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'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond

Started out with 2wd TBI350 with SM465 to current 4wd with 454, 700r4, NP241
Overview Gallery Discussion
Nice work Scott. I still don't like the factory way of routing 100% of the power for the pumps though the switch, but the Carling switch should handle the current better. I'd check the plug to the switch after a couple weeks of use and look for any sign of heat damage. If there is we can go through you schematic and set up where we could insert a relay in for each pump triggered by your dash switch.
 
I have 4.56 in my axles with the titan box/205 (exact same gearing as your magnum/205). And though my blazer is a much different animal than your cclb, and I still have a 350/700r4 in mine, still I bet you would probably be happier with 4.56's in your truck, just thinking about how you use it. It would make it much more tolerant on the highway, and even towing your camper the low-end torque of the BBC should still allow you to tow your camper just fine, and off-road it shouldn't make that much of a difference because of all the gearing options you have in the magnum setup. When I put mine in double low and 1st on the tranny (sure 700r4 has lower 1st than 4l80e, but I'm on 42" tires, a bit bigger than you too, so it kinda evens out) and anything other than slow technical rock crawling, it's almost too low, haha. So I bet you would be much happier with that for sure
 
ZooMad75 said:
Nice work Scott. I still don't like the factory way of routing 100% of the power for the pumps though the switch, but the Carling switch should handle the current better. I'd check the plug to the switch after a couple weeks of use and look for any sign of heat damage. If there is we can go through you schematic and set up where we could insert a relay in for each pump triggered by your dash switch.
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I thought about wiring it up with relays, but decided I didn't really want to make the setup any more complicated. I feel like in about a year or so I'll probably have a different fuel system setup anyway. Maybe I won't be Mr Saddle Tanks any longer.

Kay86K5 said:
I have 4.56 in my axles with the titan box/205 (exact same gearing as your magnum/205). And though my blazer is a much different animal than your cclb, and I still have a 350/700r4 in mine, still I bet you would probably be happier with 4.56's in your truck, just thinking about how you use it. It would make it much more tolerant on the highway, and even towing your camper the low-end torque of the BBC should still allow you to tow your camper just fine, and off-road it shouldn't make that much of a difference because of all the gearing options you have in the magnum setup. When I put mine in double low and 1st on the tranny (sure 700r4 has lower 1st than 4l80e, but I'm on 42" tires, a bit bigger than you too, so it kinda evens out) and anything other than slow technical rock crawling, it's almost too low, haha. So I bet you would be much happier with that for sure
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I've frequently thought I'd like to have a higher gear ratio even towing. It's really geared like it's a 3spd automatic and 2nd gear ends up being virtually useless. It has more than enough oomph to pull in 2nd, but ends up being severely speed limited. If I had higher axle gears, I could run the steep climbs in 2nd at a decent speed and it would do really well I think.
 
mrk5 said:
I've frequently thought I'd like to have a higher gear ratio even towing. It's really geared like it's a 3spd automatic and 2nd gear ends up being virtually useless. It has more than enough oomph to pull in 2nd, but ends up being severely speed limited. If I had higher axle gears, I could run the steep climbs in 2nd at a decent speed and it would do really well I think.
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I 100% agree with that thought process
 
ZooMad75 said:
Nice work Scott. I still don't like the factory way of routing 100% of the power for the pumps though the switch, but the Carling switch should handle the current better. I'd check the plug to the switch after a couple weeks of use and look for any sign of heat damage. If there is we can go through you schematic and set up where we could insert a relay in for each pump triggered by your dash switch.
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And the other thing that stopped me from doing more was that I needed to get it operable to drive in our little snow storm earlier this week.
 
mrk5 said:
And the other thing that stopped me from doing more was that I needed to get it operable to drive in our little snow storm earlier this week.
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I totally understand the need to get it mobile before the snow flew. Just check it periodically to make sure the harness/connector aren't getting nuked. If it still does then you know where to go.
 
ZooMad75 said:
I totally understand the need to get it mobile before the snow flew. Just check it periodically to make sure the harness/connector aren't getting nuked. If it still does then you know where to go.
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I would still like to do an amp draw measurement on it. Be interesting to know regardless IMO.
 
Haven't changed much with this truck. I'm really enjoying the 454 and I'm REALLY enjoying the Magnum.

As an update on the Sniper, I've got just shy of 4000 miles on it since I had the warranty replacement for the failed ECU in the fall of last year (2018). Running good.
 
How are you liking the US Shift Quick 4 ?
Is there a mode that gives you full manual control?
I was thinking of using this with my carbed 454.
 
Truckman4life said:
You could be lucky like me and have the only single 20 gal saddle tank big block truck ever. I don't know why you would ever order a truck that way but it is no fun. Maybe they wanted to limit the distance the driver could go(it was a county road dept truck).
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My’84 C30 CC was built as a single tank 454 T400 4.11 dually. Thankfully one of the previous owners had a 25 gallon Aux. tank installed in the right side saddle tank location.
 
Ned Kelly said:
How are you liking the US Shift Quick 4 ?
Is there a mode that gives you full manual control?
I was thinking of using this with my carbed 454.
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It seems to be working just fine. The only glitch/complaint I have with it is everytime I go into double-low on the Magnum it gives me an OSS error. OSS being Output Speed Sensor. Doesn't seem to adversely affect anything. I haven't ever contacted them about it, but I wonder if it's because the gear ratios aren't quite right. Like maybe it's how the controller handles the decimals.

It does full manual. You can wire a switch to put it in manual mode. Generally that's what I use on the trail. When I put the Magnum in double low, I frequently start from 2nd gear. Really it's geared so low I can even start in 4th.

Frequently I forget about it being in manual mode. At the end of the trail I put everything in high range and then I can't figure out why the truck doesn't hardly want to move when I shift into 4th. Then I realize it's still in manual mode so it's trying to move the truck from a stop in 4th gear. Even a 454 can't accomplish that.
 
cybrfire said:
We could do a 2wd version and could also do a non adjustable version. More of a simple 2-4 conversion hanger.

I don't currently have the pattern for the 2wd in my stable of drawings. I'll have to see if I have any 2wd's in the yard.
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I'm gonna get caught up on this thread but I was wondering if you started making these?
 
mrk5 said:
. Then I realize it's still in manual mode so it's trying to move the truck from a stop in 4th gear. Even a 454 can't accomplish that.
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My 468 (Zz454 heads and roller cam) will do it... clutch doesn’t like it but it’ll do it.
 
I'm actually doing work on this. More to come but question about something I noticed. Is this "acceptable" tie rod play? I'm thinking no.


Checked the nut and it's torqued to spec. Thinking this is internal slop.
 
I figured there shouldn't be any. The other side is good but it also has a drag link end to take some of the load.
 
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