12v 96'Suburban swap

[EWalshak]

Have you done anything to your trans or is it stock?

 

[nar472]

When I bought the pickup it had a sticker under the hood for a transmission shop that had rebuilt the transmission it had the phone number and everything on it and I planned on calling them when I got home to find out what had been done. On the way home (+1000 mi. )the sticker blew off so now I cant get ahold of them. #@$%! I do not believe my transmission is stock and here is why I am putting a fair amount of power down six inches of lift and 35" tires and I have pulled with and used it hard from time to time and it hasnt shown any signs of slipping or giving up on me,also it had a deep sump hytec pan on it and I think it may have an aftermarket torque convertor. I recently adjusted the bands and changed the fluid and everything looked good so far I am happy with the way it has handled the power. I did add that device that BD Diesel makes that causes the transmission to keep higher line pressure at light and mid throttle. Sorry for the long winded answer the fact that it does not answer your question exactly since I dont know for sure that it has internal upgrades. .

 

[EWalshak]

Started working on the body

I was able to start the body work this week. We are going to repaint the passenger side of the burb as well as the hood and grill. Pass side rear door is stripped and at the paint shop to be primed and have the inside painted. The grill is ready to be primed and the hood is in the process of being stripped.

 

[EWalshak]

Hood, Grill, the trim piece between the grill and front bumper are ready for paint. I will post pics when they are painted.

 

[EWalshak]

I got the door back from my friend Jody at K&J Autobody today. Inside jam is painted. Outside is stripped, prepped, primed, ready to paint when the rest of this side of the truck is ready.

 

[EWalshak]

I was able to get the rest of the pass side of the burb stripped. I still have to do the edges but the majority of the paint is off. The edges and some sanding and then it is off to see my good friend Jody at K&J auto body. Then I have to tackle the front door which is on saw horses waiting to be stripped.

 

[nar472]

You sir, are braver then I am body work scares me, and it is looking good too.

 

[EWalshak]

I finally got the "BUS" project back from my friend Jody at K&J Autobody. I am very pleased with the results. I Also got started back on the sound insulation that is sorely needed. After I installed the doors back on as well as the grill, I lined the inside door skin with sound deadening mat. I also put some closed cell high density foam in there. Then I put all the inside parts back into the doors. I lined the inside of the doors with mat and then the inside of the interior door panel as well with foam and some other type of material used in furniture padding. Made a huge difference. I was only able to get the passenger side doors complete.

 

[mberry]

Very nice work! I just purchased a '95 Burb with the 454, 119K miles. Wishing it was a Cummins though.

 

[Badger]

Hope it works out as I had a 96 chevy pickup with that 6. 5 turbo and I liked the truck but the motor was plain junk.

 

[DVolk]

How does that work with the stock axels ? with the CTD ????????????

Whom did you get mounts from , do you got pics of them ?

 

[EWalshak]

Well the injector pump started to leak like pretty bad the other day. And well I have been meaning to put a 3200gov spring in it. It really wasnt all that hard to do. Fixed the leak and put the new gov spring in yesterday. It really made a big difference in the power curve.

DVolk it is a 2wd truck. I used mounts from Tennesee Diesel Conversions. The fit was good and they were well made. I have since taken those out and switched to a different mount. I had way to much vibration thru the steering wheel. The mounts I got from TDC utilized the factory 6. 5 frame mount and in my opinion these are not designed to handle the weight or vibration if the CTD. Within weeks the mounts sagged and the motor got to close to the frame for my comfort. The rubber isolators on the 6. 5 frame mount dont have enough rubber to fully isolate the vibrations from running thru the frame and up thru the steering wheel. I used the 1st gen mounts that were on the motor. I modified the bracket part of the mount so that I could use the rubber isolator from a 1st gen Dodge truck. I got the passenger side done and was planning to do the drivers side when the injector pump sidetracked me. I will try to post pics so you can see how the mounts look.

PS. I plan to do a straight axle conversion in the future.

 

[JFought]

what mpg was or could the 6. 5 get in the burb's?

 

[DVolk]

On my 83 i went with poly urthane mounts it be nice if i could use mine over but i see other advertise that look better than the one you and i bought from Scott of Tenn.

 

[EWalshak]

JFought when my burb had the 6. 5 in it the mileage was about as bad as a gas motor. Somewhere around 10.

 

[JFought]

lol thanks!

 

[EWalshak]

The injector pump sprung a leak so I used that as a good excuse to install the 3200rpm gov spring in it that has been on my to do list. This has really changed the way this thing runs:-laf . Also finally got the A/C lines made. Actually one is made and installed, the other is in the process of being made and will be installed next week. Not a moment too soon too as we have had a few days in the 80's. The wife still wont drive it on her own until I get the A/C working and the shift light indicator done. I need that to happen because her minivan is getting tired. But the burb has been fun to drive. It really runs good for a big fat land arc.

 

[phantom 309]

Really great thread, i,m starting almost the same swap,. but with a 94 6. 5 4dr dually 2wd,. I,d really like to see the pics from the fabrication of the mounts,

what model is the transmission?

My donor is a 91, it also has an overdrive trans with a button,(i,ve no idea which model). and cruise control,. My donor engine has a vacuum pump,.

does your cruise work? does your trans have a lockup converter? did you hook the hydro boost to the dodge pump, or use the chev pump on the back of the ctd vacuum setup?

did you use stronger front springs?



Thanks

nick

pm sent,.

 

[Badger]

Yes the air will be needed real soon. You should have a nice vehicle when you are finished. I use to have a 96 chevy turbo diesel 4wheel drive and I must say I liked the way it handled on the road compared to my 12 valve 98 4 by 4 but that was the only thing about it that I liked better. That 6. 5 engine was absolute junk. No if and buts about it junk! Cummings rule the diesel pickup world. Hope you have it finished to take on your vacation this summer. Keep up the good work!

 

[EWalshak]

I can agree with you on the 6. 5. I had nothing but problems out of the one that was in the burb. When I first purchased the burb I had every intention of installing a CTD in it at some point. I figured I would put it on the road and drive it until I gathered up the motor and trans or donor vehicle. Yeah we drove it but it was one problem after another.