'39 dodge truck powered by a 6.7 cummins

[Gunzenrosa]

Well didn't do anything today. Took a little break after getting the control arm ends welded onto the control arms yesterday. Also received the rad and inter cooler via courier yesterday. Now to figure out where and how I'm going to mount them. The following pictures are just my first thoughts of where things are going to go, more than likely I'll put the inter cooler in front of the rad and not tucked under the engine. We will see.
Here are the control arms, they are 2" Dom tubing with 1/4" wall with 2" greasable bushings on one end and 1.25" heim joints on the other. These will attach to the bottom of the front axle and frame. I will be building a partial upper arm that will attach to the top of the axle back down to the lower arm, perhaps these are wish bones then? I dunno the proper term



Here's an idea of what I'm working with for the rad and inter cooler





The square tubing is there to line up the front axle initially and nothing more. Not sure if it's the best way or not but it works.[S

 

[Neverdone]

I would definitely try and tuck the intercooler in to the front some how. Probably wouldn't be very effective under the motor I wouldn't think.

 

[sgtpontiac]

Agreed....

I would definitely try and tuck the intercooler in to the front some how. Probably wouldn't be very effective under the motor I wouldn't think.

No airflow...prone to damage....up front ahead of rad is really the place to be...looks small enough to go down low...both tubes go in and out same end so routing the tubes should be easy...or did I view that last pic cross eyed...? [S

 

[Gunzenrosa]

I would definitely try and tuck the intercooler in to the front some how. Probably wouldn't be very effective under the motor I wouldn't think.

I agree. It was just a thought stuffing the inter cooler down there. I'm not sure how effective this inter cooler will be anyway but I figured it would be better than nothing.
I'm also keeping in mind the engine will never work hard like it was designed to pulling/hauling so I might be over thinking things. I'll have a pyrometer on the exhaust side as I had installed one when the truck was in semi stock form.
I have a 40/41 dodge grill which I've set up to see how much space I'll have and I believe I'll have more room than I first thought. I'm not totally sold on the look of the grill though. I might have to do something about the round top on it.



I'm just waiting on the air shocks to arrive and see how much real estate they are going to take up. Once the front end holds itself up then I'll get a better idea of space up front.
I'm heading back to work next week so the project will be put on hold for a bit. I don't suspect the air shocks to arrive before I depart.
Considering when I got home I figured I'd only get the rear axle situated and that would be it, I'm pretty content with the progress so far and am looking forward to a small break.
I won't stray too far away as I'll be here checking out all the cool builds going on.

 

[jmlcolorado]

I did consider the aluminum valve cover combined with the crank case vent cover among many other neat things for the engine but I'm content with the almost stock form for now. I lifted the head once and replaced the head gasket and used ARP head studs. The emissions doo dads are obviously removed as well as a tuner has been used to tune both engine and trans. I'm content with what I have. This thing will be a handful as it is. Lol


In the picture of just the exhaust housing on the manifold the exhaust housing is backwards so that it mated up with the manifold, in turn it would put the turbo on backwards. Not sure that would work but it wouldn't look right anyway.
In the above picture it shows the exhaust housing and compressor housing installed,( the flange on the turbo is in the right of the picture) I cant even get the exhaust flanges to line up. So a new 'adapter' is being made to bring the turbo out away from the valve cover.
I've also looked at using a 2nd generation cummins exhaust manifold which locates the turbo in the center of the manifold instead of on the end. Probably could have worked but I would have had to make an adapter flange from the manifold to the turbo anyway and the way I'm going now I just have to build two flanges and weld in a 45 degree kick off. I'll be sure to put up a picture when it's done.

2nd gen manifold swap is common on 3rd gens for compound setups. How different is a 2nd gen manifold vs yours?
I don't see why flipping would make it so far off. If it was that far off, guys wouldn't bother swapping manifolds for compounds.
Stock turbo?

 

[jmlcolorado]

I agree. It was just a thought stuffing the inter cooler down there. I'm not sure how effective this inter cooler will be anyway but I figured it would be better than nothing.
I'm also keeping in mind the engine will never work hard like it was designed to pulling/hauling so I might be over thinking things. I'll have a pyrometer on the exhaust side as I had installed one when the truck was in semi stock form.
I have a 40/41 dodge grill which I've set up to see how much space I'll have and I believe I'll have more room than I first thought. I'm not totally sold on the look of the grill though. I might have to do something about the round top on it.



I'm just waiting on the air shocks to arrive and see how much real estate they are going to take up. Once the front end holds itself up then I'll get a better idea of space up front.
I'm heading back to work next week so the project will be put on hold for a bit. I don't suspect the air shocks to arrive before I depart.
Considering when I got home I figured I'd only get the rear axle situated and that would be it, I'm pretty content with the progress so far and am looking forward to a small break.
I won't stray too far away as I'll be here checking out all the cool builds going on.

Personally I LOVE that grill with all its radiuses. Is that a word?
Flows well with the tires, at least from this angle.

 

[AZRodDave]

Personally I LOVE that grill with all its radiuses. Is that a word?
Flows well with the tires, at least from this angle.

Yeah, it's a classic and classy look. Kinda like a cross between a Roman gladiator and Star Wars thing.

 

[jfg455]

Maybe you could slide 2 long skinny intercoolers on each side of the radiator. This would laeve space underneath for the drive shaft to go through...[P

 

[rvreddog]

You might want to re think these tabs.It looks like they are welded to the cast housing.I`m thinking a bridge from axle tube to axle tube,with your tabs welded to that.Just my .02

 

[Gunzenrosa]

2nd gen manifold swap is common on 3rd gens for compound setups. How different is a 2nd gen manifold vs yours?
I don't see why flipping would make it so far off. If it was that far off, guys wouldn't bother swapping manifolds for compounds.
Stock turbo?

Second gen manifold would work but I'm using the stock turbo off this 4th gen 6.7. It has the VGT turbo which gives me the "exhaust" brake set up.(I like the exhaust brake, when I fire it up you will too. Lol) The VGT turbo has a different flange than the 2nd gen manifold which would require a change over flange to use my turbo. I priced out a second gen manifold and change over flange and figured I could do it cheaper and more importantly original. My build lacks that part enough as I'm not trying to mate different transmissions and rear ends together.
I have a second gen with compounds and flipped the manifold to make room to do so. Overrated, but I just had to do it. Lol.
Flipping a fourth gen manifold is a different animal. The turbo flange is located on the end of the manifold not center like the second gen. This takes the turbo from the back of the engine to the front(no big deal) but it also changes the turbo flange direction as the flange has one bolt tapped and three that aren't. Meaning the turbo mates to the flange one way and one way only. I believe the second gen flange had four through bolt holes for the turbo so after flipping the manifold you could mount the turbo in the opposite direction it was when it was stock. Make sense?[S
I've already went and got two flanges made up for 30 bucks and just need to weld them up with a kick off to get the turbo away from the valve cover and have the one flange opposite so I can mount the turbo in the right direction. When it's finished up I'll be sure to share some pics.
Hopefully I clarified more than I left confusing. I'm a visual guy myself. If I don't see it, it's hard for me to translate. Same goes with explaining. If I can't show you, then we are both lost. Lol.

 

[Gunzenrosa]

Personally I LOVE that grill with all its radiuses. Is that a word?
Flows well with the tires, at least from this angle.

I do like how the bottom flows, I don't care for the dome at the top. I like your grill. Trade? Lol[ddd

 

[Gunzenrosa]

Maybe you could slide 2 long skinny intercoolers on each side of the radiator. This would laeve space underneath for the drive shaft to go through...[P

Scroll back a bit. You will see where the front drive shaft will go in the pics. I'm thinking intercooler in front of the rad will work out alright.

 

[Gunzenrosa]

You might want to re think these tabs.It looks like they are welded to the cast housing.I`m thinking a bridge from axle tube to axle tube,with your tabs welded to that.Just my .02

I get what your saying. I welded a 3/16 plate into the cast splines of the cast diff housing then welded the tabs to the plate. I had an actual welder friend of mine do it who seems very knowledgable about welding different metals including cast. Maybe we are wrong here. Your opinion is more than welcomed.
Here's a slightly better pic of what we did.



The new rear drive shaft courtesy of Drive shaft specialist in San Antonio



And the front air bags ( these came in the night before I came back to work)




Please don't judge the placement of the bags or the radius arms, both a work in progress and unfortunately could be awhile before I get home to work on her. Actually any suggestions are welcome as to where to mount the bags. Closer to the engine than axle?? Pan hard bar? Can I mount it from the radius arm to the frame or better from axle to frame? I also have to keep the front drive shaft open.
Anyways thanks for the interest. It keeps me somewhat sane being 3000 miles from home and my shop. Ya, it's not a garage anymore. It's a shop. I've come to terms. Lol.

 

[Gunzenrosa]

So I've been home three weeks and believe I have had my first "builders block" or something like that. Completely just relaxed this time off and didn't get much of anything done and I'm fine with that. My wife on the other hand is confused I believe as she now is complaining I'm in the house too much where as the last couple times home I apparently spent too much time out in the shop. You just can't win.
Anyway, didn't get a lot done. Got the rear drive shaft installed, made up the flange to flange adapter for the turbo and got some figuring done for the front end. Not much but I'm content.

Here is the first go at the turbo adapter who ha


This is just me being ridiculous, I'm not going with the exhaust up like this but one can always check visuals

And here is the second attempt at the turbo flange who ha. The first go around I felt the turbo was too high and "out there" so I brought it down to where I like it. I plan on redoing the intake as well. The stock one just isn't doing anything for me.



And here is the front end design


The plan is to mount the shock/bags to the heel of the shoe and attach to the lower radius arm. I'll try and use the sole of the shoe to mount the head lights.

Im getting four legs cut out of 1/4" plate and going to sandwich the front frame.I'll figure something out in terms of bracing as I go.
.

 

[Skip]

I like the way you think. Just a little warped.

 

[Sunnybeach]

First time I noticed this one. Pretty crazy stuff.

Keep up the good work and get-r-done.

 

[21willys]

Isn't there a song with the lyrics "she's got legs!" ?

 

[Gunzenrosa]

Just a little update. Things have slowed down quite a bit and sometimes even going backwards it feels at times.

 

[sgtpontiac]

Welcome....

Just a little update. Things have slowed down quite a bit and sometimes even going backwards it feels at times.


To another episode of "Life gets in the way"....brought to you by the makers of Rat Rods, Projects and Household Renovations....we've all been there.....sadly enough....

 

[Gunzenrosa]

Yes, the "lifestyles of the not so rich and not so famous" oh well any progress is a step in the right direction. Onto the fuel tank. [S