83 Crew Conversion continued...

[Stab]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the info on the conversion! And also for taking the time to post the photos. You are helping many with the same project questions and ideas.



Looking for a 95 or newer Dodge-Cummins 5-6 spd 4x4 chassis, running gear for my new-old 84 crew cab. I thought as long as I'm going to all the work of the conversion, I might as well upgrade to the newer front coil springs and the longer rear leaves. Plus all the other newer improvements on the 2nd generation trucks. They also seem to be slightly easier to come by lately. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!



Any reasons or opinions for NOT doing this vs using the 1st gen running gear would be also appreciated.



I have been thru the first gen conversion on a Club Cab Short Box.

 

[HRDROKN]

I might as well upgrade to the newer front coil springs and the longer rear leaves.



Any reasons or opinions for NOT doing this vs using the 1st gen running gear would be also appreciated.

Coils on the front of a 84 crew would be sweet!



I can't think of any reason why not to do it... . it would be quite a bit more work, especially if you did the coils up front. I wonder if it would just be easier to put the crew on a 2nd gen frame?

 

[Stab]

Yea, I would put the cab on the 2nd or even 3rd gen frame. I found that when I did the 1st gen conversion the frames where different in many areas. I was concerned with strength. If I remember correctly, using a caliper the frame thickness in key areas was different. My trucks don't get loaded heavy very often, but when they do they are loaded very heavy.



OK, How do I post A picture?? I went to "insert image" but what do I do from there?

 

[HRDROKN]

Scroll down and use the "Manage Attachments" tab and it's straight forward from there

 

[Stab]

One of the heavy loads: 7 cords of Ponderosa pine!

 

[Stab]

My wife named it the "old brown turd" when I pulled it home!



A few dates in it with the kids, the dog, and she has come to like it some what!

 

[HRDROKN]

Nice trucks!!! Oo.

 

[bgilbert]

WOW, very nice crew and trailer Stab!!!

 

[Stab]

Thanks guys!



I'm in good with the local Dodge dealer here in town and he thought he had me figured out. So he ordered a New Mega Cab, Cummins, Six Speed Laramie, DVD, the works! My name is on the widow sticker and everything. $44K. 0% for 60 mos. was hard to pass up but the state of Nebraska had horrendous property taxes so I declined. It's still setting on the lot. I wish someone would buy it and get it out of here!



Anyway, I was telling him I don't even want a Dodge anymore because thats all ya see on the road anymore. Then I realized it wasn't the brand as much as it's what everyone else has. Which leads us back to the crew cab. You wouldn't believe how many people come up to me and talk about it. Just something deferent you don't see everyday.

 

[HRDROKN]

Gauges

OK... now that these are complete, I can start putting this thing back together Oo.

 

[HRDROKN]

Afe

Finally had a weekend off with no stinkin rain... .



I made a temporary install of my AFE filter. I'm going to move it deeper into the fender well, just need a couple more pieces and go over my mounting options. I didn't pick up any peak boost, but I do see boost coming in sooner.

 

[HRDROKN]

Driveline vibration

I also finally got around to doing something about my driveshaft vibration. I raised the carrier bearing 1/2" and that solved all my vibrations! Oo.



UPDATE: 6/6/06 Raising the carrier bearing was causing a new problem... driveline shudder. I have went back the other way with positive results.



I posted about it in this thread... . trans shudder

 

[HRDROKN]

dana 70

This weekend I also pulled the rear diff cover off to change the oil and to inspect the work I did about 1000 miles ago. everything looks good, no signs of bearing races spinning ect... Oo.



I put it all back together with a girdle from T/A performance, this will give the bearing caps greater support and hopefully keep the thing from spitting shims again!

 

[HRDROKN]

Latest addition

I just installed my POD's... . all I can say is Oo.



Check out POD's Installed in the first gen forum for a little more info.



:-laf

 

[HRDROKN]

Got the bed Line-x'ed today

Worked on a little cosmetic stuff this weekend and this is how it started...

 

[HRDROKN]

And this is how it turned out!

 

[EarlKann]

Nice. I guess all that time sitting upside down in the yard didn't do any wonders to the bed.



Still happy to see that it is being well taken care of.

 

[HRDROKN]

I tried to get underneath and pound out some dents... what a ***** that was! I got the fenderwells looking real good though. I'm going to take the bed off and have it painted, I'll touch up the rest of the body as needed for now. I thinking I'll get the rocker panels shot with line-x also and depending on what they can do with color (white) maybe the roof.



Hope to get straight piped and governor spring in for the drive to the nor-cal rally! Oo.

 

[TKingsbury]

Did you do that yourself or have it sprayed?

Travis. .

 

[HRDROKN]

I just bit the bullet and had it done at the line-x dealer over there on Folsom Blvd...