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K5 Cummins/1 ton axles build
- Thread starter KB6Chris
- Start date
The Freeak
Pro-Crastinator
HELL YEAH. 
McBastard79
Badical
- Joined
- May 20, 2020
- Member Number
- 681
- Messages
- 257
Sounds like a good time.
You should definitely do it. Waking up seeing those felt like I was dreaming or something.
Thank ya, always cool to meet a fellow forum member
TrailTamer
🤣🖕🏻
Cool build and awesome shakedown run!
Gotta figure out the crankcase blowby though!
Gotta figure out the crankcase blowby though!
00nissanguy
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 20, 2020
- Member Number
- 698
- Messages
- 152
Rad shake down run. Glad it went well. Rig looks great
350TacoZilla
Well-known member
Congrats on the maiden voyage man! So big question after a trip that big is always if you built it again would you change anything?
I love the build but have to wonder what a decent running 4bt with few mods would be like in comparison just for overall driving and MPG since a K5 isn't normally going to be pulling heavy compared to a 3\4-1T pickup with same drivetrain.
I love the build but have to wonder what a decent running 4bt with few mods would be like in comparison just for overall driving and MPG since a K5 isn't normally going to be pulling heavy compared to a 3\4-1T pickup with same drivetrain.
Thank ya, gonna get a compression tester and see what I get
Thanks!
I really went back in forth in my head about a 4BT, in truth it would be a perfect fit for what I do with the rig. The problem is that they don't pop up for sale very often, usually cost more to obtain, and are a much "harsher" running engine than the 6 cylinder. I was able to buy the whole parts truck cheaper than I have seen a running 4BT for quite some time.
As far as what I would do differently. That's a tough one, I'm pretty happy with it right now. I do want to switch to an A/T tire to get it a little quieter ride. I still need a sway bar. And I would like to upgrade the front springs to something better as they ride a little rough and sag some under the weight up front. Mainly things to continue upgrading vs re-do.
Although a part of me misses the ease of operation it was before the swap. The lower entry, automatic transmission and easier ride made it a nice daily. It has since lost some of that. It is more more capable, robust, and better looking rig now. So I guess you win some you loose some.
RunningProblem
Red Skull Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2020
- Member Number
- 2860
- Messages
- 2,728
Long winded post FTW!!!
350TacoZilla
Well-known member
yeah the days of the $1500 bread van that came with a 4bt are done for sure.
BustedCrank
Webwheeler
You can hear the tires over that engine?
Hooligan
Xtreme wheeler of the web
Cool build and sounds like a good trip. Kept reading for the “ohshit” to start, seemed like it went well.
WaterH
Well-known member
I’ve reread your trip post several times. What an adventure! I really hope to make that trip next year. My rig has a lot more test miles on it and I’m still working out bugs. I’m curious, what was your average speed on the highway miles? My rig has full hydro and is to intense to drive over 60-65. It sounds like you didn’t have a second vehicle for most of your trip. Is that correct? I didn’t see your co driver. Was he/she a machanical minded person that could help in a break down? I would like to take my wife, but she is worthless when it comes to machines.
Did you have any body rash in the off-road places out there? Did you find the trails tight for a full size rig? I don’t mind scratches, but I really don’t want to dent my custom bodywork. (I really hate to sound like a pussy)
Did you have any body rash in the off-road places out there? Did you find the trails tight for a full size rig? I don’t mind scratches, but I really don’t want to dent my custom bodywork. (I really hate to sound like a pussy)
Yes, I have the entire floor and interior bedsides lined with sound deadening and the tires overpower the engine noise at interstate speeds. Interestingly enough, when we had all our gear in the back the sound was much more tolerable. But now that I've taken everything out the noise at interstate speeds from the tires is pretty rough.
We averaged 65-70mph on the first leg traveling west. But on the way back going through the southern states we stayed over 75mph and spent a lot of time at 80mph. I'm still running a steering gearbox and the steering felt great for a lifted truck. Definitely not as good as a late model car but I has happy with it. The lack of sway bar and our extra gear caused some instability in the curves on the interstate so that needs to be addressed.
My co-driver was my cousin and he can turn a wrench and is pretty good at looking things over and checking things i might've missed so it was good to have an extra set of eyes when checking the rig out. We didn't have anyone else following us in another vehicle, I would've felt more comfortable if we did though. My anxiety fearing a break down really drug me down at times.
We didn't try any challenging trails and the desert is pretty open so no body damage. The front tires rubbed the inner fender a few times while flexing but I had expected that.
It may seem daunting to strike out and do a trip like this in one's project rig but I'm 100% glad I did and I would recommend it to anyone. Yes, problems can happen, but there are lots of people out there who would be glad to help and get you back on the road.
arse_sidewards
Red Skull Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Member Number
- 71
- Messages
- 8,555
I would daily your project rig a lot first.
Lots of people never really put their vehicle through the paces and it show. Look at what happens on UA. A bunch of rigs that are hand picked for being cool and likely to survive and 50% of them are still incapable of cruising the highway for any length of time.
stan1688
Weld it Yourself Bumpers
Awesome trip for an awesome rig. We’ll done!
WaterH
Well-known member
Good video! Is fins government land? Do you have to follow trails or is it pretty free to go whereever? Looks to be fairly mild except for some steep spots. Nice you can wheel a full width without body rash.
I'm pretty sure its BLM land and motorized traffic is restricted to one way on designated trails. I didn't have any difficulty with the trail but for a first timer some of the steep spots both up and down were an interesting experience. I would say most 4x4 or awd vehicles with decent ground clearance shouldn't have much trouble on the trail. Guy ahead of me was in a slightly lifted toyota sequoia and was able to go almost everywhere I went.
Little update:
Truck has around 7500 miles on it now and have begun to get death wobble from time to time. Was planning on adding a stabilizer anyway for comfort but will also check other things to see if anything came loose.
After harvest wraps up gonna put in an order at ORD for front sway bar, and some better front springs. The parts truck takeoffs are starting to sag a little bit and I haven't been happy with the ride.
Little side note but after having so much fun at KOH this year I've been getting the itch to go back next year. One thing that wore me out was the tent camping. So my Grandpa had a 1975'ish Avion camper that we've kept in the shed and has remained in good condition. I'm gonna see how the Blazer handles it and maybe drag it out there this winter. Maybe another thread on that lol
Truck has around 7500 miles on it now and have begun to get death wobble from time to time. Was planning on adding a stabilizer anyway for comfort but will also check other things to see if anything came loose.
After harvest wraps up gonna put in an order at ORD for front sway bar, and some better front springs. The parts truck takeoffs are starting to sag a little bit and I haven't been happy with the ride.
Little side note but after having so much fun at KOH this year I've been getting the itch to go back next year. One thing that wore me out was the tent camping. So my Grandpa had a 1975'ish Avion camper that we've kept in the shed and has remained in good condition. I'm gonna see how the Blazer handles it and maybe drag it out there this winter. Maybe another thread on that lol
Levigarrett76
Zeus of the Sluice
Nice dudeGot quite a bit more done here in past couple weeks. I talked to ORD and the pitman arm they sent had the wrong taper in it so they're sending me the correct one and I'll send them this one back. I also ordered their upgraded tie-rod setup which only cost about 40 bucks more shipped than the stock replacement stuff from NAPA.
I got my ARB air compressor installed and wired up as well as the lockers plumbed, and tested. Mounted the switches where the factory 24V voltmeter was.
Put the shifter back together and used the Dodge shift boots just flipped around which worked pretty well.
Of course had to install a custom shift knobI never thought I'd like an aftermarket shift knob but this one actually feels much nicer than the factory one.
Wiring is 99% complete with just loom to install after the shakedown run.
The fuel shutoff solenoid and grid heaters are wired up and work as intended. Not using the Dodge ECM I just ran the ground wire for the heater relays to the same switch on the dash that I used to operate the glow plugs on the 6.2
I ended up using the 6.2 fan mounted to the Cummins fan clutch to clear the brake lines going to the proportioning valve. It's not quite as big as the factory fan but I'm not towing goosenecks with this thing so it should be adequate.
I installed the gauge cluster as well as the control boxes for the tachometer and cluster. I ended up not using the aftermarket speedo sender I bought because the gauge cluster came with one. Also had to make a 1/8 NPT to 3/4 NPT bushing for the coolant sender and had to use the port on top of the oil filter because there wasn't enough room to locate the oil sender in the factory location. Right now all the gauges work except for the fuel gauge which I feel is a faulty sender because I was having issues with it before the swap.
I was able to drive it out of the shop on the 2nd of January but with out the correct pitman arm I couldn't take it for a test drive. Let the engine sit and run for 20 minutes and no real issues except for a leaking fuel filter which I have yet to fix.
I installed some aftermarket headlights and also upgraded the headlight circuit to relays. Fought the headlight adjusters for awhile and finally the 2nd set I ordered worked good.
Got the rear shock mounts welded to the axle and rear shocks on.
I was missing one of the CUCV front tow shackle/bumper mount when I bought it so I ordered a civilian bumper mount and my cousin fabbed up the rest of it to be able to attach the tow shackle. We were then able to mount the front bumper and tow/lift shackles.
Right now the last things are the steering components bump stops and full exhaust before its ready for the road. I hope anyways lol
I got some pics this time for you guys
Thats cool ass camper, but I imagine being a handful with the short wheelbaseLittle update:
Truck has around 7500 miles on it now and have begun to get death wobble from time to time. Was planning on adding a stabilizer anyway for comfort but will also check other things to see if anything came loose.
After harvest wraps up gonna put in an order at ORD for front sway bar, and some better front springs. The parts truck takeoffs are starting to sag a little bit and I haven't been happy with the ride.
Little side note but after having so much fun at KOH this year I've been getting the itch to go back next year. One thing that wore me out was the tent camping. So my Grandpa had a 1975'ish Avion camper that we've kept in the shed and has remained in good condition. I'm gonna see how the Blazer handles it and maybe drag it out there this winter. Maybe another thread on that lol
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