88 Crew Cab -6ft bed Diesel build

[79k20350]

For a long while I've yearned for a square body, crew cab, ft bed with a solid diesel in it. The project is finaly underway.

Im starting with a 88 2wd C+C Dually I picked up for $700. It had a 454/ 400. Overall solid frame and cab but most panels are rusted.

Ill be taking most of the suspension, axles and misc from a previous build.

Today I picked up a 97 super duty with 90k on it for $1300.

Im only in the process of piecing everything togther. Most of the build wont be until next summer. Im going to upload some pictures in a bit, need to resize them.

 

[K85 Octane]

 

[shady]

x2

 

[max 02]

X3

 

[79k20350]

As the C+C sits. Sold the motor and tranny and made back most of what I paid for the truck. Plan is to strip the rest of it and tarp it for winter.

 

[Stomis]

So 7.3 in the crew cab? Im not sure how I feel about that.

 

[KirsL]

So 7.3 in the crew cab? Im not sure how I feel about that.

It's certainly different that's for sure. I'm always a fan being a bit adventurous with the directions of projects.

 

[y5mgisi]

I can deal with it.

 

[blazinzuk]

Totally cool with a 7.3 in a chevy crew cab its a good motor.

 

[Stomis]

Totally cool with a 7.3 in a chevy crew cab its a good motor.

It is a good motor but its a ford motor at heart... Maybe this will balance out the 10 million LSX and SBC swapped fords in the worlds.

 

[jekquistk5]

try to think of it as an IH motor. Hell thats what most people with a 7.3 claim anyways. Its not a ford motor its a IH. Just make sure you sticker it up with these....


Just change ford to chevy..lol

 

[454Sub]

No different than the completely worn out, be like every other guy, done so many times its boring Cummins build.

I personally would enjoy seeing it, the 7.3 is a good all around motor, now a Duramax would be sweet.

 

[Greg Ducato]

I like the idea ,looking forward to the build

 

[stockk5]

damn didnt realize your still on the site! cool build!

 

[82355]

It's actually an International-Navistar engine, not an International Harvester. The truck and ag divisions split years ago, and International Harvester hasn't been around since 1985.

Martin

 

[jekquistk5]

It's actually an International-Navistar engine, not an International Harvester. The truck and ag divisions split years ago, and International Harvester hasn't been around since 1985.

Martin

Yup, but do not try to argue that to a guy that runs case IH tractors, and a ford f250. Even though you have facts, they just do not care.

 

[79k20350]

Well at least the overall consensus is good. To be honest I probably would have went with a cummins had it not been for the deal I got on the 7.3.

Looking at both the cummins and the 7.3, the 7.3 is 100 lbs lighter and comes with more power out of the box. You also cant knock its durability. It really is a great motor. I don't think the mileage is as good as a cummins, but setup right will be good enough. There's plenty of hop up potential and parts around as well.

Now a duramax would have been awesome, but I'm doing this more on a budget base. Any duramax I could find would have added an immediate 4-5 grand.

Plan is to finish up some more details on my 79 while I'm amasing parts for this build. If I could have the frame prepped and motor in for the winter, I'd be happy. build here- http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247454

The last 2 years I've been completely consumed with my house. The wife and I bought a foreclosure. We gutted it and that's where all my time and energy has gone. Now as that's coming to a close I'm ready to get going on these projects. It wont hurt that I should have a heated garage next winter

 

[79k20350]

As the planning continues, i'm getting around to laying out the drivetrain. I'm still undecided on transmission. I'm leaning toward a zf6. Backed by an NP271. As this rig is a daily driver/ tow rig this should be a solid setup. I would like an automatic for sheer comfort and ease of driveability but the going rate can run 5k easy I can pick up a built 6 speed for under 2k.

As for axles, the ford I picked up has a sterling 10.25 and hp dana 60 in it. Im more than likely going to reuse these axles. Already setup for cross over, plenty heavy duty and has drivers side pinion (makes t-cases setup much easier)

Ill have to outboard the front springs 2 1/4" on each side but I really don't see this being an issue. Can't hurt with stability either.

And before anyone says boo - Its still a dana axle, chevy's had a zf 6 and np 271. So while it may seem its more ford than chevy, the parts are still from the same manufacturers or something like that

 

[79k20350]

More research is showing that the zf 6 accepts a round pattern t-case. I do have a 205... If I can match output/input this may work nicely. This planning process could take a while.

 

[79k20350]

I feel like I'm going around in circles, but I think I might actually be closing in on a plan.

After some detective work I found that the axles I have in the superduty are 4.10's with limited slip. The plan is to run 35's so the 4.10's are perfect. They are dually axles but this actually works out. I can run dana 50 srw front hubs, which are stupid cheap and the rear axle is actually 2" wider than a srw sterling. The rear disc brake kit is also really cheap and even uses chevy calipers like a 14 bolt kit.

Using the ford front axle I have no crossover arm to buy, no knuckles to buy and I can sell the chevy 4.56 60 housing I have. It'll at least offset the rebuild kit cost.

As for tranny and t case, I'm going to run a built 4r100 and np205. I can find a ford 205 that will bolt right up for 2-3 hundo and obviously its bulletproof. Running the auto will make it a more comfortable / easy to drive truck. The wife can drive a stick, but over all with towing and d/d the auto just makes things easy.

The only downside is cost of the tranny, but after looking at the cost of clutch assemblies for the diesel, it is actually about the same whether I go auto or stick.