new old project back under way - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Marty Gable · 01-22-2009, 05:26 PM

Howdy to all fellow truck guys,
Starting my COE project back up again. Sad part is that I have had this thing for prob 8 years now, tossed and turned about what to run for drive train. Untill recently with gas prices going up then back down and without doubt heading up again. The COE is getting stretched about 5' for a back seat, still not sure if im doing a 4 door cab or 3 door version. I do know that I plan to use the Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel for power and drivetrain, most likely 92/93 model with a 5 spd manual. One question I have is, I understand that the Dodge 2wd models had junk front ends (yes its Dodge we all know its junk to Chevy) and that the 4wd model was better? Thoughts?

Marty

solidaxel · 01-22-2009, 05:37 PM

Welcome back Marty.

Nice project you have there, and I am sure it will be as nice as your pick up when you are finished

pickupman96 · 01-22-2009, 06:02 PM

Most all dodge front ends are junk. The CTD is very heavy. I have rebuild the one on my 02 CTD 4x4 twice in 4 years. I would stick with a chevy end

Marty Gable · 01-22-2009, 06:09 PM

Thanks pickupman, just not sure how much work I would have to do to fit in the cummins motor to the 73 gmc chassis i have

pickupman96 · 01-22-2009, 07:01 PM

The swap should be easy. Here is a link to the crossmember http://www.avalancheengineering.com/new_products.html Also check out destroked.com. Between the two it will make the swap easy. I have bought parts from both and very good stuff and awesome service.

mylow53 · 01-22-2009, 08:50 PM

i love the diesel idea. i drive a 03 dodge diesel and i wanted to do the same for my build but rethought the concept when i weighed my 4x4 truck. my full size truck empty weighs 8,000 pounds. i would venture a guess that at least 6k is over the front wheels. i don't know what those engines weigh. But you will have problems steering with that weight over the front and essentially nothing over the rears. you may want to consider a small diesel. they have some big 4 cyl that produce some big power. i forget what they are called but i know lots of guys put them in jeeps

pickupman96 · 01-22-2009, 10:45 PM

The 5.9 cummins 1st and 2nd gen, 89-98 has a wet weight of 745lbs. All the newer 5.9's are 760 due to the extra 12 valves in the 24valve.

mylow53 · 01-22-2009, 11:35 PM

what about the attched tranny do you think it would push it over 1k?
GT

pickupman96 · 01-23-2009, 06:40 AM

It will all depend on what trans, auto or standard. With a stock dodge 5 or 6 speed yea it will. If you got the adapters and ran a m-21 or something like that no. Also 4wd or 2. That will make a huge diffrence.

Marty Gable · 01-23-2009, 09:31 AM

morning gents, its really good getting feedback on this project! The original thoughts were to find a 89-03 dodge and strip all the sheet metal off of the truck and just use the chassis, but after conversations with a guy up here where i live he tells me that the 4wd version is a better suit only due to the front suspension being better then the 2wd version. I would prefer to run a 5spd or 6spd if available in it. The thoughts of the 73 gmc chassis that i alread have came into this only because of the comments that the dodge 2wd chassis was junk. Not sure if any aftermarket stuff would help or improve the original dodge 2wd chassis or not. As far as choosing the cummins over say a 4 cyl izuzu motor well reasons for that are I plan to pull my small 5th wheel rv with this when going to car shows as well.

Lextech · 01-23-2009, 11:28 AM

I think I would keep the GMC chassis under it. Remove the engine bracketry--You will need to fab mounts anyway--and box the frame from the back to up past the engine crossmember. I would think that would be plenty strong. You know you would rather have a GM chassis under it anyway, and you already have it.

Jeff

Marty Gable · 01-23-2009, 12:12 PM

I agree Jeff, it was coming down to, if i have the whole truck am i ahead to keep all of the chassis since it would be a complete unit, tranny in place fuel tank lines etc vs a complete design and fab of everything into the other chasis. I know that people have done the swaps... guess i will have to look closer. And thanks for the compliments on my 47, I did post pics here of it, I think it may be under my profile pics? if not i can post some back here of it. Let me know.
Marty

01-22-2009, 05:26 PM	#1
Marty Gable Still working on the COE Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado Posts: 71	new old project back under way Howdy to all fellow truck guys, Starting my COE project back up again. Sad part is that I have had this thing for prob 8 years now, tossed and turned about what to run for drive train. Untill recently with gas prices going up then back down and without doubt heading up again. The COE is getting stretched about 5' for a back seat, still not sure if im doing a 4 door cab or 3 door version. I do know that I plan to use the Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel for power and drivetrain, most likely 92/93 model with a 5 spd manual. One question I have is, I understand that the Dodge 2wd models had junk front ends (yes its Dodge we all know its junk to Chevy) and that the 4wd model was better? Thoughts? Marty Attached Images

01-22-2009, 05:37 PM	#2
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: new old project back under way Welcome back Marty. Nice project you have there, and I am sure it will be as nice as your pick up when you are finished __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

01-22-2009, 06:02 PM	#3
pickupman96 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Danbury, Ct Posts: 49	Re: new old project back under way Most all dodge front ends are junk. The CTD is very heavy. I have rebuild the one on my 02 CTD 4x4 twice in 4 years. I would stick with a chevy end __________________ 72 Shortbed, fleetside, 4x4, 307,4spd. 55 second, 350, 4spd, almost done 77 K-20, 454, 4spd, plow truck 96 K-1500, 6 inch lift, 178k still going strong

01-22-2009, 06:09 PM	#4
Marty Gable Still working on the COE Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado Posts: 71	Re: new old project back under way Thanks pickupman, just not sure how much work I would have to do to fit in the cummins motor to the 73 gmc chassis i have

01-22-2009, 07:01 PM	#5
pickupman96 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Danbury, Ct Posts: 49	Re: new old project back under way The swap should be easy. Here is a link to the crossmember http://www.avalancheengineering.com/new_products.html Also check out destroked.com. Between the two it will make the swap easy. I have bought parts from both and very good stuff and awesome service. __________________ 72 Shortbed, fleetside, 4x4, 307,4spd. 55 second, 350, 4spd, almost done 77 K-20, 454, 4spd, plow truck 96 K-1500, 6 inch lift, 178k still going strong

01-22-2009, 08:50 PM	#6
mylow53 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: thousand oaks, California Posts: 732	Re: new old project back under way i love the diesel idea. i drive a 03 dodge diesel and i wanted to do the same for my build but rethought the concept when i weighed my 4x4 truck. my full size truck empty weighs 8,000 pounds. i would venture a guess that at least 6k is over the front wheels. i don't know what those engines weigh. But you will have problems steering with that weight over the front and essentially nothing over the rears. you may want to consider a small diesel. they have some big 4 cyl that produce some big power. i forget what they are called but i know lots of guys put them in jeeps __________________ Greg 1953 chevy 1/2 ton 5 window, chevy 350 330 horse 700r tranz, lowering spindels mustang 2 frount. ford 9", airbags on 4 corners . purchased in 1983 for $325 while in high school http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=215079&page=5 Last edited by mylow53; 01-22-2009 at 08:54 PM.

01-22-2009, 10:45 PM	#7
pickupman96 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Danbury, Ct Posts: 49	Re: new old project back under way The 5.9 cummins 1st and 2nd gen, 89-98 has a wet weight of 745lbs. All the newer 5.9's are 760 due to the extra 12 valves in the 24valve. __________________ 72 Shortbed, fleetside, 4x4, 307,4spd. 55 second, 350, 4spd, almost done 77 K-20, 454, 4spd, plow truck 96 K-1500, 6 inch lift, 178k still going strong

01-22-2009, 11:35 PM	#8
mylow53 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: thousand oaks, California Posts: 732	Re: new old project back under way what about the attched tranny do you think it would push it over 1k? GT __________________ Greg 1953 chevy 1/2 ton 5 window, chevy 350 330 horse 700r tranz, lowering spindels mustang 2 frount. ford 9", airbags on 4 corners . purchased in 1983 for $325 while in high school http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=215079&page=5

01-23-2009, 06:40 AM	#9
pickupman96 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Danbury, Ct Posts: 49	Re: new old project back under way It will all depend on what trans, auto or standard. With a stock dodge 5 or 6 speed yea it will. If you got the adapters and ran a m-21 or something like that no. Also 4wd or 2. That will make a huge diffrence. __________________ 72 Shortbed, fleetside, 4x4, 307,4spd. 55 second, 350, 4spd, almost done 77 K-20, 454, 4spd, plow truck 96 K-1500, 6 inch lift, 178k still going strong

01-23-2009, 09:31 AM	#10
Marty Gable Still working on the COE Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado Posts: 71	Re: new old project back under way morning gents, its really good getting feedback on this project! The original thoughts were to find a 89-03 dodge and strip all the sheet metal off of the truck and just use the chassis, but after conversations with a guy up here where i live he tells me that the 4wd version is a better suit only due to the front suspension being better then the 2wd version. I would prefer to run a 5spd or 6spd if available in it. The thoughts of the 73 gmc chassis that i alread have came into this only because of the comments that the dodge 2wd chassis was junk. Not sure if any aftermarket stuff would help or improve the original dodge 2wd chassis or not. As far as choosing the cummins over say a 4 cyl izuzu motor well reasons for that are I plan to pull my small 5th wheel rv with this when going to car shows as well.

01-23-2009, 11:28 AM	#11
Lextech Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oak Forest, Ill. Posts: 194	Re: new old project back under way I think I would keep the GMC chassis under it. Remove the engine bracketry--You will need to fab mounts anyway--and box the frame from the back to up past the engine crossmember. I would think that would be plenty strong. You know you would rather have a GM chassis under it anyway, and you already have it. Jeff

01-23-2009, 12:12 PM	#12
Marty Gable Still working on the COE Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado Posts: 71	Re: new old project back under way I agree Jeff, it was coming down to, if i have the whole truck am i ahead to keep all of the chassis since it would be a complete unit, tranny in place fuel tank lines etc vs a complete design and fab of everything into the other chasis. I know that people have done the swaps... guess i will have to look closer. And thanks for the compliments on my 47, I did post pics here of it, I think it may be under my profile pics? if not i can post some back here of it. Let me know. Marty

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