Belafonte Reboot....Ambulance to 4x4 Camper Conversion

[guidolyons]

Sounds like you have time to watch a few how to videos, buy a few tools and tackle the gear swap yourself. :sombrero:

 

[cjken]

Did you decide on 4.56's or 4.88's

 

[tgreening]

I went with 4.88s, and it's still a bit of a slug though not as bad. Shoot, the thing weighs 10.5k with nothing much in it and the wheel/tire combo is about 200 lbs each. I'm not cuttin the thing any slack. I probably could have went with 5.13s but I was worried my highway rpms would start to get out of line, so I banked on the turbo to take up the power slack and get this thing moving, hopefully with a bit to spare.

 

[tgreening]

Sounds like you have time to watch a few how to videos, buy a few tools and tackle the gear swap yourself. :sombrero:

I considered doing that from the get go but decided against it, obviously. I wanted this thing on the road so didn't want to use it as my training platform. I've got some other projects coming up behind this one that aren't so pressing so I might use them to get my feet wet on gear swaps.

I have a 1980 Jeep J-truck that I put the same wheel/tire package on and it's in the middle of a Cummins 4BT swap. I might have to do gears on that once it's rolling and won't mind taking the time. I pretty much know how to do a gear change, but I've never actually done one. Like an armchair quarterback that knows how the game is played but never actually played it.

 

[cjken]

Makes sense.
5.13 would probably be a bit crazy on the HWY.
Post some pics of the 4BT swap. That sounds like a cool project!

Hope the turbo gives what you need

 

[tgreening]

I'll see what I can find

 

[guidolyons]

Post some pics of the 4BT swap. That sounds like a cool project!

Hope the turbo gives what you need

Yeah. Should be a nice boost.

4BT J-truck sounds cool, too. :sombrero:

 

[tgreening]

Not quite how it's looking at the moment, but pretty much the way it'll look when it's done.

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The 4BT before it was converted to water cooled to air cooled.

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[tgreening]

Sweet Jeezus it's finally going in to get the front gears/locker done. I have to drop it off Monday. Now hopefully I don't have to wait a month to get it back.


Hypermax kit is on my floor! Major WOOT! Still have to gather up the incidentals I think will be needed like valve cover gaskets and what-not.


Would really like to delete that fuel bowl and move the filter/s to the frame rail. Anybody point me to a kit/write up for idis specifically?

Glow plugs been checked. Injectors checked and A-ok, but should they be changed for a turbo application? If so what kind?

Anything else that should be addressed while in there?

 

[patoz]

Just in case you're wondering what one looks like painted all black. Just add some light gray subdued lettering, and you'll be good to go!

 

[GNTY]

So awesome to see the FSJ's !!! i to have a unhealthy addiction to these, I def have to many, Wagoneers, cherokees, J10's etc.

 

[tgreening]

Just in case you're wondering what one looks like painted all black. Just add some light gray subdued lettering, and you'll be good to go!

Not sure what I'll end up doing, but probably not black. I'm working (slowwwwly) towards a move west and not sure I'd want the heat soak I'd get from that. Desert sand maybe? Orange like my old '79 F-series? Dunno.

Btw, do you think the guy that ended up with your front end might still have any of the wiring harness left, and be willing to part with it for less than blood money? Specifically the part that connected the glow plug relay to the truck harness and also contained all the glow plug wiring.

 

[tgreening]

So awesome to see the FSJ's !!! i to have a unhealthy addiction to these, I def have to many, Wagoneers, cherokees, J10's etc.

Want another one? I intend to move (I want west, the wife wants Florida) and I have way too much stuff to move. Projects are going to go. That J-truck you saw has the Cummins mounted along with a TH475 transmission and a xfer case. Needs the crossmember for that (have it) welded in. It's on 37/12.5-16.5 Militaries with recentered double beadlock HMMV rims. Needs cab corner repair and the rockers welded back in. I have those.

Also got a '66 Unimog 404 radio truck about 50% through a rebuild. Factory remaned engine to go in it. New clutch/flywheel blah blah, and new body panels to weld in where the bad spots in the cab are. Rims were blasted and powder coated black, 41" military rubber added, frame blasted and repainted, blah blah again.

I really need to get this stuff organized and gone. Moving it will be a pain in the ******** and I've been seriously rethinking the whole "built not bought" mentality and have come to the conclusion that sometimes bought is just fine.

 

[cjken]

I like the look of that black/gray one.
Only issue may be all the energy it absorbs on the summer!!!

 

[patoz]

Btw, do you think the guy that ended up with your front end might still have any of the wiring harness left, and be willing to part with it for less than blood money? Specifically the part that connected the glow plug relay to the truck harness and also contained all the glow plug wiring.

Tom, it's all gone. I thought he was was going to part it out, but apparently he just sold it all as scrap. Sorry!