Very likely. I like exposed stainless welds.
I’m only planning to wrap some earlier sections of the exhaust (all my header shield funds were diverted to house repairs subsequent to the big freeze here in TX).
David
CK5
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One Piece at a Time: My 1985 Diesel Suburban
- Thread starter AgDieseler
- Start date
I’m only planning to wrap some earlier sections of the exhaust (all my header shield funds were diverted to house repairs subsequent to the big freeze here in TX).
David
Nice!
Outstanding work should on display!
The truck moved today. Here’s how it went.
DEI lava titanium itchy and scratchy exhaust wrap. It lays down a tad easier than fiberglass.
The stainless dimple flange gaskets worked well enough. I made a new set while I had this apart.
Why did I have it apart? Because I dropped a 7/32 wrench down the turbo flange hole while chasing threads. Whoops.
The gaskets get about 3/4 of the dimple.
All the exhaust has the ARP chromoly studs and stainless nuts.
There always a point when my table is a wreck with parts and tools.
It fired, ran, and moved a few feet without leaking oil, fuel, coolant, or other squarebodily fluid. I’m planning a test drive tomorrow.
David
DEI lava titanium itchy and scratchy exhaust wrap. It lays down a tad easier than fiberglass.
The stainless dimple flange gaskets worked well enough. I made a new set while I had this apart.
Why did I have it apart? Because I dropped a 7/32 wrench down the turbo flange hole while chasing threads. Whoops.
The gaskets get about 3/4 of the dimple.
All the exhaust has the ARP chromoly studs and stainless nuts.
There always a point when my table is a wreck with parts and tools.
It fired, ran, and moved a few feet without leaking oil, fuel, coolant, or other squarebodily fluid. I’m planning a test drive tomorrow.
David
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Sweetness!
That is the most relatable thing in this whole thread. You didn't need to disclose that, but it does make this build seem more real.
Thank you.
This is awesome dude. Can’t wait to see her flex those new muscles. I know you are indescribably stoked.
Mine gets much worse than this lol. Always helps clear the thought process when it’s clean.
Looking forward to tomorrow!
Mine gets much worse than this lol. Always helps clear the thought process when it’s clean.
Looking forward to tomorrow!
And I think you wound up with M.C. Escher's alternator belt routing... 
I learn from mistakes like us all, and I make plenty of them. Glad this one rang true with you.
I really am. There’s still a decent list of tasks ahead, but the prospect of driving this for the first time in 8 months will make it hard to sleep tonight.
David
Short videos of the startup.
David
David
jkroberts
Roberts Custom Trucks
YEWW!! Time to go send that thing! That's probably the best sounding 6.2 I've ever heard too.
Vroom!
The test drive was a good one. I have several details to work out, but the suspension isn’t one of them.
Steering is extremely precise, the truck floats over broken Dallas pavement, bump steer is a thing of the past, and it’s all just super stable. I think the swaybar is doing a lot of work, and of course, the front axle can only move in a set arc. Also, the turbo sounds like a TF39 powering up, and the exhaust is nicely quiet. It’s a whole new truck.
The rear locker is rowdy. Very. Unlike my last Detroit, this one doesn’t like to unlock. At all. It ping and pops, and fights back. There’s some tuning to do, and I’ll speak with Adam at Tribe today.
Next up, I have an intake an inner fenders to make, so I ordered up a sheet of .063 5052.
David
Steering is extremely precise, the truck floats over broken Dallas pavement, bump steer is a thing of the past, and it’s all just super stable. I think the swaybar is doing a lot of work, and of course, the front axle can only move in a set arc. Also, the turbo sounds like a TF39 powering up, and the exhaust is nicely quiet. It’s a whole new truck.
The rear locker is rowdy. Very. Unlike my last Detroit, this one doesn’t like to unlock. At all. It ping and pops, and fights back. There’s some tuning to do, and I’ll speak with Adam at Tribe today.
Next up, I have an intake an inner fenders to make, so I ordered up a sheet of .063 5052.
David
This is a fantastic report. I have heard the linked/coil over suspension provides these kinds of ride and steering characteristics. Maybe someday. In 10 years ...
Is the turbo sound due to the billet wheel?
Will be interesting to see what comes of the rear Detroit. Mine has popped a few times on me, but nothing like this.
That’s awesome, the steering precision is crazy right? Sorry to hear about the Detroit. It sucks to spend a grand on a selectable but it is SO worth it.
The turbo has always made a lot of noise, but especially when there’s no filter on it.
My old Detroit would pop every now and then, but it was rare and random. This is not that.
Super precise, and way beyond what I’ve known from this truck for the preceding 25 years. This test drive was not nearly enough.
David
I think it's kinda funny you said "it's a whole new truck". It almost is, at least under the body. Glad you are pleased with the results. 
There are a lot of clean parts under the truck right now. We’ll have to fix that.
Meanwhile, parking brake cables are getting routed. One more bracket added to the list of stuff to make. I’m routing a bit higher to leave plenty of room for slider fab.
David
Congrats on the first road miles. Such an awesome feeling after all that hard work. Way to go!
One trip to Moab will settle this. Tested and proven fact.
I snapped some much better photos of the tail section of the exhaust. I described the obstacles this length had to negotiate, but these clarify that explanation with greater detail.
I hope to wrap up the parking brake tonight, and get the truck over to my buddy’s shop to build the intake and inner fenders. Then, it’ll be on a lift at Tribe fixing the rear locker.
David
I hope to wrap up the parking brake tonight, and get the truck over to my buddy’s shop to build the intake and inner fenders. Then, it’ll be on a lift at Tribe fixing the rear locker.
David
