Rather than continuing to spam the wrenching thread, I will post up here.
This is the truck as I purchased it.
Since then I have done little externally, just some nerf bars and removed those 34"s for stock rims and tires.
The 34"s go back on Sunday because they have better snow traction.
My friend is well versed in overhauling differentials, so I opted to change the 3.73 final drive for the 3.42 gearing in later trucks. I also added free spin locking hubs to get rid of all that turning mass up front, and replaced the steering with the latest iteration of Dodge stock parts.
The free spin hubs are also for trailer work. I can select 4wd low, but with the hubs locked out I get 2wd low.
This is hugely beneficial for backing a heavy trailer up a hill around a corner into a tight spot. Even with the 3.73 gears I would be slipping the clutch a little, and now I put it in low, take my foot off the clutch and it can push a trailer up a tree at idle.
I knew it burned oil when I got it, and was hoping to get to next winter. It was on borrowed time and Murphy foreclosed on the loan
I went out to go run an errand early last month and it ran like crap, smoking and loping like it was running on 5.
I had already purchased a new clutch, and I ran up to my friend's place the following Monday and had the engine in the back of his truck by Tuesday noon.
I took it to a trusted builder in Canada, and this guy pulled out all the stops for me. he had it apart that night and found the broken top rings on two cylinders, took the block to one machine shop and the head to another. He had it done complete with .020 over Moly pistons, new seats and guides in the head, inspected and new bearings throughout by the next Tuesday! It was more like a NASCAR pit stop than a typical 1 month long build cycle.
I found metal in my manual transmission ( thank you again Mr Murphy) so I opted for a later model G56 with taller gearing. Now granny is the norm for launching, where 2nd used to be.
The engine is stock with the exception of a Colt Big Stick stage 3 camshaft.
http://www.coltcams.com/html/cummins_5_9_camshafts/
This is the truck as I purchased it.
Since then I have done little externally, just some nerf bars and removed those 34"s for stock rims and tires.
The 34"s go back on Sunday because they have better snow traction.
My friend is well versed in overhauling differentials, so I opted to change the 3.73 final drive for the 3.42 gearing in later trucks. I also added free spin locking hubs to get rid of all that turning mass up front, and replaced the steering with the latest iteration of Dodge stock parts.
The free spin hubs are also for trailer work. I can select 4wd low, but with the hubs locked out I get 2wd low.
This is hugely beneficial for backing a heavy trailer up a hill around a corner into a tight spot. Even with the 3.73 gears I would be slipping the clutch a little, and now I put it in low, take my foot off the clutch and it can push a trailer up a tree at idle.
I knew it burned oil when I got it, and was hoping to get to next winter. It was on borrowed time and Murphy foreclosed on the loan
I went out to go run an errand early last month and it ran like crap, smoking and loping like it was running on 5.
I had already purchased a new clutch, and I ran up to my friend's place the following Monday and had the engine in the back of his truck by Tuesday noon.
I took it to a trusted builder in Canada, and this guy pulled out all the stops for me. he had it apart that night and found the broken top rings on two cylinders, took the block to one machine shop and the head to another. He had it done complete with .020 over Moly pistons, new seats and guides in the head, inspected and new bearings throughout by the next Tuesday! It was more like a NASCAR pit stop than a typical 1 month long build cycle.
I found metal in my manual transmission ( thank you again Mr Murphy) so I opted for a later model G56 with taller gearing. Now granny is the norm for launching, where 2nd used to be.
The engine is stock with the exception of a Colt Big Stick stage 3 camshaft.
http://www.coltcams.com/html/cummins_5_9_camshafts/