My crewcab 4x4 cummins project

[Pullin81]

well i bought another crew cab..you may remember the bagged crew cab dually i was building with the cummins...well i sold the truck and decided to go up instead of down....its an 1985 GMC K3500 welfare model...there isnt even an interior light in it...It has a running 350/4sp manual which is perfect for my cummins swap... the only problem that in a little sketchy on is the front drip rails here missing for how long i dont know.

Alot of the steel on the truck needs to be replaced but thats fine im not shooting for nut and bolt resto on this on its just onna look cool and be functional.

my plans are to go threw all the steel...cab corners, rockers, new doors, short box conversion, install a 8 inch lift and 37" tires, fab bumpers which i have a local guy in town doing for me that used to build alot of them...stick the 12V in the truck with the 5 speed, and run a devorce transfer case ...

heres some pics from my phone the truck looks alot better in the pictures than it does in real life....its gonna be some work but it will be worth it in the end....i plan on doing every bit of work to this truck on my own with the exception of the bumpers cause it was a little trade deal we had.

[palposity]

Looks like a great specimine to start with! Love the diesel plan!

[dlhughes2005]

can't wait for build pics! gonna be an awesome truck, good luck!

[Pullin81]

« Reply #5 on: Today at 10:49:07 PM » Quote Modify

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well ive been slacking so quick update....i aquired another crew cab due to rust on the other cab that i didnt want to deal with.... might have been fine but i dont need it to rust out in a few years after its all done...i want to drive this unit full time....so i got a 2wd crew cab from a guy ive done some work for in town told me i can have the truck if i pull the engine....so the last 2 days myself and a few buddies tore out drivelines and front ends, and cabs i put the 80 cab on my 4x4 frame whish i kind of like the 73-80 front end they look more " heavy duty". Also ordered a crossmember from avalanch engineering, and searching for a 8 inch lift that om hoping to have for next weekend....

[Devillusion]

Nice...planning on doing more a less the same thing with my cab and chassis. Will be watching this one like a hawk.

Why the new crossmember? Fitment issues with the cummins?

[joe231]

who is the rider in the green cab?

Sounds like a cool project....count me in!

[babyJay]

Subscribed! Similar work in the near future here.

[ruffrida2005]

cool truck.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Devillusion

Nice...planning on doing more a less the same thing with my cab and chassis. Will be watching this one like a hawk.

Why the new crossmember? Fitment issues with the cummins?

Yes, the cummins is really tall and the stock crossmember has to removed and lowered to get the engine down far enough to be able for a bell housing to come up without hitting the floor on the cab.

[Pullin81]

Woo hooo got a lift kit pieced together ships out tomorrow.... Hopefully a weekend project getting the cross member in and the lift in... Lift is from Bds there making an 8" for my truck none of that soft ride springs.... Going with an additional leaf in the front spring pack and getting an extra inch block for the rear just in case it sits nose high. ..... Yay excited
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[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool!

[GMC87]

I have been looking into doing this myself on my 87 crew, may be a while though.

Sounds like you already have a good grasp on what you need to do, but just in case I found a ton of info here http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/index.php on Cummins swaps.

Looks good so far, I will watching to see how she comes out.

[Devillusion]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Yes, the cummins is really tall and the stock crossmember has to removed and lowered to get the engine down far enough to be able for a bell housing to come up without hitting the floor on the cab.

So why not just do a body lift if you are building a lifted truck? Just curious, not critisizing....just want to know before I jump into doing mine.

[Dieselwrencher]

***On Edit, Pullin81, if you would like this deleted just let me know. I don't want to fill your thread with pics of other trucks than your own build. ***

A body lift a lone won't be enough to get the engine where it needs to be. You can do a body lift and set your cross member according. Another critical thing I should mention is axle to oil pan clearance. On a stock suspension chevy like these, the cummins oil pan is real close and can hit unless you lift the truck or alter the oil pan.

For instance here are the pics of my brother's 84 K20 I started a few years ago. It has a 6" lift with 36's. This truck does have a 3" body lift. I had to put it on to clear the ford ZF5 speed bell housing and the engine adaptor because I didn't want to cut the freshly painted firewall.

Engine sat in.

New cross member before paint.

Side view of engine in truck.

[Pullin81]

also that front sump oil pan probably makes for clearance issues to eh?

[walkerb]

I'll subscribe to anything Cummins!

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Pullin81

also that front sump oil pan probably makes for clearance issues to eh?

It does. But it isn't bad at all on his truck. I got that engine cheap and gave it to him. I might change it later, but I doubt it. It has plenty of clearance and those hold more oil which will help keep oil temps down and oil longivity will stay up too.

[Pullin81]

well i did a little work on the truck today...got the hydroboosts systems swapped off the cabs , and the crossmember in from avalanch engineering.....lift kit is supposed to be here on wednesday and hopefuly tackle that this up n coming weekend.

[Devillusion]

So, with the clearance issues at hand with the crossmember and the front differential, could you not just put motor mounts in place, and relocate the crossmember somewhere further back with some DOM tubing or something that does not need so much property?

Just curious, not critisising. Just want all the ins and outs before I start mine is all.

[Pullin81]

Originally Posted by Devillusion

So, with the clearance issues at hand with the crossmember and the front differential, could you not just put motor mounts in place, and relocate the crossmember somewhere further back with some DOM tubing or something that does not need so much property?

Just curious, not critisising. Just want all the ins and outs before I start mine is all.

Im sure you could fab something to cradle the pan a little further back for support like tubing and build mounts from there...myself i went this way because i planned on a big lift anyways and i dont have the best tools to try n make them on my own....i did my last crew cabs mounts on my own it took me a while to get it done but i managed....when i looked at this cross memeber on avalanch engineerings site to it looked like it was going to be a monster peice but when it got here i was supprised how small it is....deffinatly not a direct bolt in like it says took a little bit of trimming but very minor....

[Dieselwrencher]

The one Auto World sells is much nicer, but is a little more costly. Once I get a 73 up 4x4 truck to use for mock up, I'm going to start building some.

[Pullin81]

well worked my off the last three days after work... got the bds 8" lift in and the cummins set into place

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice progress!

[walkerb]

I’m jealous!

[pvkj454]

Originally Posted by Pullin81

also that front sump oil pan probably makes for clearance issues to eh?

You may already know but the 5.9 Cummins pans will bolt on either way. My engine had that same front sump pan. I just bought a rear sump pickup tube and spun the pan around and bolted it up. I can't remember what the application for the pickup tube was but it is deeper than a Dodge pan.

Your build is looking good.