transfercase, Clutch, fit etc etc. I ordered 3rd gen flip out tow mirrors should be here tomorrow, Ill have to build a bracket and weld it on as well. I want to make somewhere in the range of 600+HP and 1000+RWT, so I ordered a P7100 injection pump to do the PPump conversion and that just shipped today. The vision: Single cab, short step side bed, 3/4 Ton diesel frame off restored and many memories, headaches, funds shortages and hangovers created over the span of the build. Oh, and I jus picked up a Hypertherm 600 Plasma too... :yeah::choochoo::jump::rocking:. Theres a TON of stuff I don't know yet, for example all the fuel delivery stuff, pumps, etc and that's where Im counting on you fine people of interwebz land. Anyway Ill post some more stuff tomorrow, let me know what you think and hopefully you guys can answer the things that google cant. hahaha |
Wow that's gunna look sick. I wish I knew alot about mechanics and fabrication and what not. I can take a bobcat apart and rebuild it but I'm dumbfounded when it comes to truck motors and suspension and fab.
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your motivated... looking good!!
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I have a pair of those 07 axles too... will be watching this build closely. :c:
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Originally Posted by birdman01
(Post 1048893)
Wow that's gunna look sick. I wish I knew alot about mechanics and fabrication and what not. I can take a bobcat apart and rebuild it but I'm dumbfounded when it comes to truck motors and suspension and fab.
---AutoMerged DoublePost--- Ok, so here's my Utiline bed as promised, I work hitches..so around 15 days on and 5 days off. Next set of days off this bad boy with be sitting on my frame ready for mock up!!! :jump::rocking: Attachment 33393 Attachment 33394 Attachment 33395 Ive already sourced replacement parts and a wood bed for this thing. All in all, needs new tailgate, this ones got a a bit of a banana curve to it, new tailgate chains, and nuts and bolts to get it all mounted. Its going to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $900 to complete this bed for paint. Oh, and look what the brown box truck brought today. :tu: Attachment 33396 ---AutoMerged DoublePost---
Originally Posted by u2slow
(Post 1049015)
I have a pair of those 07 axles too... will be watching this build closely. :c:
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Sadly, no... I only have the bare axles. I need to find bits and pieces too.
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Originally Posted by u2slow
(Post 1049105)
Sadly, no... I only have the bare axles. I need to find bits and pieces too.
Here's my conundrum, without my job, I hath not the funds to build this dream of mine...but because I my job I can't get a dadgum day off to do ANYTHING. I managed to pick up a 4'x5' 1/4" sheet and a 3'x3' 3/16 sheet this morning JUST before getting called into work on my days off. On top of that I'll be spending the next couple of weeks out of town. :( Oh well, I will return with coin and new toys!! MUWAHAHA lol |
Awesome, Can't wait to see how the coil spring conversion turns out.
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