CK5
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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
On the dent work I have put part of a sheet of plywood or steel on the inside so the ball only pushes on the metal you want to push.
The damn rear doors are so hard to work inside of, I don't know if I could get a backer in them.
 
Gotta love spring wheeling in the mountains!

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I'm still really loving the engine swap. Yesterday I ran with the NP205 in low all day. The old engine never liked the 2:1 low range and always did a lot better with the Magnum in low (2.72:1). I was able to lock up the torque converter and let the engine lug down as low as 750 RPM at times. This was handy yesterday because we were with the local 4wd club and they tend to go slower than the Circus typically does.

@Babaganoosh I noticed a difference with that added frame rail cooler. Another reason I haven't liked running just the 205 in low is because the transmission heated up more, but yesterday it was much happier. I wouldn't call it a night and day difference, but it was noticeable.
 
After cleaning most of the mud off, I worked on welding up the backside of the sliders yesterday. The driver side is done. I did add a brace to the back end of the slider. I figured the front and middle are tied into the cab supports so it wouldn't hurt to add some bracing at the rear. Disregard the ugly welding.....

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Had a little fun on the trail yesterday. Tried to drive off the side of the mountain....

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Watch the rock roll off into oblivion.....
View attachment Spring Creek fall off.mp4

Took this photo on the way back down. You can see the tire tread print in the kinda lower right where it was running off the edge. And that's Interstate 70 you can see down there....

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We kept going as far as we could until the snow finally ledged us out too much.

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Awesome! Idaho Springs/ Georgetown area?
Spring Creek maybe?
Yep. Wasn't as snowy as previous trips this time of year.


That’s not the first time you’ve tried to drive off the mountain in that exact same spot.
Yeah, that spot kicks my ass. Since the drop is on the passenger side, it just looks to me like I'm close to the edge regardless. It's not until the passenger(s) start yelling i realize we've gotten so close.

scary! That's a long way down!
The worst part was waiting for Nate to pull out the winch and hearing rocks tumbling down the mountain side. I was wondering if the road was going to hold together long enough.

And my son was riding along. You can see in the picture he had his back to the window the entire time we sat there.

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You've been to that spot before, but you wouldn't try the Intimidator???
:dunno:
 
You've been to that spot before, but you wouldn't try the Intimidator???
:dunno:
I would now with the 2' shorter wheelbase and no bed sheet metal. I don't know why I have so much trouble with that spot on Spring Creek. Like I don't even think about it when I'm driving up it. I guess maybe that's the problem, I need to pay more attention there. Maybe I'll remember next time.


Pucker a bit?

Martin
My leg pressing the brake pedal was shaking. :yikes: I was concerned that if changed anything like what gear it was in or put it in neutral or let off the brake, all hell would break loose - literally. Plus every time we bumped the winch, it would put a load on the engine through the alternator and cause the idle to bump up which would cause it to try even harder to over ride the brakes. That's a problem with a big block and both transfercases in low.
 
I would now with the 2' shorter wheelbase and no bed sheet metal. I don't know why I have so much trouble with that spot on Spring Creek. Like I don't even think about it when I'm driving up it. I guess maybe that's the problem, I need to pay more attention there. Maybe I'll remember next time.



My leg pressing the brake pedal was shaking. :yikes: I was concerned that if changed anything like what gear it was in or put it in neutral or let off the brake, all hell would break loose - literally. Plus every time we bumped the winch, it would put a load on the engine through the alternator and cause the idle to bump up which would cause it to try even harder to over ride the brakes. That's a problem with a big block and both transfercases in low.
You worried too much. You could have put it in neutral to hold until they helped you or reverse and got yourself out.
You still had 3 wheels on solid ground and it was pretty flat.
Except if you had a bad shifter like me in Moab and you go to reverse and it goes in neutral and you roll it :doah:
 
You worried too much. You could have put it in neutral to hold until they helped you or reverse and got yourself out.
You still had 3 wheels on solid ground and it was pretty flat.
Except if you had a bad shifter like me in Moab and you go to reverse and it goes in neutral and you roll it :doah:
Oh yeah, it always feels worse inside the truck. It felt to me like the driver side tire was barely touching. Like I said, the sound of falling rock was really getting to me.
 
Saturday I went with the local club to check Kelly Flats before it opens for the year. Put the new sliders to the test in the Chutes.

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Just a few scrapes on the body. And I had to ride pretty hard on the passenger slider. It's not fully welded on the backside yet, but the doors still open without touching.

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Couple more pictures from the top of Heart Attack Hill.

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I've been messing with the fuel tables and watching for when I should turn the learning off. After the last 3 trips I have merged the base and learn tables. I been grabbing screen captures and I thought the last 3 captures of the learn table were a good, quick visual of how it's getting the engine dialed.

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