The Bigger Red Pig

[lstzephyr]

Flexdxj, buy it and join the fray!

The valves were easy to adjust. I used the alternator pulley(22mm) and just spinned it around. It was easier than turning over the motor on my dirtbike! I think I may have had one slightly off though as its been a bit more "clicky" than I remember(but I could also just be imagining things). I'd be happy to adjust your valves Metcalf. Its actually not far out of my way, just make a copy of your simple bumper and we will trade.:elkgrin:

My camera died so no pictures this time, but I got the fender painted red(which really doesn't match) the hood back on, rigged up something for the headlight and tweaked the pump a bit. I installed my 366 spring, moved the throttle rod over, tweaked the full fuel screw, ditched the high idle screw, flipped and cut a 1/2 inch off the low idle screw and buttoned it back up. Huge difference! Its faster, makes more torque and it idles so much smoother now that I can't tell if I've even got the idle set right.:Wow1:

I glued back in the back window, drilled some holes and screwed it on, then made a patch panel for the bit that broke off and glued/screwed the whole thing on. Its not going anywhere now!

An oil change tomorrow should address the clicking(if not I'll pop it open and find the loose one), along with plugging in a tach should fix the idle. Other than that it will get a bump in tire pressure, some diesel and its back across the country to Arizona. Then get some springs.

The truck may be going on a western tour and into mexico. A buddy of mine really wants to take a road trip and as two people can easily sleep in the bed of this thing and not get crowded its a better candidate than his civic. A girl I know is trying her hardest to get me to ride down to Mazatlan with her on the bikes as well. Another girl is trying to get me to bring a couple bikes to California to teach her to ride and at some point I have to go to class, and making some money would probably be a good idea. Too many hobbies, not enough money!

 

[Metcalf]

Your more than welcome to stop by if you need a place to crash/shower or are sick of the interstate. Its getting pretty nice up here these days. My bumper looks simple, but yeah, I don't think I could get one done that quick.

Have you started playing with your AFC housing yet? Fuel pin twist, star wheel, or preload? There is a lot of tuning in there also. You might also want to start to think about getting a low pressure piston pump. I think my existing pump is getting a little weak, I know there is more in the motor.....but I don't think the stock pump has much more in it. These motors are FUN....you can just add power as you want/need...so much different than the gas world.

Have a safe trip.

 

[Rot Box]

A buddy of mine really wants to take a road trip and as two people can easily sleep in the bed of this thing and not get crowded its a better candidate than his civic.

Not a better truck out there for a road trip! I borrowed my old 92 from my brother to pick up my FWC and I swear it gets twice the fuel mileage as my Ford IDI does :Wow1: The nice thing about riding dirtbikes is your kidney brace also comes in handy when driving the first gen--rough ridin those trucks are LOL.

Have fun and be sure to share a trip report :coffeedrink:

 

[Metcalf]

I've been surprised with my truck....yes, it still rides like a brick, but a much softer brick since I put the big tires on. I only have to run them at about 35psi and that feels SO much better than 45-50psi on most normal tires. I've got a pretty thick leaf pack in the front too. I would imagine that with some Alcan springs and good shocks it would be pretty comfortable.

Edit: And good seats too......and I love the mileage

 

[Rot Box]

I only have to run them at about 35psi and that feels SO much better than 45-50psi on most normal tires.

I had to make a long trip once so I aired mine up to 80psi (10 ply's) for max economy. While it pulled well over 23mpg I paid for it in lower back and kidney pain LOL!

35psi is the sweet spot for daily driving. It does make a big difference in ride quality that's for sure :bike_rider:

 

[ntsqd]

Sounds like y'all need to hit the JY's and look for the import 4x4 (Montero?) that has a suspension driver's semseat base. I've only seen a picture, no idea exactly what they were in. It's not as sophisticated as an OTR suspension seat, but those aren't $9.99 (what my friend paid for his) and semi-common in the JY's either.

 

[lstzephyr]

Most of the comments from people that ride in the truck are either "feels like a garbage truck" or "it sounds like its going to explode" lol. I think its like cruising around in a backhoe personally. Either way, it doesn't really bother me anymore.

Yeah I messed with the star wheel, and the top low boost adjustment. It spits a bit of smoke, but its not too bad so I decided to leave it where its at for now. A piston pump will have to wait until the old pump fails off.

Metcalf:I was just messing with you, I know metal work like that takes time. Seriously though it only takes a little time and patience to do the valves, if you can mess with the injection pump then you shouldn't have any trouble with that.

Rot box: I'm on my 5th road trip or so with this thing and I agree with you, its awesome at that. I usually leave the tires at 70psi and suck it up, the mileage is worth it. I do have a habit of bracing for bumps when I'm in other peoples cars now. My friends look at me funny when I do that.

I really like the bench seat, its worn out but it beats a bucket seat in every way. I actually just finished taking a nap in the truck down by the river.

 

[Metcalf]

I'm just being lazy. I will look at doing the valves this weekend. I think I could work on this truck forever and never run out of things to change, modify, etc. I was just thinking about making some cool grill inserts yesterday for next winter. The only thing that really scares me is rebuilding/resealing the injector pump.....:Wow1:

My truck looks like a garbage truck

 

[lstzephyr]

Went back across the country, off to California/mexicali to visit a chick, then parked the truck and took the bike to mexico for a week or so, and then went to a couchsurfing.com party.

Pretty much just ate up the miles this time. Took about two days, and didn't stop for much. I did wander through some casinos.

I took a nap under a tree as it was crazy hot out and while I was sleeping some sort of crazy noise started shaking the truck. I knew it was an engine, but it sounded like some sort of massive harley.

It was a B-29 starting up! I've never heard one run before so that was pretty cool.

The sunset right after I got to arizona was beautiful! I had some truckers laughing and honking because I was standing on the hood taking pictures.

When I got to arizona I had to fix my bike, and get going in less than three days. And I decided to take off to Cali for one of them. I changed wheel sets, rewired the bike and then took off south to meet my friend down there waiting for me.

I had crashed it pretty bad last time I had ridden it so I wasn't sure I could get it going but I decided to just run it as a supermoto and deal with its issues if I had to. It turned out to be an awesome trip and I'm glad i went.

Sitting under a boat in mexico drinking beer from a coffee cup, oh yes!

I ran out of money so I had to come home, but as soon as I can scrape something together its back to mexico. I love it there!

Oh yeah, and I swept the floor under the truck.:bike_rider:

 

[MrBeast]

Man looks to me like you are having fun. You really ought to think about getting an old air stream camper, you can pick them up for between 2500 and 4000 and then you have all the amenities of home, and your dodge will still pull at least 15 MPG. Might be really worth your while.

I will be looking forward to see what you wind up doing with your rig.

 

[lstzephyr]

I never realized those airstreams were that cheap. But I'm not really looking for anything like that now. Rvs are a bit much for me, I tend to be pretty simple, in mexico I was actually just sleeping on the deck of that boat we are drinking under. The back cabin I was in the first night had some sort of bug infestation, I woke up with 200 bites all over me! I think the deck was good for my back and I actually slept better there than I do at home! Maybe I'll get an rv(and an airstream would be top of the list) once I get done with school and if it all goes right I will become a travel nurse, then I could see a real reason to have something like that. Although I think I would rather have a fwc granby. I guess the difference would be for me a rv would be a decent "home" were as something like a granby would be more what I would want if I were traveling. Something like this, but with my hitchcarrier and bike instead of the trailer.

Although for the last couple years this has been my dream expo type vehicle. A sail boat that I can fit a bike on would be awesome I think. Something small I can handle myself, but big enough to hang out on for a while. I can see myself living aboard and going all over the place with a setup like that. I love boats.

The catch is for the price of either I could ride my bike around for months, even years in the case of the boat.

I have some ideas for my truck bouncing around in my head. I just need to find a ramcharger and some money for paint. My back tires are almost shot so it may be finally getting some bigger tires, and of course some time I have to change the front springs. But as always I spent all the money that would go into that screwing around in mexico, so I guess it will wait.

 

[teleturns]

Truck Bed Campers

lstzephyr

Where did you find the picture of the Cummins with the Grandby in the bed? That is a sweet setup and a beautiful truck. I have a 1985 grandby that my girlfriend and I have been fixing up. We love it. I also have a 1993 W250 Cummins. Personally I think truck bed campers are great for someone not looking to spend a lot of money. Our first truck bed camper was a skamper that we paid $700 for and we only paid $500 for our FWC. Keep up the good work on your Cummins. Here is an older pic of mine...now the truck has been lifted and the camper has been painted

 

[Cody1771]

hey nice truck, didnt see if your post on twin sticking your 205 was answered, check this out;
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=572617

the chevy, ford, dodge cases are all pretty much the same minus the input shafts. although for your case im not sure it would be worth going through the effort of doing it.

 

[lstzephyr]

Thanks guys. Twin sticking and a camper may happen eventually but lately I've been leaning softtopper, or throwing away the cap completely and just make the thing be a normal-ish truck. I'm getting tired of the horrible ride, crap steering, saggy stock bench seat, and associated crap. So I could sell it, and build/buy something else, but with my budget I would be in the same place. So I've started re-wiring it, fixing the stereo, and my clutch switch that failed a few months ago(I've been reaching under the dash and using it manually, probably looks like I'm stealing it!).

There is a ton of info on diesel truck resource. So far I'm thinking, newer bench from the junkyard, new alcan springs up front, some interior shelves and drawers, and something done about that steering shaft. A new set of tires and a damn speedo gear would be good too. Wish me luck.

I've resorted to safety-wiring the crap out of my bike to keep it going under my normal abuse, and I think now its time to step it up on the truck to make it live with what I do.

 

[G-rocco]

Back on page two, you've got some great pictures. You've got a great eye for composition. Please take more pictures and share with us on your travels