Project Screamer - '72 GMC K2500 + DD 4-53T

[ryanroo]

Looks fantastic! The t case looks like it's swaddled in cozy blanket made of extra manly beef!

[Dieselwrencher]

Great work on the exhaust!

[burnitg]

I finally spent some time on the old '72. I have been doing everything but working on it for the last couple of weeks.

I have finished the exhaust tubing. Here's the tail pipe on the bench:



Here's the top view:



Here's the rear view:



I need to purchase hangers and fabricate the supports. Then I can call this task done.

[nsulacountry]

That is an awesome, massive pipe. 4"? Keep sending pictures, this is becoming an epic build.

CT

[burnitg]

Originally Posted by nsulacountry

That is an awesome, massive pipe. 4"? Keep sending pictures, this is becoming an epic build.

CT

Yes, it is 4". The donor truck came from the factory with 4" exhaust so I decided to keep it that way. I'm not planning on any engine modifications to increase the power output, so I need to keep the exhaust restriction low.

[ERASER5]

Way back on post #43 you mentioned the engine stop leaver. Could you show it close up? I assume the lever shuts off the fuel flow.

I don't have a diesel in my '70, but and "Engine Shut Off" leaver just sounds cool!

[burnitg]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

Way back on post #43 you mentioned the engine stop leaver. Could you show it close up? I assume the lever shuts off the fuel flow.

I don't have a diesel in my '70, but and "Engine Shut Off" leaver just sounds cool!

Here's a close-up of the engine stop knob. I got it from an Army Surplus dealer.



On the 2 cycle Detroit Diesels, the engine stop allows the rack that connects to the injectors to retract fully, stopping fuel flow at the injectors.

[ERASER5]

Thanks. That looks cool, of course for you it would be functional as well.

[Lemield]

Originally Posted by burnitg

Here's a close-up of the engine stop knob. I got it from an Army Surplus dealer.

Attachment 1442793

On the 2 cycle Detroit Diesels, the engine stop allows the rack that connects to the injectors to retract fully, stopping fuel flow at the injectors.

I put that exact style cable/knob on my 1949 Willys Jeep when I put in a Kubota turbo diesel last year..... It's pretty cool!

BTW....your build is coming along GREAT. Would love to see your truck in person since we are neighbors...almost.

[ryanroo]

Nice tail pipe!

[burnitg]

I ordered a radiator, exhaust hangers and cruise control. Since the radiator arrived first, I thought I would sit it in the core support and see how it looked.

The radiator is a 2 pass unit from Speedway Motors. It is based on the Chevrolet pattern. I ended up with a 2 pass radiator because the A/C compressor blocks the path from the engine thermostat housing to the driver's side radiator outlet. I couldn't mount the compressor on the passenger side because of the location of the water pump & alternator. That's why I like to mount the engine accessories early...

It is a couple of inches shorter than the OEM radiator (it is the widest one that they make). I priced a custom radiator so I could get the exact dimensions - very $$$ - more than 3X the price of this one.

Here it is on the bench:



Here it is sitting in the core support. The core support has 2 positions for radiator supports and this radiator would work in the narrower position. Unfortunately, the fan would be way off center so I am thinking this is where it will end up.

Here's the front view:



Here's the side view:



It is a gorgeous radiator and I like the look of aluminum; but, I really want to paint it black...

[burnitg]

Not much happening on the project these days. The aspen leaves are already starting to turn so my time for working outside in comfort is limited.

I did get the opportunity to weld the exhaust hangers on for the back of the truck.

Here's a view of the one attached to the transfer case cross member:



Here's a couple of views of the one at the rear of the muffler. I had to build a bracket for this one:





I am planning to attach a hanger to the transmission rear support. I haven't been able to start on the rear support because I can't get the plugs that fill the holes for the mounting studs out of the back of the transmission. I'm being patient and working on them gradually since a busted transmission case is a $1000 mistake.

The radiator had to go back - it didn't have any threads in the filler neck for the overflow. I will work on mounting it when the new one arrives.

For now, outside work takes priority...

[BajaKBob]

Looking good! Too bad about the radiator. Are you going custom, or going to use something similar?

[burnitg]

Originally Posted by BajaKBob

Looking good! Too bad about the radiator. Are you going custom, or going to use something similar?

Thanks. I just returned the radiator for a replacement.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work. The guys on TV have the pause button on their side. Haha

[nsulacountry]

Creative and functional. Nice work, even though it took longer than 10 min!

CT

[burnitg]

Another snow day - I'm starting to be concerned - I'm looking forward to snow days...

I completed the radiator mounts. It looks good in the truck.

Here's a front view:



Here's a side view:



While mounting the radiator, I noticed that there was no drain. Don't radiators always come with drains? Apparently not.

I purchased some 1/4" NPT aluminum bungs from Summit Racing so that I could make my own drain.

Here is the drain bung in position:



There's no turning back now!



No leaks!



Job done. Now I need to find some hoses for it. I have tried a couple from the Gates catalog. It looked like they might have worked; but, unfortunately they didn't.

[ryanroo]

Looks great! its always nice to get things like that checked off the list. big ticket items like cooling, fuel, exhaust... the things you have to have to make bad air.

i like the CO2/Ar bottle cover. mine usually has similar fashion sense.

[burnitg]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

Looks great! its always nice to get things like that checked off the list. big ticket items like cooling, fuel, exhaust... the things you have to have to make bad air.

i like the CO2/Ar bottle cover. mine usually has similar fashion sense.

Yes, he's stylin' in that leather jacket.

[burnitg]

I have made some progress on the old GMC.

I made a bracket to attach the throttle, cruise control and engine stop cables to the top of the governor.

Here's a photo of the bracket:



Here's a couple of photos with the cables attached:





I'm thinking I will use a couple of spark plug wire supports to organize the cables and route them over the top of the rocker cover.

I need to order a torsion spring for the throttle return spring since there is very little room between the back of the governor and the firewall.

I picked up some aluminum sheet in town the other day. Time to start working on the fan shroud...

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

[superduty_59]

Nice progress!

[nsulacountry]

Slick job on the cable bracket.

CT

[Dieselwrencher]

Great work on the throttle bracket, and you have a Happy Thanksgiving as well!

[burnitg]

I purchased a sheet of aluminum and got to work on a fan shroud. The OEM shroud was not even close and, at the time, it seemed like it would be easier to fabricate a new one. Well, about 20 hours of work later, here's the completed shroud on the workbench:



Here it is installed in the truck:



I like the look of it. I haven't decided if I will polish it or paint it.

I have been thinking about the upper radiator hose. The original elbow on the thermostat housing turned up. The outlet was about 1" higher than the inlet to the radiator. I mocked it up using some hose and tubing that I had on hand:



This is clearly not good! I would have had a big vapor trap that I would have needed to vent somehow.

Thanks to Grigg over at 4btswaps, I found a OEM Detroit Diesel elbow that points toward the passenger side. I can easily make this work without causing a vapor trap. Here's a photo of the elbow.



I have had no luck finding a pre-molded hose for the upper or lower radiator connections so I will make something out of tubing. At least now, I won't have the vapor trap.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work and that worked out nicely to find an OE piece that would work.