86 Silverado K20 12V CUMMINS Build

[brimc]

Originally Posted by mknittle

Pretty cool build I am a big fan of the Cummins swaps.
Reading through yours makes me want to get restarted on mine.

Ya I agree. Reading all the great threads helps get motivated.

Originally Posted by legendman

Engine crossmember looks good, didn't happen to make an extra one? I need to fab up one myself.

haha, no I didn't make an extra one. But really it was fairly simple.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on your engine cross member! That's how I decided to do the one in my 76. We'll be getting our loaner engine back in a few weeks and then it's going in the 76. Keep up the great work!

[brimc]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work on your engine cross member! That's how I decided to do the one in my 76. We'll be getting our loaner engine back in a few weeks and then it's going in the 76. Keep up the great work!

Thanks for the feedback on the xmember.
I hope you are able to start working on your 76 again. I really enjoyed following your thread on that one.

Hopefully this heat wave crap will let up and I can get more work done in the garage. I really can't wait to get this truck into a roller and get the engine fired up!

[legendman]

Originally Posted by brimc

Hopefully this heat wave crap will let up and I can get more work done in the garage. I really can't wait to get this truck into a roller and get the engine fired up!

x2 Too hot to do much, so I have been hunting down parts

[brimc]

Looks like the weather has cooled down some for this weekend. Hopefully means more work down on all our trucks!
I picked up some Grade 8 hardware at bolts plus for my engine cross member.







Question for you all, I have allot of new hardware to buy for this project obviously. Is this a reasonable price I paid or is there some better place to pick up large orders?

[6BT 56]

Have you tried Brafasco ? Im not sure how the prices campare

[mknittle]

I get them at tractor supply for about $3.00 a pound. Grade 5 for $2.30 a pound.

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by brimc

thats a good lookin helper youve got there!!

[Dieselwrencher]

Usually I go into a local tractor supply store and buy about $40-$50 worth and when it gets low, I go back. Hardware isn't cheap when you're going grade 8 and get 10lbs or more at a time.

[brimc]

Thanks everyone for the reply's on the bolts. I have bought some hardware at TSC stores and they didn't sell grade 8 by the pound. Only in special individual bags. That was how I bought the new 9/16 bolts for my new springs. Very expensive. They do sell grade 5 by the pound though. I'll keep looking around here, but for now the Bolts plus+ place was alright.

[brimc]

So now that I got my pictures up-loaded, time for an update from the past several days! I got a good 2 coats of POR15 on my new engine cross member after sanding it all down with a 60 grit flap disk.











I think it turned out alright. Next time I would rather use a good saw and angle finder to make perfect cuts. The seams and welds would look better, even though it is under the truck you can see it real good behind the tire in the wheel well.

[brimc]

So tonight I got the cross member all bolted in place with the 20 new grade 8 bolts. Used some blue thread locker and torque wrenched them down. This thing is super solid now!



I also bolted the front springs onto the frame for the final time.
NOTE: The stock spring shackles are temporary. I will make a new set at least 1" longer and will be 1/2" wider and made out of 3/8" material. I may wait until I see the ride height before I do though.
So next I started to install the front Axel.



I use the engine hoist for just about everything.



Just have to keep fishing it into place by unhooking and hooking back up again.





Then just lift it up into place. Line up one side first then the other.





Then just draw it up tight against both pins.



I pulled it up tight until the frame started to lift off the saw horse at the front. Then started bolting on the new U bolts.



I lined it up best I could and just did about half torque for now until I get all the weight on the springs. Then I installed a second nut to make the spot to cut off the excess bolts as they are too long for me.





All 8 cut off and sanded down.



Now just a few pics of the cross member and front Axel installed for I hope the last time!









Now I can install the engine for the last time, get the hubs, brakes and tires on and I have myself a roller real soon. ( I hope ) Can't wait to fire this thing up!!

[Dieselwrencher]

It looks really nice!

[mknittle]

Now I am starting to get excited!

[gerfunken]

well, it sure is a lot prettier than mine is at this point.

[brimc]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

It looks really nice!

Originally Posted by mknittle

Now I am starting to get excited!

Originally Posted by gerfunken

well, it sure is a lot prettier than mine is at this point.

Haha, Thanks Guys! It's slowly coming together. Just keep plugging away at alittle at a time.

[brimc]

Wow, time for an update....
I got the rear 14 bolt put together just enough to get the wheels back on it. I need to turn the drums but have decided to hold off because they will just rust up. I'll do it after this winter when the project will be closer to finished.



Just need to seal the axle shafts and diff cover, then fill. Oh ya and run the new lines.

[brimc]

Then I installed the engine for the last time ( I hope ) into the frame. Checked final clearance to the front balancer and oil pan to crossmembers. I think they turned out alright for my first time !

[brimc]

I also got the injection lines painted up as well as the oem fuel filter canister.







The next few weeks I hope to have it on 4 wheels and fuel system finished, pickup all the filters and oil etc. then fire this thing up for the first time in almost a year.

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking good man! I don't see one and I don't remember if you said anything about one, but do you plan on installing a steering box brace on the frame? If not, I'd really consider it as these frames love to crack there and the added weight with the big tires will really progress that wek spot. On your fuel filter housing, those are a nice piece but really suck to replace the filter in a dodge.

[brimc]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Looking good man! I don't see one and I don't remember if you said anything about one, but do you plan on installing a steering box brace on the frame? If not, I'd really consider it as these frames love to crack there and the added weight with the big tires will really progress that wek spot. On your fuel filter housing, those are a nice piece but really suck to replace the filter in a dodge.

Thanks for the compliment. I too think it is starting to look good. It is nice to get most of the dirty work finished and start putting things back together and start taking shape. I know about and have thought about the steering brace several times. I checked this area when I bought it and when I removed the box and there is no signs of any stress or cracking as of yet. This truck was run kinda hard with 35's for awhile off-road before I got it. I might just leave it be and call it a test to see how it does. This project has been a learning curve for all the pro's and con's for when I build the next one. This one might just be a training project
As for the filter housing, I like them better than the older spin on's. I had no problem changing on the Dodge. Should be just about the same in the Chev. Might not be there long as I might "upgrade" the hole low pressure side.

[Mattman2010]

I would get the steering brace. It's only a half ton frame and a ton of them get cracked just driving around the steets. The extra weight of the drive train is going to add a little more stress to the steering. I would get one and install it and you won't have to worry about it. If it does crack your going to have to drill the ends of the cracks, grind the cracks out some and then weld it all back up grind it smooth and have to install a brace anyway.
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[brimc]

Well time for an update. Been longer than I thought. Between having some summer holidays the first week of August and building us a 10X10 "Garden Shed" there hasn't been as much time on the truck as I would like. Nothing fancy, just some extra space to clear up much needed space in the main Garage!


Still needs a bit of trim work and paint in the next few weeks, but turned out good.

[brimc]

Been shopping on Kijiji as I always do. Got a line on several things and found a brand new front tint windshield. Going to go get that one this week. Also I found this, kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-auto-parts-tires-transmission-drive-train-77-chev-dana-60-front-axle. with 4.10's. I wish I was ready to start stocking parts for my next project, but have to pass on this. Just thought I'd share.

[brimc]

So the truck is now rolling on it's own 4 wheels. 4 brand new ball joints and new high lift steering arm installed.

Just stuck the old rims and hubs/breaks on for now until I get it closer to finished. Pushed it outside to "Bake" in the sun and take a few pics outside.







It is getting closer. Next will be fuel tank and plumbing then repair and install cab mounts.