Cummins Crew Cab Build

[secret indy]

This is my current project I'm working on. I won't call it a restoration becuase it's definately not. First off, I'm starting with an 83 ex police crew cab s/b 4x4.

It's got a 318 A/T,205tc with dana 60/60

 

[secret indy]

The donor truck is a 93 W250 5.9 cummins powered 4wd. Was apparently used at a mine. Definitely not pretty but had all the pcs required.

 

[secret indy]

This is the part that will hopefully make my cummins crew a little different from the rest being built out there. Not saying it hasn't been done, just haven't seen one.

Found it on the local Kijiji site. Was a 4hr drive one way to get to it but well worth it. The guy also threw in a set of doors, 2 sets of extra stepside fenders, extra tailgate, extra font panel, a set of front fenders, a mint 78 grill and a few other misc pcs.

 

[secret indy]

First order of business was getting everything stripped. Didn't take much for pictures during this process as not much to see.

The only thing actually getting used from the 83 is the frame itself.

 

[secret indy]

Once everything was removed from the frame I dragged it to work and gave it a quick sand blast so I would have a clean frame to work on.

 

[secret indy]

The front end was the first to get swapped out. The axles from the diesel truck will be going into this frame as well as a suspension lift.
These are the springs I'm going to be using. Fronts are 8" Skyjackers and backs are from an 03 silverado that have been rearched.

The front are a straight forward swap but the back requires spring mounts being relocated.

 

[secret indy]

The rear spring hangers got removed and cleaned up while it was apart and then got new urethane bushings installed.


Before:


After:

 

[secret indy]

While working on the front end I decided to change the front cross member. It's seen it's fair share of abuse.


I got a new one from a friend of mine. A 2wd version. I cut the strut mounts off and welded in a couple stiffeners to help keep the flexing to a minimum.



You can see the difference in the thickness between the two

 

[secret indy]

All installed and front finished for now.

 

[secret indy]

For some reason when it came to the back I forgot all about taking pictures so I only have a couple.
All stripped including spring hangers.


Back together:

 

[secret indy]

Suspension all installed.

 

[bear]

You "finally" got a build tread going ! :clap2: What did you get tired of me asking you question about it ? :lol: ...... Look'in good so far ! Keep me ( I mean us ) posted ! :thumb:

 

[secret indy]

Yeh that's the word of the day..." finally ". lol. Sometimes a person needs a little push just to get things rollin. Gunna try and post a little bit each night till I get caught up to where I am currently at in the build.

 

[secret indy]

While I had it at work I figured I'd have a look at the back brakes. Fronts were all good so I assumed the back shouldn't be too bad also. Wrong! The first one I pulled apart, half the parts fell right out.


Only one thing to do, start from scratch. Stripped everything apart, sandblasted the backing plates and misc pcs, primed them and cleaned the axle up. Also ordered up new shoes, hardware kit, drums, bearings n seals.Now I know it's all good.

 

[secret indy]

Another thing I done while still there was to assemble the framing for the step side box to make sure everything was going to bolt up properly.


Everything looked good except the back cross member was too short. Thanks to Bear for some good pictures and info to help figure out what was missing. It was missing the supports on the bottom of it so I had a friend bend up a new channel deep enough to take up the gap.

 

[gray07]

Cool project, iam getting ready to start on my 88 power ram 4x4, project, so I will be watching yours.

 

[bear]

Your doing good getting us caught up on the build "Secret Indy" ! Is that your shop that the rolling chassis is in ? I like it ! Looks like plenty of room to work . I wish mine was that big , I'm stuck in a two car garage and the drive way .

 

[secret indy]

Thanks grey07 and bear. No bear that's not at home, that's my work. I'm very fortunate that both my bosses/owners are car guys and have no problem with me working on my stuff there. My one boss just picked up a 38 chevy pick up to do. Should be cool when its done.

 

[secret indy]

It was time to take the frame home and start putting the pcs of the puzzle together to make sure everything is going to work. First thing to go on was the cab.


The cab is from an 83 2wd long box truck i had picked up and parted out. I just wanted the cab.

 

[secret indy]

The box then got assembled onto the chassis


It was almost starting to look like a truck.