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Ron Savage's Cummins B5. 9 powered '70 Chevy K20
Found this on the web:
Here's what I know about Ron's Chevy. He bought it new & initially it was used as a work truck. Later it was converted to a competition puller which primarily involved beefing the frame by putting ½" plate top & bottom of the frame front to rear & transplanting a higher horsepower engine. Later, Ron needed a vehicle to tow a flatbed gooseneck trailer to haul parts for Cummins, who he works for. This was when the Cummins B5. 9 12 valve was swapped it.
Ron found he could tow larger & larger loads with his Cummins powered Chevy, but also discovered that the transmission wasn't up to the task. A number of combinations were tried, including the original NP435, an couple NV4500s & an NP435 with a Ranger OverDrive. After cookin' the last NV4500, he decided it needed something stouter. Originally the "stouter" transmission was to be a Clark 13 speed, but it proved to be more work to swap in. Finally, he "settled" for the current Browning 14 speed. Obviously, this transmission didn't fit as nicely under the Chevy body, hence the 6" body lift.
The original rear end lasted around 500,000 miles, but finally gave out. Ron had planned to fix it & continue trucking, but parts for the Eaton-built GM "Corporate" rear axle are virtually non-existant. Where could he find an equally or more stout rear-end to go behind his pumped up Cummins? He was forced to "settle" with a 22,000 lb rated rear axle from a Kenworth. I just wish he'd quit compromising! The front axle is a custom Dana 60 from Boyce Equipment he had done up after he wore out the original Dana 44 plowing snow in Pennsylvania.
You have to be wondering what Ron tows with this truck. Well, it is a 48" flatbed fifth-wheel on which he typically runs between 48,000 and 54,000 lbs of equipment!!! And no, that is not gross combined weight. That is just cargo!!!
Ron's other big issue when towing was keepin' this hard workin' Cummins cool, what with all the power upgrades. After tryin' some different combos, like a six-core original Chevy radiator, he finally had to go with a radiator support from an early Chevy C60 & custom radiator. The original Chevy ¾ ton radiator support simply didn't have a large enough opening to gather in enough air. Note the reversed scoops on the hood to promote air flow through the grill. The fenders on the bed were sourced from a '67-'72 Step side in order to maintain the body lines.
Ron's Chevy is still drivin' daily & just won more awards at a local parade where he now lives.
Here are some more images of Ron's awesome Chevy!
Ron Savage's Cummins B5. 9 powered '70 Chevy K20
Sounds like a cool truck, but a lot of BS to me... What do y'all think??
-Chris-
Found this on the web:
Here's what I know about Ron's Chevy. He bought it new & initially it was used as a work truck. Later it was converted to a competition puller which primarily involved beefing the frame by putting ½" plate top & bottom of the frame front to rear & transplanting a higher horsepower engine. Later, Ron needed a vehicle to tow a flatbed gooseneck trailer to haul parts for Cummins, who he works for. This was when the Cummins B5. 9 12 valve was swapped it.
Ron found he could tow larger & larger loads with his Cummins powered Chevy, but also discovered that the transmission wasn't up to the task. A number of combinations were tried, including the original NP435, an couple NV4500s & an NP435 with a Ranger OverDrive. After cookin' the last NV4500, he decided it needed something stouter. Originally the "stouter" transmission was to be a Clark 13 speed, but it proved to be more work to swap in. Finally, he "settled" for the current Browning 14 speed. Obviously, this transmission didn't fit as nicely under the Chevy body, hence the 6" body lift.
The original rear end lasted around 500,000 miles, but finally gave out. Ron had planned to fix it & continue trucking, but parts for the Eaton-built GM "Corporate" rear axle are virtually non-existant. Where could he find an equally or more stout rear-end to go behind his pumped up Cummins? He was forced to "settle" with a 22,000 lb rated rear axle from a Kenworth. I just wish he'd quit compromising! The front axle is a custom Dana 60 from Boyce Equipment he had done up after he wore out the original Dana 44 plowing snow in Pennsylvania.
You have to be wondering what Ron tows with this truck. Well, it is a 48" flatbed fifth-wheel on which he typically runs between 48,000 and 54,000 lbs of equipment!!! And no, that is not gross combined weight. That is just cargo!!!
Ron's other big issue when towing was keepin' this hard workin' Cummins cool, what with all the power upgrades. After tryin' some different combos, like a six-core original Chevy radiator, he finally had to go with a radiator support from an early Chevy C60 & custom radiator. The original Chevy ¾ ton radiator support simply didn't have a large enough opening to gather in enough air. Note the reversed scoops on the hood to promote air flow through the grill. The fenders on the bed were sourced from a '67-'72 Step side in order to maintain the body lines.
Ron's Chevy is still drivin' daily & just won more awards at a local parade where he now lives.
Here are some more images of Ron's awesome Chevy!
Ron Savage's Cummins B5. 9 powered '70 Chevy K20
Sounds like a cool truck, but a lot of BS to me... What do y'all think??
-Chris-
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