CK5
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One Piece at a Time: My 1985 Diesel Suburban

Looks good. I like the black exhaust tip.
The polished tips turn black pretty quickly, so I immediately liked the powder coated option when I saw it.

anxious to see the vintage air install.
Nice work on the exhaust.
I'm excited, too, and will post the details of the install. There's still plenty of August left for testing.

Meanwhile, MBRP 30" quiet tone should be here today.

David
 
Do you have rear air also? Wondering what mods/changes are needed to include the rear air with the vintage install.
 
Do you have rear air also? Wondering what mods/changes are needed to include the rear air with the vintage install.
I do have factory rear air, which is not immediately compatible with the new front system. So, I'm only converting the front portion at this time. The rear will remain disconnected, and eventually be converted to one of their trunk units.

Later. Eventually. Maybe never. We'll see.

David
 
I do have factory rear air, which is not immediately compatible with the new front system. So, I'm only converting the front portion at this time. The rear will remain disconnected, and eventually be converted to one of their trunk units.

Later. Eventually. Maybe never. We'll see.

David

Why isn't this compatible? :dunno:
 
Why isn't this compatible?
Small differences over 30 years - fitting size and style, drier vs accumulator - but mostly that the additional trunk system from VA is less than $500 for something significantly higher performing.

Adapting the old system just doesn't seem like the best use of funds.

David
 
I'm thinking about the MBRP quiet tone as well, let me know how you like it and if possible a video?
 
I'm thinking about the MBRP quiet tone as well, let me know how you like it and if possible a video?
Will do. It got here just a couple of hours ago; won't have a chance to install it until later in the week.

It's a louvered design, so you can run it with the louvers facing forward or backward depending on your sound preference. The Kennedy Diesel muffler is similarly constructed (but without packing), and we ran it backwards on the 96 Suburban's 6.5 and really liked the tone. Good whistle with minimal highway resonance. I'm hoping for similar results with this MBRP muffler.

I'll make a video.

David
 
Awesome to hear it's running good. I have a dynomax muffler on mine, it's actually fairly quiet when cruising but does make some noise when wound out near redline.

I have the vintage air setup in mine since I used the stock 6.5 turbo setup. Install was pretty straight forward. Couple things do require an extra set of hands to help hold stuff in place. Seems to work pretty good in my regular cab here in the Florida heat. My biggest complaints about it though are a lack of switching between fresh air intake and recirculation. Plus the fit up of how the air duct hoses attach to the stock dash vents is kinda crappy. But otherwise a nice system.

Just remembered, you can get vintage air parts from both summit racing and amazon. Prices are about the same as direct but shipping is much faster. I got the better manual crimper tool also, works nicely.
 
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Awesome to hear it's running good. I have a dynomax muffler on mine, it's actually fairly quiet when cruising but does make some noise when wound out near redline.

I have the vintage air setup in mine since I used the stock 6.5 turbo setup. Install was pretty straight forward. Couple things do require an extra set of hands to help hold stuff in place. Seems to work pretty good in my regular cab here in the Florida heat. My biggest complaints about it though are a lack of switching between fresh air intake and recirculation. Plus the fit up of how the air duct hoses attach to the stock dash vents is kinda crappy. But otherwise a nice system.

Just remembered, you can get vintage air parts from both summit racing and amazon. Prices are about the same as direct but shipping is much faster. I got the better manual crimper tool also, works nicely.


A hose crimper....?
 
Awesome to hear it's running good. I have a dynomax muffler on mine, it's actually fairly quiet when cruising but does make some noise when wound out near redline.

I have the vintage air setup in mine since I used the stock 6.5 turbo setup. Install was pretty straight forward. Couple things do require an extra set of hands to help hold stuff in place. Seems to work pretty good in my regular cab here in the Florida heat. My biggest complaints about it though are a lack of switching between fresh air intake and recirculation. Plus the fit up of how the air duct hoses attach to the stock dash vents is kinda crappy. But otherwise a nice system.

Just remembered, you can get vintage air parts from both summit racing and amazon. Prices are about the same as direct but shipping is much faster. I got the better manual crimper tool also, works nicely.
Great notes. Thank you.

I'm tempted to order the nicer crimping tool, but I'm going to see if the local hydraulic shop will take the hoses and barbs I setup and do a quick crimp at their shop. There's a Pirtek not far from me.

I saw Amazon had a lot of their parts, which is extremely handy. As well, Vintage Air is in San Antonio; a 1 day UPS or FedEx ground shipment to Dallas.

David
 
I would be interested in the quiet tone performance. I used to have a mbrp system on my dmax, but the drone was absolutely horrible. You could not hold a conversation at 70mph. I have the 41" donaldson now and its tons better. I need to get rid of the turn down and actually run the pipe out the back and I should be happy.
 
A hose crimper....?

A/C hoses have to have a special crimp done to them to hold the fitting in the hose and let it hold pressure.

If you have some where to take them that's a nice option. The crimp tool wasn't that much so I decided to buy it, always good to have more tools :D.

True, you are close to get it direct from them quickly.

Ive been very happy with my dynamic mufflers on both my trucks.
 
A/C hoses have to have a special crimp done to them to hold the fitting in the hose and let it hold pressure.

If you have some where to take them that's a nice option. The crimp tool wasn't that much so I decided to buy it, always good to have more tools :D.

True, you are close to get it direct from them quickly.

Ive been very happy with my dynamic mufflers on both my trucks.

what exactly did you get for the mufflers...have a link to them? thanks!
 
what exactly did you get for the mufflers...have a link to them? thanks!

Pretty sure it's this one on my stepside.
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/wlk-24217

This one likes the same as what's on my dodge.
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/wlk-24233

Now the 6.5td is pretty quiet with it. The Cummins you definitely hear it and so does everyone else but with good tip placement and angle it's actually not bad in the cab. It will resonate pretty good with a good load and lugging the engine though. I'll take a picture of the tip how it's set later. I have full 5 inch on the Dodge too which is little louder.
 
Ok thx
I'm looking more for quiet power, if I'm towing for a 1000mi I don't want to listen to it that much! Carrying on a conversation would be nice!
 
Ok thx
I'm looking more for quiet power, if I'm towing for a 1000mi I don't want to listen to it that much! Carrying on a conversation would be nice!

My dodge certainly isn't. The quietest but I do like the quality of the dynomax mufflers. It's been on it for almost 10 years and still holding up pretty good.
 
90% unrelated to the suburban, but on a recent business trip I made a side hike and toured Rad Rides by Troy in Manteno, IL. Disclaimer, I also didn't take any photos - that tends to happen when I'm truly engrossed.

There are three areas of the shop (final assembly, metal, and prototyping), and I went straight to the metal fab bay. Among others, they had a 55 tri-five just back from blasting, a rolling chassis a-body with a really cool sprint car cowl steering setup, and the 3rd gen camaro with major body mods was still there (it was featured in Hotrod like 4 years ago).

Exhaust that runs internal to rockers, an engine setback far enough that the timing covers sits behind the centerline of the front suspension making it technically a mid-engine car but interior space is almost unchanged, the tightest fitting roll cage so that the space between the A pillar and bar is almost imperceptible, and dozens of small reinforcement brackets placed throughout the chassis that would look factory but for the dimpled holes throughout. What an inspiration for quality and detailed fabrication.

Super accommodating people that spent way too much time talking to me about Mopar front suspensions and shrinking metal to make window channels.

If you're near Chicago, make time to go there. Turns out, they do allow photos.

David
 
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