I think I might need lots of advice from TDR

[notmeofficer]

My 1956/1979 Ford F600 "Beastie".. currently in frame off full resto. It is 4 wheel drive. This is the last truck I will restore in m y life after many fords and several F600s

I bought a 1994 5.9 intercooled TD 5.9 out of a medium duty 1994 4800 Intl School bus.( I got the wqhole frame slice with all the mounts) Im told it was the 215 hp version but I cannot read the tag. The P.O. claims 150k miles. The markings on the filters are several years old an d the engine has been sitting covered. It is attached to a 545 Allison. My intent is to rebuild it with mild upgrades.

I will be cutting the firewall/floor out of the cab for room. The current mounting brackets from the International appear the same with as my frame 34 inches, so I intend to try to bring it over intact. The 56 cab gets more narrow up front so there will be lots of work trying to figure out the intercooler mounting.

I think Im going to keep the allison but Im not absolutely married to it yet. My knowledge base about 5.9s is minimal so I intend to read a lot here and see what upgrades are worthwhile. Please feel free to provide any suggestions for my. I have a build thread over on FTE but Ill be coming here for Cummins advice.
Thank you Very Much

notme


Before teardown
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The engine combo I acquired

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[Timd32]

Do you have a metal tag on the timing cover with the Cummins ESN? Drivers side for my 96 Dodge.

You can register with Cummins Quick Serve and get some parts and info for it.

Needs some love but sounds like it has a good future.

 

[notmeofficer]

Tha

Do you have a metal tag on the timing cover with the Cummins ESN? Drivers side for my 96 Dodge.

You can register with Cummins Quick Serve and get some parts and info for it.

Needs some love but sounds like it has a good future.

Thank you..
Will check

 

[Wayne M.]

This is a fabulous project! Is this a 4wd? If you’re not requiring a manual trans, the 545 is a fantastic hydraulic transmission. If your transfer case is divorced, it should work.

Staying tuned here!

 

[Wayne M.]

Please provide a link to your other forum thread.

 

[notmeofficer]

This is a fabulous project! Is this a 4wd? If you’re not requiring a manual trans, the 545 is a fantastic hydraulic transmission. If your transfer case is divorced, it should work.

Staying tuned here!

Yes it is 4 x 4... I own more than one

It has Rockwell a fd75 7500 pound front axle and h106 18k rear axle. They are equipped with 6.20 gears. I have a new set that came out of my fire truck, fully built sitting in the shop with Detroit lockers front and rear. It has 15. X 4 in h front brakes and 15 X 6 rear hydraulic brakes. It has AVM locking hubs and a divorced Rockwell transfer case, which is larger than a model 205. It was equipped with a 390 and a Clark 285 five speed. Those were pulled and sold, along with the dump bed which netted the truck for no cost to me.

The 545 is ok up to about 250 hp when built properly, but it has no overdive. Because it's a medium duty the transmission options are unlimited.

My Cummins knowledge is minimal. I intend to go through the motor carefully doing some upgrades where appropriate. I intend to build for ultimate reliability with very mild power enhancements. Mileage is important.

Thank you

 

[Wayne M.]

On the front side of the timing cover, near the pump will be The ID plate. Shoot for a Engine Serial Number, or a CPL number, this is a parts arrangement. Either one will unlock all the info you’ll need on the engine.
So what’s your intention with the engine? The possibilities are endless.

 

[Ozymandias]

If milage is important then let the Engine stock and install a stick shift, you'll gain 30% milage.

 

[NIsaacs]

Please provide a link to your other forum thread.

Here ya go:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1582730-beastie-56-79-f600-4-x-4-a.html?highlight=beastie

 

[NIsaacs]

It has Rockwell a fd75 7500 pound front axle and h106 18k rear axle. They are equipped with 6.20 gears. I have a new set that came out of my fire truck, fully built sitting in the shop with Detroit lockers front and rear. It has 15. X 4 in h front brakes and 15 X 6 rear hydraulic brakes.

The 545 is ok up to about 250 hp when built properly, but it has no overdive. Because it's a medium duty the transmission options are unlimited.

What is the ratio of the new axles? With a direct drive transmission and the low RPM Cummins, you will need some tall gears and or big tires. My guess is you are already scouting for a 5 or 6 spd with O/D

This is going to be a cool build. If the intercooler causes you too much grief, fitment wise, you could use a water cooled aftercooler. Here is a picture of one, also a picture of an exhaust brake, an important feature of a heavy truck and the Cummins. You should not need a rebuild @150k miles unless you just want to.

Some good info here:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...12-valve-engine-and-transmission-faqs.251969/

http://dodgeram.org/support_pgs/diesel_ix.htm

 

[notmeofficer]

Thank you everyone for your advice

The gears are 6.20s. I will probably run super singles in the end. The 22.5s are over 40 inches right now

The main build is on FTE
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1582730-beastie-56-79-f600-4-x-4-a.html#post18807888

It has a sub forum on the 56 forum for the cab which is getting a new roof skin

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1590967-installing-a-new-roof-skin-tips-please.html

Ok..Cummins stuff and my education

I now have the engine out for teardown. The owner stated it had 159k on it.. but I found a filter that was labeled 196k in 2011.. so its mileage is unknown.. so the teardown is needed to see whats really there. I found a reman tag on the Allison.. but since it was a school bus Im not too worried that it hasnt been maintained and wont be a good rebuild candidate

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The engine tag is
TCE 359 D6 DABW 190 horsepower

I would like to bump it on the build to 225 ..which as I understand wont be hard. This keeps it within the recommended range of the Allison.

The bracket for the alternator is missing. It looks like it bolts here. Im not sure if its the same as the pickup or not.. if anyone has a picture of this area I would love it. Perhaps the ac was an add-on kit form the bus builder for the driver. The bus would have had a separate system. I never saw it.

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The engine is also missing the intake snout (a cast piece) and pieces off the turbo. The original owner is far away and has shined me on when I asked them for them so Ill be trying to piece those together. I hope the light duty pieces are the same

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It does have ac.. the bracket also has provisions for something else.. not sure

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These pics are resized.. Im not sure why they are so large...sorry

 

[NIsaacs]

The gears are 6.20s. I will probably run super singles in the end. The 22.5s are over 40 inches right now


Those gears will be way to slow, even with 40" tires. At 2500 rpm, direct drive transmission, 6.20 gears and 40" tires, equals 48 mph. With a .80 overdrive, you will be @ 60 mph, still too slow.

 

[mwilson]

ESN is an 8 digit number. Check your tag again..

 

[Wayne M.]

All that black ac compressor bracketry is all upfitter stuff- not Cummins. May or may not fit into your plans. The alt bracket does go near the oil filter, and is dependent on the alternator you want to use. Your ESN, after Mike helps you will show you what was there, probably a Delco SI.

 

[BigPapa]

On a typical bus application the alternator bolts up beside that A/C Compressor.

I'll help you out from the bus side if I can. A VIN or an ESN would go a LONG ways in helping you out.

Personally, I would not attempt to run that turbo. You may be ok with your conversion on the exhaust manifold but it would not work in a Dodge. I would replace it also with a good aftermarket unit.

 

[NIsaacs]

Personally, I would not attempt to run that turbo. You may be ok with your conversion on the exhaust manifold but it would not work in a Dodge. I would replace it also with a good aftermarket unit.

The engine is going into a 1956 Ford F-600 4x4, not Dodge.

 

[BigPapa]

I think that's what I said...

You may be ok with your conversion...

 

[notmeofficer]

I think that's what I said...

Hi gentlemen
Thank you for your guidance

The frame is a 1979 f600 4 x4
The cab is a 1956 Ford

Super single Michelin xmls are 46 inches tall
A 60 mph truck would be adequate...a 70 mph truck unecessary

I will try to reread the engine number
I have looked at some pics of a motor out of a f750..I'll post one up
I have no problem mixing components

I appreciate any direction on building this engine for reliability.. mileage..and mild power.. the three do not have to be mutually exclusive

 

[Wayne M.]

Your goals are very attainable. So are the parts you need.

 

[BigPapa]

The speeds in NIsaacs calculations are at 2500rpm. That engine is defueling at those RPM’s without pump mods. The “sweet spot” is @ 1700 and I would consider @ 2100 max for extended drives. With the numbers you gave, 46” tires, at 1700rpm in direct 1:1 gear you’ll be running 37.5mph and with the 0.80 OD it will be 47mph. At 2100 that bumps it to 46 and 58.