1st Gen Cummins Build

[ramsport59]

SCORE! $100 craigslist score. Found a short bed carpet kit from a 2000 Ford f150 and in pretty decent shape. Have to make some mods to it to fit around my fuel tank and some additional padding. But it certainly saves me at least a couple hundred dollars and many hours cussing. And it has plenty of storage options.

Rick

 

[ramsport59]

I also am planning on filling in the L shape around the tank. The carpet wont match, no big deal. I am also going to explore the idea of a bed above my fuel tank for my Son, who is 4yrs old now. I can make a nice 2'x5' platform to take up the useless space there.

Rick

 

[ramsport59]

UPDATE:
Good news is that I finshed up the interior bed, make new pieces and wrapped them in black vnyil. it was a lot easier than carpet.

Bad news is that I blew the rear end apart. Like a idiot I welded the spider gears together. Well they finally failed. Sadly I have the Dana 70 U Limited Slip with 32 spline axle shafts. Hard to find parts at a reasonable. I did find a complete Power Lok Limited Slip Rebuild kit for $400 to my door. I tossed the idea of a new axle but since I have so much in this axle with new bracketry and basically everything from the axle tubes out is new, brakes etc. I just need to repair the guts.

Fun Fun
Rick

 

[txnight]

Lights finshed up. Welded in some 22ga sheet steel. Did some quick body work, not perfect, but enough for the spary on bed liner I plan on painting the truck with. The small side light is there to keep it legal, its a running light and turn signal all in one. Still need to decided where the reverse lights will go tho. I have some surface mount oval white LED lights I may use on the bumper.

On another note, I waited to long on the cap I found. Its been sold. So I guess I'll keep looking.

Rick

Nice to see another regular cab truck being built up.

A few questions: Have you decided on a bedliner product? I'm back and forth on what to use on my 88 Ford.

Any reason that the receiver tube on your bumper is sticking so far out? Seems like that would really reduce it's carry capacity?

 

[ramsport59]

I most likey will use "raptor" liner. Keystone re brands it as there own. I've sprayed a piece of plywood and have had it in my driveway for 6 months now. driving on it, rolling on it, dirt, mud, snow. Its holding up nice even at 1/16" thick. So it has my vote for now.

The receiver tube is so far out because I am planning on a spare tire carrier, either a swing down or out. The tire will basically sit on top of the tube. So I wanted the hitch out past the tire to make clearance on my camper tongue in off camber tight spots. And what you see sticking out the bumper is actually a extension tube bolted and welded into a Jeep Cherokee Hitch that is bolted in between the frame rails. it serves as a rear crossmember on the frame and also helps with the higher than normal tongue weight since its all tied together. This truck will never tow any real weight again. my camper is a offroad popup that weights in under 3500lbs fully loaded.

Thanks
Rick

 

[txnight]

Nice to hear that the raptorliner is holding up well. I think i'm going to go with monstaliner and spray it. They seem to have the most colors on the market.

Again, nice work on the truck!

 

[1sgen]

Then after building new driveshafts, Shackle flip in the rear with chevy 63" springs, 52" front chevy springs, 38.5 Pitbull's.

It was drivable. Had some issues on the street so I had to change something up and ended up dropping down to 37 Swamper SSR's. And this is how she sits today.

Now I finally have a rig I can drive down the highway at 70mph with one finger on the wheel, A decent offroad rig with tried and true leaf springs. Still need some small things taken care of for everyday driving but its getting close.

Hey nice rig im working on building my first gen cummins as well. Im working on the lift now but on a budget could you give me some more details on what you did? I Would greatly appreciate any help thanks.

 

[ramsport59]

I'm using stock chevy 63" springs with a 2" add a leaf in the rear and shackle flipped. I notched the frame and slid in 2x3" box tubing and built my own bushing mounts. made some shackles. and boom the rear was done. For the front I used Jungles 2" drop front hanger and matching shackles. Moved the hanger forward to gain wheelbase and to run 56" chevy leaf springs that I added a Add a Leaf and a couple smaller leafs from a second pack to hold the weigh of the cummins.

Thanks for all the compliments!

Rick

 

[1sgen]

I'm using stock chevy 63" springs with a 2" add a leaf in the rear and shackle flipped. I notched the frame and slid in 2x3" box tubing and built my own bushing mounts. made some shackles. and boom the rear was done. For the front I used Jungles 2" drop front hanger and matching shackles. Moved the hanger forward to gain wheelbase and to run 56" chevy leaf springs that I added a Add a Leaf and a couple smaller leafs from a second pack to hold the weigh of the cummins.

Thanks for all the compliments!

Rick

thanks for the reply I'm doing my first lift ever I have fab experience but this truck is my baby so I would like a tried and true method before I start hacking it up. so are these stock chevy leafs that you are using? are those 56" rear springs that you are using in the front? if its not too much trouble could you add some pictures of what you did or any links of anything you had to get? have you towed anything after it was lifted? thanks for the help

 

[ramsport59]

I can grab some pics the next time I get home before dark. Yeah the are stock 56" Chevy rear springs with a 2-3" add a leaf and a couple thin short leaf added to the bottom. I like to call it a Bastard pack. Stock rear mount point but jungles spring hanger moved forward. Biggest I've towed is my offroad popup camper which loaded is 3000-3500lbs. My hitch is to tall for anything else.

 

[1sgen]

did you have to extend drive shafts or break lines? I'm building an extended cab long bed. do you think I will need to? will the 37s fit without cutting the body up?

 

[ramsport59]

I had to change driveshafts because I shortened the frame 22". Rear brake line was fine but the front got completely re done since this used to be a 2wd.

Rick

 

[MT6bt]

This is indeed one sweet rig! It seems we are at opposite ends of the spectrum. I have a 98ccLB and am kind of wishing it was shorter for any offroading aspects. It is one long rig, and things get complicated really quickly offroading it!

 

[ramsport59]

New stuff done in the last week.

Rear built the Stock Limited Slip Carrier.

Re welded my driveshaft so its wobble free.

New turn signals

New rear cushion made up and covered

Light Bar with some Old School 6x9's

Started a rear tire carrier, repurposed some Wrangler Control Arm Bushings. Still working on the latch side and a under bumper support for the spindle side.

I have its first maiden voyage in about a month and need to get all the little stuff done. I still only have a 300-400 miles on the rig since the complete rebuild.

Rick

 

[CE_TX]

Really like how you turned your truck around, everything looks great!!