Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Smokey burnout vids?

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

No not quite yet..................:mm::lol:

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

I made big progress on this this weekend. I got it running and moved outside and then the trouble started. It was icy-er than crap out, I can't get good fluid pressure to the rear brakes, so it only has front brakes. The trans was going crazy in drive, and the truck would push through the brakes and it would just slide out. I left it outside and thought I was going to have to remove the trans. Well after thinking on the couch last night, I figured I'd trouble shoot it first. This morning I went out and crawled under it and unhooked the valve body sol connector. I started it up and let it warm up.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...128_102955.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...128_103014.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...128_103006.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...128_104859.jpg

The oil pressure gauge is working. :lol: When the engine temp got to 140* the oil started warming up and the oil pressure was down to 50psi. :lol: That gauge is hating life.

Last night the alternator wasn't charging, that was a simple fix. When I was tying up wires and such I must have pulled the connector part way out. I plugged it back in and now it charges. Imagine that.

Next issue, the idle is too high. I'd just adjust it down, but since the adjustment screw is under the head, I get to loosen the injection pump all back up and adjust the idle, then put it all back together.

I found out the problem to the trans too. Last night it was making a weird noise, and on top of the pulling issue, I was real leery. Come to find out, the over drive and lock up circuits were complete and the trans was just trying to do its job. Plus the trans was low on fluid, that was my noise. I forgot you have to check these in neutral, not park.

I need to modify my shift linkage setup. When the shift lever is in 2ND, the trans is in drive. I'm going to shorten and change the angle on the column rod's lever and hope that fixes it.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...127_134702.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...127_134730.jpg

I need to recheck toe and set it too. Problem there is the clamp bolts don't want to turn in the nuts, so I need to replace those so they aren't a PITA! Over all, it's very, very close. The heat works awesome, stock gauges all work, even the horn works. :lol:

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

i dont see a smokin hot LBDP decal on the underside of the that hood:whine:

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

There will be one soon. :lol:

Today Nick started on the idle issue, and I fixed the trans linkage, replaced 2 missing bolts in the front drive shaft, and found a inspection plate for the trans. I cleaned it up and installed it. Tonight I'm going to hit the rear brakes after work and see if we can get this mobile for the next snow storm coming in tonight.............

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...129_120956.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...129_121013.jpg

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

I ended up having to pull the trans out of this. We tore the trans apart and found a sealing ring on the front pump in the wrong spot. SOB! The trans and tcase are back in, so tomorrow I'll be trying it again.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

here i'd thought you died! gonna say it again, SMOKEY BURNOUT VIDS!

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Well, still no smokey burn out vids. I got it all back together, fought getting the RH tie rod bar clamp bolt. Finally ended up cutting it, replaced the bolt with a new one, set the toe, and fired it up. At first it was fine. I pulled it out side and checked the fluid. Got it to the cold range and tried to go drive it. It does the same crap it did last time. Tomorrow I'm going to swap valve bodies. If that doesn't work, I'll be throwing a different trans in it to get Tony going.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

No dang luck. I swapped valve bodies, and it'll move a little better in 4 low, but not in high side. I ordered a new torque converter and I'll be installing a different trans on Monday or Tuesday. After the truck is driving, I'll tear apart this trans and see if we can find out why it's being a PPITA!

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

We pulled the trans Tuesday, got everything swapped over wednesday morning, and my trans jack crapped out! So off to Harbor Freight my bro went. He got back and we stabbed the trans and tcase. I started putting it back together, then went to work. After work I went back and we finished it up around 11:30. Took it for a test drive, and it was pretty sweet. Trans shifts so nice, the truck drives awesome, especially considering we were having 25mph + winds, it has plenty of power and cruises down the road at low RPM's. I'm betting it should do really well for mileage. I think my 76 might have to get lifted now..... It is gone back to the owner now! I didn't get any vids tough. :(

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Its always nice to hear another one has hit the road. Have you ever had any exerience with newer chevy's . We have a 02 2500 burb that id love a cummins in. Makes me scared thinking abt making all the dash work tho. And I dont think they fit that nice unless you swap in a solid f axle. I would considder that tho if i was able to keep the lift to a bare min . Still needs to be the family hauler .

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

The newest chevy I've done was a 96 and we retained the 4x4 IFS. I got the engine, trans, and tcase in place and mounted up, and the customer finished the rest. I'm sure it can be done in the new body style. The dash stuff is just time spending reading schematics and getting your plan of attack.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

How did it fit ? I was under the impression the oil pan was a no go around the Ifs diff. I kinda had a vision of a 90, 93 cummins, use the 4L80 and stock t case . Maby use a ford dana 60 up front. Very little lift and stock wheels . Or maby use another dodge as a donor . Use that dana 60 and the 205. I dont know much abt dodge overdrives tho. They expensive to rebuild ? Likely cheaper than a standalone controller for the 4L80. I wish I could talk the wife into a older burb like the v rig.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

4L80 wouldn't last long behind a minimal build on a 6BT. Even if you have a lot of money to put into one. 47RH isn't horrible to build if you are going to stay under 500hp, but then again I'm used to people wanting to price a full race trans($8500-10,000 depending on where it comes from). You can do a refreshed 47RH, valve body, converter, and minor internal parts for roughly 4k shipped but it will be reliable up to 500hp, after that its time dig deeper in the wallet.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Not looking for high hp at all. Just a big truck for haulin the kids and the mutts tp the cottage. 200 hp at the rear wheels would be just fine by me .

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

My old boss had a p-pump motor in an H1 with a 4l80E behind it. it never even squeaked. engine was almost stock but the rig was HEAVY. i wouldnt be afraid of it for a mild towing people hauler.

Ryan

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Ya that was my thoughts too. The 4l80 has 370 000 km on it and just keeps going. I figure with a good rebuild it will work fine. Then i can use the original transfercase and electric shift. I dont know much abt standalone trans controllers tho. Will reasearch that. I think I better get the 56 goin gfirst tho!!

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

This truck is now for sale................................................

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Huh??
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Geeze . What inspired that? Everything seemed to be exactly what he was looking for ???

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

So did his wife not like it or something?

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

That sucks man!

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

I don't get it either, but it isn't my decision..............................

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Suburbans make great family vehicles, Ryan. Just sayin'.....

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Come on Ryan lets be fair. "You don't understand" I would be willing to set down on this Thread and with you and take a polygraph. First off lets talk about talent. Over this past year I've seen a talented young man, thats my sons age transform a truck that i'm in love with(if it's possible to love a truck) into something that I had been dreaming of for quite awhile. Ryan definitely knows his way around a Cummins and does awesome fab work. I approached Ryan over a year ago about this project Via telephone. Ryan then stopped and looked at it and took some pictures. Keep in mind this is my daily driver and I'm selling my 99 f 350 dually 6 speed 4x4 " work truck" to help finance this project. I was told X=time to do conversion( 5 weeks) y=labor and Z=approx. cost of new parts and this quote was with not doing anything just dropping off the donor truck and the beast. The short version is I'm way way over on XYandZ with Ryan still feeling like has more Y coming to him. I spent alot of my own time helping which I enjoyed, Ryan a good kid and fun to around. And when I finally get the truck after approx a year it still isn't right and and is going to cost me me more Y to probably get there. I'm so upside down in this project that I have to sell it. And its ripping the heart out of my chest. And by the way my wife loves the truck, Just saying!

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

We got it worked out, and Tony is going to keep it.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Glad to hear its staying home. would have been a shame for me to buy it...

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

she's home and happy, transmission cooler fan installed, transmission cable jerry rigged until new one arrives. hooking on to dump trailer tommorow to see how she pulls!

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Glad to hear you are keeping it man. I hope it works out for you.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

It sounds like Tony used it to tow his dump trailer yesterday and it's doing well. The trans likes to get warm during in town driving. From what the tranny builders I know have told me it's still in normal operating ranges. But I think we're going to try to hook up the cooler in the radiator and see if it'll help keep it down. Right now the tranny temp will get to 200* in town driving. My tranny builders say as long as it doesn't get over 220* it's good. I'd always like to see it cooler. :lol: The weird thing is, driving down the road it's fine. So either the 3:54's and 35's make the trans work more, or maybe the skid plate is affecting the air flow. I know Tony added a fan to the cooler so that shouldn't be the case. This is the first truck I've done that the trans cooler is in that position with a skid plate, so it is a learning curve. The truck is sure a blast to drive. Now I've got to get one of my own done. :lol:

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Took the front end apart today and placed a additional after market trans cooler in front of the intercooler. It was 3/4 inch and just fit. Will try and tie it into current cooler. Decided not to run through the radiator. I don't have it hooked up yet. Took skid plate off drilled all the holes a little bigger and remounted the trans cooler fan better. Hasn't been over 200 and don't know if I'll even need to hook the other one up. Drained a little fluid from the trans cooler line and will recheck tommorow. LMC hood latch and Saddle seat cover came today and will install tommorow as well. Took my Friend Russ for a ride today and he was very impressed seems to running good and drive train seems good. TV cable is still holding. Idle is still 900 and hoping we can get that a little lower. Found the super sweet spot on the alternator and the needle on the tach has 0 quiver, really pumped about that.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

That's good it is getting cooler with a few mods. On the idle, we can try to get it down a little farther, but it may start to affect fueling. Stock idle is 850 so you're not too far off now. Did LMC stand behind that new cable, or did they make you buy another? I'll be picking up the new TV cable tomorrow. That's good about the tach. I moved it around 4 times and never got it to be real happy at idle.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

yep, LMC hooked me up with another free cable, fast shipping too.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Glas to hear its working out. Sounds like you are getting some of the bugs figured out with the conversion.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Knowledge is a wonderful thing, the lack of is not!:waah: Like jic-8 hose fittings with 37 degree taper don't work with local hardware brass fittings with 45 degree taper. Oh well that's small potatoes, That's why I get payed to put the wet stuff on the Red stuff:lol:

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Got the correct jic-8 fittings and the additional trans cooler hooked up. With both coolers and the fan running it hasn't been over 140 degrees with intown driving, so far so good. finally got a decent day outside so I finished diamond plating the ceiling. turned out pretty good. checked several junk yards and still no luck finding the ceiling trim piece. re installed the factory handle above the door so my wife has something to pull herself up into the beast. Driving that bad boy in town is worse than being Elvis Presley, everybody wants to check it out, the typical ? whats in that thing? A CUMMINS. Answer I thought so it sounds awesome. Thanks Ryan:metal:

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Made a cover out of some left over diamond plate for the fan blade. It was making me nervous when people were looking at the engine compartment. I was afraid someone was going to lose a finger or the tip of their nose when that beast is running, requiring some old rusty Paramedic skills. Replaced the leaking lift pump with new one Ryan supplied me. Took it out on its second test pull and upped the anti. About 10,500 total that includes the trailer. Did pretty well, I think the torque converter was shuttering a little bit on stop light starts, but once I got on the highway and hooked up the lockup it pulled hard even with a 40mph head wind. I think with steepest grade i was at 20lbs boost 1000 egt's tranny at 160. Coming back with the wind 75mph empty 4000lb trailer 1300 rpm's not working that much. 355 gears and 35 inch tires it just takes a little to get her rolling, but then look out. The best part is, it looks like that truck came from the dealership with that cummins in there. The dieselwrencher did a really nice job. How do you post pictures?

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Sounds like it's doing really well! I use photobucket to upload pics to, then copy the image link and post it here in the message.

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Thanks for technical assistance Ryan. Tv cable or kickdown cable or whatever installed. Touchy sob. To far to the front to cold, in the middle to hot, all the way back just right. Really contary to alot of info on cummins forums Ryan was spot on with the adjustment. Service manual advocated 1/8 inch gap from pin to the rear of the slot on cable, which gave me longer shift points which was kind of nice but no top end or power. Cable all the way aft. gives good power for towing and shift points are tighened up, in 3rd gear by 20mph. Anyway Ryan was good enough to hook me up early on a Sunday morning. Thanks again. Got my new speed adapter from PATC transmissions. Sent info He wanted speedo reading at 40, 50, and 60 compared with gps. Determined I needed a 38% increase using burb cable with 315/75r/16 BFG's 92 dodge np205, with 355 gears. Speedometer is now spot on. Sweet:metal: Working on leaks, put a new set of felpro valve cover gaskets from NAPA, seem to be doing the job, fixed a fuel leak with advice from Ryan, All thats left is the rear yoke seal on the np205, has a annoying drip. Love checking out this forum, There a lot of talent out there, unfortunately not much residing in my garage. Can't say it enough, that things a blast to drive. Hoping I can get enough nerve to take a long road trip with it like back to California where I found her. Maybe!

Re: 1988 Suburban "V Rig" Gets Cummins Power
 

Good to see it going strong . What is int this truck for a trans mount ? I need to figure out what i'm going to use on mine .