1991 Chevy R/V3500 Crew Cab Build

[mattcrouch1502]

Been a while since I updated but its been busy around here! Got the truck running and driving, I had to break down and order the Advanced adapters bell housing and clutch kit to work with my NV4500. It was quite a bit more then I wanted to spend but the truck runs and shifts awesome! I have put about 5000mi on it in the last 4 months driving it almost everyday, it is a blast to drive. I have been tracking the mileage and city driving I have been getting about 10.5mpg which isn't bad all things considered... The current project is to pickup a Military Contact Maintenance Bed that I found and get it ready to install. Going to use it as a service bed for some of the side work I do but also want to start making it into a camper style bed. This is similar to what im starting with

After that I need to re-gear my front axle and get a front driveshaft installed, that way it will actually be 4wd.

I just hope you are not going to run a single leaf front spring up front. If that snaps out in the bush you have some serious problems. I use the BDS 2 inch lift front springs that have a military wrap meaning that the second leaf spring wraps around the main spring so that you can snap a leaf and stil have another to get you home. Even with a 5 pack spring I think its fine for a small block but if I had a big clock I would probably go with 7 or more leafs.. Looking forward to seeing what you do with that fine beast. Cheers, Chilli...

Thanks for the kind words! I completely understand about the military wrap and once I get a few things worked out i'm going to order up some of ORD Custom front springs. They have the military wrap and are a progressive spring rate, everyone I have talked to says that the only thing nicer then those springs is a linked suspension. ORD Builds the springs to my specs so I need to get cracking on this this so I can get to the point where I can tell them what I need.

 

[MTCK]

Cool build. I'm following.

 

[mattcrouch1502]

Well over the weekend I was able to get the bed mounted with the help of my wife. It was a ******** whooping but we got it done and for the most part everything is finished.

A few things that may change or get reworked are,
- rework my shock mounts so i can lower the box some
- need to wire up the marker lights, only the tail and licence plate lights work for now
- clean up the latches
- fill some holes....
- make the truck one solid color again!!!

I am really happy with how ever thing looks and works, this bed weighs slightly more then the stock bed, I would say about 250lbs more. It dropped the rear of the truck about 1" from where it sat with the stock bed but it rides alot better! The bed does create a massive blind spot but I am working on a solution for that. The wheel wells are plenty big enough for my 37's and i dont see any reason 42's wont fit in there if/when I go to them.

On to the pics

Before

The struggle....

Helping me wash it out!

 

[shortbus4x4]

Dang that bed looks good on there.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Looks good!!!

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[snekvasil]

Wow...this is an awesome ride. Love the stance on it. I would've thought the 37" tires would look too big, but they look perfect with that lift. I love the box on the back, too. What kind of side work do you do? Seems like a sweet setup to have tools and stuff inside, protected and locked.

 

[Bushcoat]

wicked! love the bed on there

 

[mattcrouch1502]

Thanks guy, I am really liking it. I am going to clear the old shelves out of the side boxes and fill some hole then hopefully put a coat of paint on it to make everything match.

Wow...this is an awesome ride. Love the stance on it. I would've thought the 37" tires would look too big, but they look perfect with that lift. I love the box on the back, too. What kind of side work do you do? Seems like a sweet setup to have tools and stuff inside, protected and locked.

Thanks, I really like the tire size to lift height on this thing, so many people put lifts on and the tires don't look big enough for the truck. And I think with this being a CC LWB the larger 37's don' look out of place at all. At some point I would like to go to some 335/80/20 Michelin XZL tires on it, they workout to about 40-41" so I would probably go up another 1-2" to keep it about the same ratio.

 

[jimed43]

sweet truck. and close to home...

 

[chilliwak]

Any updates on your fine rig Matt? Please keep us posted with some pics. Cheers, Chilli..

 

[mattcrouch1502]

Updates!

Long time, no update.... Been busy but I do have some updates.

Had to do some of the small maintenance stuff like changing radiator, heater core and thermostat. Then I decided I was going to try to install these!!!

Michelin XZL 335/80R20

I was able to get a good deal on some ProComp wheels that i felt actually looked decent. I had a hard time finding any 20" wheel that I liked.... Took them all down to my brothers work (Firestone Service Center) and got them mounted. I added 12oz of airsoft bb's to help balance them and this is what they look like next to my 37" MTR's with my helpers.

Swapped to some 56" Chevy leaf springs (running 7 leafs) and built a 1" zero rate to move the axle some, the axle is now 1.25" forward of stock and I have about 5" of front lift. Did a little trimming to the fenders and wheel wells and it looks like the rubbing will be minimal.

I have very tight clearance between the crossover steering and the passenger leaf spring so I have a steering arm spacer on its way. Also have a ORD steering box brace coming too, then I will get some better shots.

 

[chilliwak]

hey Matt your truck looks sooooooo good on that new rubber! Cheers, Chilli...

 

[mattcrouch1502]

Overdue update

Its been a while since I updated but here is whats been going on, 6BT Cummins that is about ready to go in!

 

[bknudtsen]

Man! Photobucket strikes again!

Jealous of the new 6BT. Awesome!

 

[mattcrouch1502]

Man! Photobucket strikes again!

Jealous of the new 6BT. Awesome!

I'm going to go back through and fix the photos if I can find them all... Photobucket really messed up alot of threads! And thank you for the kind words!