1994 ECLB on ton's.... "possum"

[greatwhitez71]

since i do believe all the kinks have been worked through on the white rig, im gonna start the official thread for "possum" my brown OBS 2500.

specs:
-BBC powerplant (something in the range of 454-496)
-d60 drw front
-nv4500 5 speed manual (early model)
-np205 twin sticked
-two peice 1410 rear shaft
-D70b drw axle with SRW disc brake and hub swap.
-stock h1's with rock rings and runflats
-tires will be 40-42" swampers more than likely
Ive gone down to the frame on this truck, all electronics as far as motor and tranny will be concerned will be removed. starting with a carbed motor and fuel cell in the bed and later on possiblities of a propane setup when money will allow.
Going to keep the a/c and heat and power seats and windows.
a few pics....
When i got it...

now......

actually its even less than this. no motor or nothing. but you get the idea

Various parts....

-so far the rear axle in is ready to roll
-I need to tear into the front 60 and replace u joints and figure out any upgrades i may do (locker, 35 stubs and so on)
-tranny needs a rebuild.
- have front springs and waiting on brackets
-Gonna pick up an ORD shackle flip and then need to buy rear springs.
That should get my frame rolling and ill then blast and paint the whole thing and get it ready for the drivetrain, then the body will go back on and all the plumbing worked out.

enjoy.

 

[dfl701]

who are you getting brackets from or you making your own

 

[y5mgisi]

I like it so far! Ambitious!

 

[1BEATK5]

that power lock looks like its been threw hell! nice!

 

[greatwhitez71]

who are you getting brackets from or you making your own

a buddy of mine has designed some brackets for these OBS trucks. his truck has one pair and my truck will be running a second set....

kinda like the guinea pig for him i guess. he still daily drives hsi truck so hes not really beating on it enough to see how the brackets hold up.

mine on the other hand..we are for sure gonna test em out.

 

[greatwhitez71]

that power lock looks like its been threw hell! nice!

it came from a ditch witch....lol. it set up fine though, guess i jsut need to get it all running so i can see how it fairs, its supposedly has the axtra clutch mod done to it and should work much tighter.

 

[1BEATK5]

it came from a ditch witch....lol. it set up fine though, guess i jsut need to get it all running so i can see how it fairs, its supposedly has the axtra clutch mod done to it and should work much tighter.

you cant go wrong with tractor part on yer truck

 

[greatwhitez71]

my ol mans a farmer/trucker... he has been trying to convince me to run peterbuilt bags out back.

i have actually been giving it thought.

 

[dfl701]

my ol mans a farmer/trucker... he has been trying to convince me to run peterbuilt bags out back.

i have actually been giving it thought.

on the 94 or the z71? if you got the bags for free i would run them. that would be a good setup

 

[greatwhitez71]

on the 94, we decided to stick with 4" shackle flip im buying from a friend and then run some 3" or 4" lift 64's out back.....later on if i hack the bed and tube the rear ill run the bags.

leafs springs are jsut gonna be more practical for us unitl ive had the truck for awhile

 

[greatwhitez71]

Small update, I got my front brackets from my buddy in the mail today. Along with the superlift front Dana 60 u-bolt kit, which I picked up from summit. Gonna raid the bolt bin at work tomorrow and then pick a few wire wheels and I should have the axle on the frame and the front on it's on weight tomorow evening.

If u look at the front hangers you will see how they are designed to push the axle forward and the adjustablity in the shackle hangers allows for 52-54"
Springs with a factory shackle.

 

[greatwhitez71]

So i took some time last night and got the front portion of the truck mocked up, keep in mind I have a few more holes to tap and need to get a few more spring bolts of the proper length but this was all merely mock up until i get it all rolling and can finally, take it all back off, and blast and paint everything once proper placement and alignment is made.

The brackets worked out pretty nicely and i didnt really have any issues as far as the disign went, the springs are 52" k5 rear tuff countrys with the overloads pulled and a "zero" rate installed. im using factory shackles with the brackets.

 

[sweetk30]

not to sound mean . but i hope you wont run those lock washers when final assembly is done. crimp nuts would be much better. lots of use have seen lock washers spit out.

 

[greatwhitez71]

not to sound mean . but i hope you wont run those lock washers when final assembly is done. crimp nuts would be much better. lots of use have seen lock washers spit out.

really? i contemplated using something like a nylon lock nut but figured these would be plenty good once they were good and tight.

then again, thats why its all mock up.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Yeah i used those crimp nuts everywhere I replaced a rivit on my 52" swap. They are the beez neez when you don't want to worry about things loosening!

 

[Swampy79]

subscribed, I'm basically doing the same thing again, swapping frames and cab from my extended cab to a short cab/bed.

quick question, have you thought about trimming that front crossmember back any? I've been looking at mine for a couple days thinking about cutting it straight across where the a-arm bracket used to hook up and then plating it back closed, I just haven't decieded if that will significantly reduce the strength or not.

Any ideas?

 

[greatwhitez71]

the front crossmember will probably be cut out the next week or so and replaced with a piece of heavy wall 2" pipe. look at a new HD truck, thats how they are done.

this past weekend we made a little progress, went ahead and made some rear shackle flip brackets, and for time being used the stock springs off my 2500hd and used a 3" block for now. i wasnt fond of doing this but it works for time being and i actually know a few guys who do this and it works pretty well for them.

we started workin on a transmission crossmember but im not exactly liking how its turning out.

welded in a piece of heavy pipe above the rear axle for inboarding shocks and added ridgidity. (if thats a word)

hoping to get that front crossmember done this weekend and finish the tranny crossmber and then once the weather clears out ill blast and paint the entire frame and be ready to start rebuilding the front 60 and then the drivetrain/powertrain.

for kicks, heres my baby

 

[howdiy]

Looks good

I usually use oblonged lock nuts on anything I bolt to the frame, they are a PITA to put on but will take forever to back off by themselves.

 

[greatwhitez71]

meh, i have time to get all the fasteners ill need, for now its all mock up. ill sit down and tally it all up and order the proper locking nuts, at all that jive.

it'll probably end up being all 1/2" grade 8 with washers and nylon lock nuts. shouldnt be any issues there.

 

[magik235]

Nice improvements