Adventure Build: 2001 Dodge Cummins QCSB
- Thread starter Direwolf
- Start date
I'll definitely check into the drain plug issue as I'm nearing my first oil change. As far as the extra filters, mainly just cheap insurance for the VP and injectors as I didn't want to chance any issues of bad fuel when out and about away from civilization. I have seen some gas stops with some questionable and old setups and made me wonder what condition the fuel was in. Hope to never need to stop at one, but you never know. Also, it's much easier access to change the filters. Lastly, I really felt my welder had been neglected lately and needed a project!
How have those Duratracs treated you? Those are the size I am leaning toward, but am still undecided. I have toyed with the idea of 255/80r16 but they might too skinny for me. Right now I'm thinking Cooper AT3 or ST Maxx.
How have those Duratracs treated you? Those are the size I am leaning toward, but am still undecided. I have toyed with the idea of 255/80r16 but they might too skinny for me. Right now I'm thinking Cooper AT3 or ST Maxx.
Thanks for the response. The Duratracs are okay although they are a bit of overkill for my trips and I do not like the size. I mainly drive trails, forest roads, and quite a bit of highway. I drive some rocky stuff, but not a ton. I also drive a lot in snow. I took the truck hunting in eastern Oregon in November and it does well in mud and snow and the tires were great. However, the 285/65 size is a bit wide for my tastes and the truck wanders a bit. Some of this probably has to do with the sub par Dodge front end and steering system but I hope to remedy that soon. The tires are also not good for snow at all, or at least the 285/65 is too wide for the snow. I lose the back end all the time in the snow. The Duratracs seem to be wearing pretty well although I think an AT tire would be better for my needs. My next tires will probably be 255/85 in either the Coopers or the Toyo M-55. I used to drive on BF Goodrich ATs but they do not make them in a 255/85.
We took the truck on its first extended trip up to Sacramento. Before we left I slapped a 30" FTE resonator/muffler on to kill the straight pipe rumble and it works beautifully. It installed easily and has just the right amount of exhaust note. there were no issues with the truck and it averaged a little over 20mpg, despite the trip computer claiming 23+. It did, however, become readily apparent that keeping the wondering frontend out of the next lane was quite exhausting after a few hours and thus the front end has been receiving quite a bit of attention lately.
I ordered up the Mopar steering upgrade kit for '08-'10 models (p/n 52122362AH) which has a 1.5" tie rod that puts the stocker to shame. I had planned to do the 99HD steering and had it on hand since there is some confusion as to which model trucks require which. After breaking the old linkage apart and comparing the tie rods it was obvious that the tapers of the 99HD did not match up and so I slapped on the Mopar one which bolted right up. The only issue was the passenger rim rubbed slightly on the tie rod, but it was nothing the grinder couldn't take care of.
While I was at it I also installed a DT Profab 3rd gen track bar and conversion bracket. I opted for the upgraded bearing on the frame side which has a larger 1" end instead of a 7/8" heim.
The install was pretty straight forward. The bar is very stout and the bracket bolts on very easily. It required drilling two holes in the cross member in addition to using the factory track bar mount.
I did learn that Big Trucks need Big Tools and that what works on my BMW resto won't cut it on the Dodge. I had to pick up a 250 ftlb torque wrench as my little one was useless for the truck. For instance the jam nuts on the trackbar are spec'd at 525 ft.lbs. So I created these torque wrench extension from some giant Harbor Freight wrenches and c channel.
Next I decided to create a steering brace based on the Dodge Off Road brace. I decided to start with a PSC brace that I got cheap on ebay and use it as my starting point, which was good because when I mocked it up in its original form it did not fit at all. I hacked it apart and built it from some 3/16" and 1/4" plate. The design ties the steering box to only one side of the frame instead of spanning the two frame rails so that frame flex does not exert any force on the steering box.
Tacked together
Welded up
Test Fit
Add some SEM undercoating
Done!
Even have a place to mount my crankcase breather tube!
Thuren 2" coils and his Overland shocks are waiting for the weekend to be installed.
I ordered up the Mopar steering upgrade kit for '08-'10 models (p/n 52122362AH) which has a 1.5" tie rod that puts the stocker to shame. I had planned to do the 99HD steering and had it on hand since there is some confusion as to which model trucks require which. After breaking the old linkage apart and comparing the tie rods it was obvious that the tapers of the 99HD did not match up and so I slapped on the Mopar one which bolted right up. The only issue was the passenger rim rubbed slightly on the tie rod, but it was nothing the grinder couldn't take care of.
While I was at it I also installed a DT Profab 3rd gen track bar and conversion bracket. I opted for the upgraded bearing on the frame side which has a larger 1" end instead of a 7/8" heim.
The install was pretty straight forward. The bar is very stout and the bracket bolts on very easily. It required drilling two holes in the cross member in addition to using the factory track bar mount.
I did learn that Big Trucks need Big Tools and that what works on my BMW resto won't cut it on the Dodge. I had to pick up a 250 ftlb torque wrench as my little one was useless for the truck. For instance the jam nuts on the trackbar are spec'd at 525 ft.lbs. So I created these torque wrench extension from some giant Harbor Freight wrenches and c channel.
Next I decided to create a steering brace based on the Dodge Off Road brace. I decided to start with a PSC brace that I got cheap on ebay and use it as my starting point, which was good because when I mocked it up in its original form it did not fit at all. I hacked it apart and built it from some 3/16" and 1/4" plate. The design ties the steering box to only one side of the frame instead of spanning the two frame rails so that frame flex does not exert any force on the steering box.
Tacked together
Welded up
Test Fit
Add some SEM undercoating
Done!
Even have a place to mount my crankcase breather tube!
Thuren 2" coils and his Overland shocks are waiting for the weekend to be installed.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Next I decided to create a steering brace based on the Dodge Off Road brace. I decided to start with a PSC brace that I got cheap on ebay and use it as my starting point, which was good because when I mocked it up in its original form it did not fit at all. I hacked it apart and built it from some 3/16" and 1/4" plate. The design ties the steering box to only one side of the frame instead of spanning the two frame rails so that frame flex does not exert any force on the steering box.
Tacked together
Welded up
Test Fit
Add some SEM undercoating
Done!
Awesome work. I have been looking to do this exact mod with my current brace. I completely understand about "big truck" tools. I too had to go buy a 250 ft./lb. torque wrench.
Sorry for the confusion. Yeah same person but I am Direwolf. I hadn't realized it, but my phone had me logged in as o00otii.
redthies
Renaissance Redneck
I really just had a need to weld something
I am building an ARB bullbar copy for my Rubicon for that very reason!
colodak
Adventurer
an issue that I'm kinda surprised no one has brought up, your fuel filter mounting point might cause some issues in very cold temps. If you plan to spend time in the mountains during the winter, you fuel filters are going to be very exposed to freezing temps and especially snow/ice from splash back, I forsee gelling problems in your future, and the new ULSD and ULSD blends are even more prone to it. I've had the fuel in my tanks on the semi start to gel at -18 and I can turn on a heater in my tanks while driving.
Expedition.Report
Explorer
Very cool build!
I think what you are building is a very reasonable Adventure rig!!
It seems a lot of us on here get caught up in all the "OverLand" mod's and loose sight of whats needed for a reliable overland rig.
I have also fallen victim of the unnecessary mod bug and now with my supercharged rig I am getting a terrible 10-12 MPG...
Keep it up! I am sure there will be some people that will get inspired by your sensibility!
I think what you are building is a very reasonable Adventure rig!!
It seems a lot of us on here get caught up in all the "OverLand" mod's and loose sight of whats needed for a reliable overland rig.
I have also fallen victim of the unnecessary mod bug and now with my supercharged rig I am getting a terrible 10-12 MPG...
Keep it up! I am sure there will be some people that will get inspired by your sensibility!
That's an interesting point Colodak, it's good to have someone with cold experience point something like that out. I don't have much experience in the extreme cold here in the Bay Area. I don't plan on any super cold trips yet, but when the time comes I will definitely keep that in mind. I do recall seeing heaters for the filters, just can't remember where. I wonder how those with the Airdogs and FASS systems do in the cold?
blue dog
Adventurer
I see your point. I think this would only be an issue for the truck sitting in one place, while in operation the unused heated fuel returns to the tank and pumps back again, So under operation this would not be an issue.
Great work on the steering brace, very well thought out.