Budget Cummins Squarebody Build

[Bdb68]

This will be my second diesel swap, the first a 68 K20 Duramax. At the time I put the 68 together, I was in a hurry because I had sold my only 4x4 truck and I needed something to work out of. I threw the 68 together pretty quick and a lot of things never got finished to my liking. I decided recently I wanted to take it apart and build it back better without the rush. So I decided to build this truck to drive while the Duramax is under the knife. The truck started life as a 86 2wd dully with a 4x4 and th400. My buddy bought the truck for the engine, sold the trans and bed, then I bought what was left. The original plan was to convert it to a single rear wheel 4x4 and cut it down to a short bed. I was going to drop in a small block, th350, and 205.

[6BT 56]

OK next ! I'm on board for the trip.

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm in for this. Maybe it will make me drag my 76 in and finish it or cut it up.

[Roaddogg]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I'm in for this. Maybe it will make me drag my 76 in and finish it or cut it up.

Or sell it to me !!

[Bdb68]

Sorry guys, its been awhile. I made some pretty good progress then I got sent off to work in Texas, 7 - 12's on night shift doesn't leave much time time for anything else. I found 93 3/4 ton cummins, 4 wheel drive, 5-speed for a donner. The truck was purchased new by a local farmer, who drove it till the frame rotted out. We drove the truck about 5 miles home and another 10 or so to my buddies shop. The engine is completely stock for now. The plan is to get the truck running and driving, then tear it apart, paint, kdp and reseal the engine and paint the truck. Here are some picture updates.

[Bdb68]

I was able to sell the 1 ton 2wd Chevy suspension, and the long dual fuel tanks. To convert from 2wd to 4wd my buddy made a cross member to mount the front springs to. He also made shackles and hangers for rear of the front springs. He then cut down and welded my frame for the short bed conversion. We also used the dodge rear springs, factory blocks and dodge shackles bolted to the Chevy frame. The plan is to use as much of the stock dodge or Chevy parts and avoid aftermarket parts as much as I can. The black truck is something I found on an image search, it is what I plan for the truck to look like, If anyone knows any info on that truck, feel free to post it here.

[6BT 56]

Wow that turned into something in a hurry. Keep up the speedy work. That's the identical driveline I put in my 56.

[Bdb68]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

Wow that turned into something in a hurry. Keep up the speedy work. That's the identical driveline I put in my 56.

How do you like your driveline? I have read good and bad things about the getrag 5 speed, but I think it will suit my needs just fine. All I really plan to do to the truck is governor spring, timing and fuel plate. What little I drove the donor truck it had no power. Im not looking to make a ton of power, I just want a fun daily driver and to occasionally tow my car trailer with.

[6BT 56]

I had this driveline in the original truck on the road for 3 years as a second work truck / winter better to keep my 05 3500 decent. I can't complain . I would move tons of small boats around . Sometimes up to abt 26 feet and 9k . Wouldn't win any races but worked well. You need to keep in mind the reason these old truck are around is cuz they never made enuf power to tear them Selvs up. The diffs are a no brainer there great. I have a fuel pin and governor spring for mine but there in the glove box. Don't seem to do much there . Lol. I want to get mine to steer nice then I will add some power. I think you will be plenty happy. I over filled my get rag by a litre pr the trans shop. They say they like that. Mine will jump out of 4th once in a while if you roll off the gas just rite. Trans guy says that's from thousands of miles with your arm hanging on the shifter. All in all great drive line. I have 1 more in the row behind the barn saved up for something . Maby my k20.

[6BT 56]

Oh ya. Sepperate your trans and T case. The coupler in mine between the two was worn badly. Splines on shafts fine but coupler splines were worn to the point that they were sharp. That would ruin your day stripping that going up a hill with trailer attached.

[dieseldude4bt]

Having your arm on the shifter will not be the cause of it jumping out of fourth it is just the thousands on miles on it.

[Bdb68]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

Oh ya. Sepperate your trans and T case. The coupler in mine between the two was worn badly. Splines on shafts fine but coupler splines were worn to the point that they were sharp. That would ruin your day stripping that going up a hill with trailer attached.

Thanks for the tips, reading through your build thread makes me want to do a 50's Chevy so bad, I love your truck. I have a P-pump 12 valve with a 2wd auto trans donor just waiting for the right project, but I am really wanting to save it for a 40's or 50's COE or LCF and make a car hauler. My wife thinks I have a mental disorder and wonders why I can't just finish one project completely before moving on the the next.

[6BT 56]

Originally Posted by dieseldude4bt

Having your arm on the shifter will not be the cause of it jumping out of fourth it is just the thousands on miles on it.

So your saying hundreds of thousands of miles with a few pounds of extra weight hanging off of the shifter won't excellerate any wear. Really........

[dieseldude4bt]

When are you driving a 5speed in 4th gear hundreds of thousands of miles?
And it will wear the shift fork but that does not cause the syncro and gear to wear that is caused by use, is all I am saying.

[6BT 56]

Originally Posted by Bdb68

Thanks for the tips, reading through your build thread makes me want to do a 50's Chevy so bad, I love your truck. I have a P-pump 12 valve with a 2wd auto trans donor just waiting for the right project, but I am really wanting to save it for a 40's or 50's COE or LCF and make a car hauler. My wife thinks I have a mental disorder and wonders why I can't just finish one project completely before moving on the the next.

Ya I hear ya. The big thing with projects here is because we're In the rust belt good stuff is so hard to come by. When I found my 56 as a 2wd roller the timeing was not good . Being only 6 months into parenthood and staring at a long winter when guys in the boat business typically don't make a ton of $$$. Some thing abt boats and ice ..... Lol. But I popped on it as I knew I wouldn't find another . My 85 k20 I just tripped over one day . But I also knew that I wouldn't trip over another one . You are in a much petter place to be finding trucks that are rust free and build worthy and you have a cool stash to prove it !

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice progress! Your buddy got alot done in a hurry! I think that black truck belonged to Mr.chevyblack at one time. I'm pretty sure he built it. He built a few nice ones. One was red he called the fireball I believe.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/member.php?u=84080