Look what I found on Friday...

[Nullifier]

Man that is an awesome truck. Just amke sure to get it ack to So cal so the salt air doesn't eat it up!

 

[ChuckB]

Howdy Chuck, great looking ferrite porker. I've had two and loved them both. One I left mostly stock....weber carb and Thorley header. That made a big difference. The other I did a spring over shackle reversal, rear detroit locker, gm power cross over steering, Detroit 6.2 diesel with a Banks turbo, 700r4 tranny and 203 to Toyota t-cases. Running 35's it would flat scream! If I had found a non rust beauty like your I would have kept it. They are amazing and beautiful rigs.
Chas

Chas, how did you like the 6.2 w/turbo? This motor usually gets a bad rap but I am still interested in the possibility of this swap with a 5-spd. I want to keep the lift as low as possible and that pretty much eliminates the 4BT.

Man that is an awesome truck. Just amke sure to get it ack to So cal so the salt air doesn't eat it up!

13.5 months and counting :rockon:

 

[Chas Stricker]

Howdy Chuck,
It was a great motor. They do get a bad rep. The 6.2 was made from the ground up as a diesel engine. The bottom end has like 7 4-bolt mains and the rods are huge H-beams. It was always funny pullin' the guys with the new stuff. The turbo was the only size issue. I used the sidewinder and it wants to live right where the passenger side shock would rather live. Hummers and vans use a turbo that goes closer to the firewall. I just rotated the mount and used a slightly different Rancho 9000 there. It weighed less than the 2F motor I pulled. I got excellent mileage also.
Chas

 

[ginericLC]

Do you know if that rig was originally from Colorado?

55s hold a soft spot in my heart. I learned to drive in my dad's 78.

 

[ChuckB]

Howdy Chuck,
It was a great motor. They do get a bad rep. The 6.2 was made from the ground up as a diesel engine. The bottom end has like 7 4-bolt mains and the rods are huge H-beams. It was always funny pullin' the guys with the new stuff. The turbo was the only size issue. I used the sidewinder and it wants to live right where the passenger side shock would rather live. Hummers and vans use a turbo that goes closer to the firewall. I just rotated the mount and used a slightly different Rancho 9000 there. It weighed less than the 2F motor I pulled. I got excellent mileage also.
Chas

Thanks, I'll keep that in the back of my mind. I like to be a little different, hence the 55!!

With all these other swaps going on right now 4BT, 4BD etc, would you do it again?

 

[ChuckB]

Do you know if that rig was originally from Colorado?

55s hold a soft spot in my heart. I learned to drive in my dad's 78.

Not exactly sure... I found some guys on 'Mud that know the guy that had it before the guy that I bought it from, but that was in CA.

 

[Chas Stricker]

Thanks, I'll keep that in the back of my mind. I like to be a little different, hence the 55!!

With all these other swaps going on right now 4BT, 4BD etc, would you do it again?

Chuck, Yes I would. The power, gears, tire size and suspension worked great. I also had a boat place at Lake Havasu build me a tank that fit in the stock location(64gallons) for lots of range for desert traveling. It would have made all the difference to have started with a clean rig like yours. Let us know how it goes. P.S. I went to Maui last year and can understand why you live on the islands. There are a couple of guys on the Unimog list that live there somewhere.
Chas

 

[ChuckB]

Thanks, I'll keep that in the back of my mind. I like to be a little different, hence the 55!!

With all these other swaps going on right now 4BT, 4BD etc, would you do it again?

Chuck, Yes I would. The power, gears, tire size and suspension worked great. I also had a boat place at Lake Havasu build me a tank that fit in the stock location(64gallons) for lots of range for desert traveling. It would have made all the difference to have started with a clean rig like yours. Let us know how it goes. P.S. I went to Maui last year and can understand why you live on the islands. There are a couple of guys on the Unimog list that live there somewhere.
Chas

That's the whole reason I couldn't pass up this 55, its just too clean. It has some small issues that need to be taken care of, but overall I think its in pretty good shape. I like the idea of 6.2/6.5 all mechanical injection to keep it as simple as possible. It seems like there is some interchangeability (sp?) with the SBC V8 parts. So if I really didn't like it for some reason, I guess I could always swap to Vortec money permitting...

64 gallons, WOW you could conservatively go out 1200 miles on that!!

Could you tell me some other specs like tranny, tire size, diff gearing etc. TIA!

Living in the Islands is pretty nice, but surprisingly enough the traffic is pretty bad here on Oahu, my only complaint. I could definitely live on some of the outer islands. Im actually looking forward to getting back to the mainland next year. There just aren't any EXPO members here!!! I did see a Steyr the other day and there are some 40s and a HJ45 running around here. I think I am definitely the only 55!!

 

[bovw]

Very cool, I looked at one years ago but didn't get it. Have fun!

 

[calamaridog]

So I'm thinking why not wait a bit for one of these new smaller oil burners they are coming out with from GM or Cummings to make it's way into the junk yard. Not too many years before they do.

There is always the SBC 350 swap. My former boss has a 76 and it has a 76 GM 350 in it now. All the paperwork is good with CA DMV too.

I'm having some "real" Cruiser envy

 

[Chas Stricker]

That's the whole reason I couldn't pass up this 55, its just too clean. It has some small issues that need to be taken care of, but overall I think its in pretty good shape. I like the idea of 6.2/6.5 all mechanical injection to keep it as simple as possible. It seems like there is some interchangeability (sp?) with the SBC V8 parts. So if I really didn't like it for some reason, I guess I could always swap to Vortec money permitting...

64 gallons, WOW you could conservatively go out 1200 miles on that!!

Could you tell me some other specs like tranny, tire size, diff gearing etc. TIA!




Chuck, I used the 6.2 specifically for the pure mechanical nature the engine and injection pump. I wanted field serviceability. My one concession was the built GM700r4. I put a non-lockup torque converter built by Continental in LA. I really wanted to be able to cruise easily at 70mph here in Nevada. We have big spaces to travel. I then mounted the gear reduction portion of a 203. On the back of that I mounted the Toyota T-case. It worked out where that front and rear drive shafts were each the same at 54". One spare was handy. I had 4.11 gears and used 35" BFG ATs. You can go back to a SBC if you don't like the 6.2/6.5 but you would have to change the torque converter, governor and also the valve body in the Tranny. They really need to be tuned for the low rpm torque of the diesel. It's not a big job. I initially used a 700r4 from a '96 chevy truck and it died in just a few miles. It wasn't from a diesel and was not happy about the shift points or low rpm-high torque. Like I said earlier, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Have a great day,
Chas

 

[zimm]

im trying to summon the courage to sell mine....

tough to part with a pig.

 

[ChuckB]

So I'm thinking why not wait a bit for one of these new smaller oil burners they are coming out with from GM or Cummings to make it's way into the junk yard. Not too many years before they do.

There is always the SBC 350 swap. My former boss has a 76 and it has a 76 GM 350 in it now. All the paperwork is good with CA DMV too.

I'm having some "real" Cruiser envy

Trust me, I have a few years before the funds will be available. I am definitely excited about all these new motors coming out. Time is definitely on my side!!

 

[ChuckB]

Chuck, I used the 6.2 specifically for the pure mechanical nature the engine and injection pump. I wanted field serviceability. My one concession was the built GM700r4. I put a non-lockup torque converter built by Continental in LA. I really wanted to be able to cruise easily at 70mph here in Nevada. We have big spaces to travel. I then mounted the gear reduction portion of a 203. On the back of that I mounted the Toyota T-case. It worked out where that front and rear drive shafts were each the same at 54". One spare was handy. I had 4.11 gears and used 35" BFG ATs. You can go back to a SBC if you don't like the 6.2/6.5 but you would have to change the torque converter, governor and also the valve body in the Tranny. They really need to be tuned for the low rpm torque of the diesel. It's not a big job. I initially used a 700r4 from a '96 chevy truck and it died in just a few miles. It wasn't from a diesel and was not happy about the shift points or low rpm-high torque. Like I said earlier, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Have a great day,
Chas

Chas, thanks for the info. The only real difference I would make if I went this route is probably try the NV4500.

 

[ChuckB]

im trying to summon the courage to sell mine....

tough to part with a pig.

That's easy sell the LX, that's what I did!!!:wings: