96 cclbsrw 6.5 td dd wip

[loki223]

Alrighty, well i guess i will join in here on my current daily driver project. I'm not made of money so this is a budget build. And with it being a daily driver, and my work truck i'm keeping things practical. That being said, here is whats done so far....

installed
-3" body lift
-35" BFGs on h2 rims (paid $400 for the full set up, with 75% tread!!!)
-Updated telescoping mirrors
-Updated black backing headlights
-HID lows, Silverstar highs. (HID HIs are ordered, should be in next week)
-Utility box, due to a friend accidently backing into my truck with his jeep and destroying the old box
-Rhino lined grill, front bumper, rocker panels, and fender flares. Needs to be redone when it gets warm.
-Infinity speakers up front
-Pioneer head unit
-Painted bow tie, sage to offset the olive drab of the truck, was red before the repaint

What i currently have ordered
-Blue LED bulbs for IC, HVAC, all 6 dome lights, and all 4 doors
-Infinity speakers for the rear
-Cobra 29 LTD BT
-OH console, hopefully installing this weekend

Whats going in soon (after i get in what i have ordered already)
-Sub with custom box (courtesy of a friend who built it for his old SC truck. Goes behind rear seat, with space for the stock jack and everything else, with storage compartment)
-AMP, once i pick up one
-More blue interior lights
-4HI mod (going in when my HID hi beams come in)
-painting a couple things here and there when it gets warm out
- 2 inch leveling kit up front, (keys) 2" helper springs out back, and new shocks all around. (Ialready have this kit, just waiting for the ground to dry up, than i need to go to a shop with a good AC and jack hammer, my keys are rusted on to the T-bars...)

DTR...
-Custom grill guard. Heavy duty built in high school with only the center piece, going to extend out to protect the lights as well. already have a bunch of 2" SCH80 steel pipe to use for it courtesy of my job, and some #5 re-bar to put in as inserts for additional protection
-Repaint interior black, not glossing, gonna go for a factory look.
-New headliner and carpet and reupholster my seats
-CUMMINS CONVERSION!
-NV4500 Conversion (4L80e is in there now)
-Anything else that perks my interest as i see it....lol

And now, i am sure you'll want to see some pics.....

Right after i got her...
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5927/2011090319112782.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/2011090319112782.jpg/)

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Did some roll on rhino lining...and some painting....
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2762/20111022170227166.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13/20111022170227166.jpg/)

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Testing the suspension....
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/5818/20111021175917336.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/196/20111021175917336.jpg/)

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http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/3823/20111021175908516.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/20111021175908516.jpg/)

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Picked up some tires....for a great price
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/2948/20111022170457632.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/20111022170457632.jpg/)

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So a lift was needed...and i didn't have money for the suspension one i wanted, so i got "stuck" with the body lift
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/2246/20111105144653454.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/20111105144653454.jpg/)

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http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9964/20111107120718796.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/20111107120718796.jpg/)

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than Chuck Norris paid me a visit...
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/517/20111128141843740.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/20111128141843740.jpg/)

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And we panted...http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2880/20111231130736328.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/20111231130736328.jpg/)

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http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9666/20120101133425524.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/269/20120101133425524.jpg/)

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http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/7608/20120102095028283.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/109/20120102095028283.jpg/)

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http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/961/20120102111216486.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/20120102111216486.jpg/)

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http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1596/20120102154726188.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/20120102154726188.jpg/)

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http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8779/20120102181750294.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13/20120102181750294.jpg/)

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and the most recent pic....more to come this weekend....
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/3818/20120107122805683.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/715/20120107122805683.jpg/)

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[Spit]

I'm digging the paint color and service bed. Tow mirrors look better than the old ones.

[loki223]

yeah, my old mirrors were UGLY. And if anyone wants 'em, they are sitting in my garage, free if you pick up, or you can pay shipping. lol. Anyhow, got the OH console installed this weekend, and i had/have the issue with it not sitting flush. so after some reading, i'll be taking it down to trim the alignment pin so she will sit flush. no pics of the OH console, but i do have some pics of my new lights! Swapped out most of the interior lights this weekend, and just ordered the rest of the lights. My Dash, HVAC, Dome, and Door lights are all Blue LEDs now. But i accidently ordered the wrong lights for my map lights, so those will be coming in this order, and the two under dash lights i forgot about. I also ordered the LEDs before i picked up the OH Console, so those 2 bulbs will also be in the order. But most of the lights are now blue. Hopefully my HIDs and CB will be in this week, so that i can do the HID and 4HI mods this weekend, along with the CB install into the CD pocket. we will see.....

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2012-02-18_18-10-37_119.jpg
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2012-02-18_18-10-44_971.jpg
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2012-02-18_18-10-55_994.jpg
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2012-02-19_21-26-48_960.jpg

[loki223]

And FYI, i used the 4 LED bulb, not the 1 LED bulb. the 4 LED bulb fits into the IC perfectly, but for the door panels i had to open up the slots a bit to allow the bulb to get in. All of the bulbs are from superbrightleds.com, and i am very impressed with their quality. they seem to be a much higher quality bulb that the ones i've purchased before on ebay, or at shucks/autozone.

[vic_V8]

I think I would have cut it and made a short bed

[Koots]

Looks like an awesome build :rocking:

Why not stick with the 6.5TD if it's gonna be a budget build?

A 4" Diamond Eye exhaust, 3" downpipe, 2.5" crossover plus a quality tune shouldn't set you back anymore than $600. Slap a different turbo on it, ARP headstuds and bottom end girdle and you should be able to give even stock or stock+lvl.1 tune DMax a good run for it's money. I'm not sure on what numbers that would give you, but i'm sure that your suspension/chassis/axles would crap out long before the engine would hauling a heavy load.

[loki223]

My original plan was to stick with the 6.5, but my gut tells me she won't be around for another year or two. My gut is pretty good at guessing how long a rig is good for, its been right on several ocasions, even if my head doesn't know why my gut tell me something won't workout. If i were to keep the 6.5, i would want to do a full rebuild on it. When i purchased the truck the lift pump was bad, and i don't know how long the previous owner had driven it with a bad lift pump, so idk how good the IP really is. and if i look into a full rebuild of the 6.5, i'll be into it more than a cummins swap. And i can push more power out of the cummins, longer, without worrying about it blowing up in my face. To really get power out of the 6.5, you need an AM General optimizer block. which again, puts me more into it than a cummins swap. I'd like to stay with true GM running gear, but i just can't argue with the cummins. I played with the idea of a 6.0L swap, but i wouldn't get the MPG of a cummins, or the ease of working on the engine and tweaking things. I really just don't trust this engine that much, my gut tells me she will last until i do a cummins swap, the trick is just finding a cummins for the right price....

[vic_V8]

you doing a real lift, or notching the oil pan for the Cummins?

[OG 8 Lug]

When you did the BL did you take the blocks out of the back to make it level? And why'd you take off the longbed :(

[Koots]

My original plan was to stick with the 6.5, but my gut tells me she won't be around for another year or two. My gut is pretty good at guessing how long a rig is good for, its been right on several ocasions, even if my head doesn't know why my gut tell me something won't workout. If i were to keep the 6.5, i would want to do a full rebuild on it. When i purchased the truck the lift pump was bad, and i don't know how long the previous owner had driven it with a bad lift pump, so idk how good the IP really is. and if i look into a full rebuild of the 6.5, i'll be into it more than a cummins swap. And i can push more power out of the cummins, longer, without worrying about it blowing up in my face. To really get power out of the 6.5, you need an AM General optimizer block. which again, puts me more into it than a cummins swap. I'd like to stay with true GM running gear, but i just can't argue with the cummins. I played with the idea of a 6.0L swap, but i wouldn't get the MPG of a cummins, or the ease of working on the engine and tweaking things. I really just don't trust this engine that much, my gut tells me she will last until i do a cummins swap, the trick is just finding a cummins for the right price....

Well, in the case, swap to Cummins. Especially if you're truck is a big service bodied truck, which is also your DD.

[loki223]

you doing a real lift, or notching the oil pan for the Cummins?

I have the body lift already installed, so that i won't need to notch the oil pan. Besides budget, the cummins was the other reason i went for a body lift. I figured i might as well start making room for it now, and saving money, instead of pushing out the cash for the 6" suspension that i really wanted...


When you did the BL did you take the blocks out of the back to make it level? And why'd you take off the longbed :(

I took off the long bed because of the giant gash down the side, the rip through the sheet metal near the tail light, the busted tail light, the bent rail....several reasons....the utility bed was off of a 90 RCLB OBS, that bolted to all of the stock locations instead of being u bolted to the frame like i expected. When i picked up the bed it looked bad, but it was straight, so some paint fixed up the utility box ncely, and being a work truck, its nice to have the extra space in the boxes.


Well, in the case, swap to Cummins. Especially if you're truck is a big service bodied truck, which is also your DD.

Thats the plan :cool:

And a slight update, CB should be in today, the rest of my interior lights should be in this week, and i messed around with the OH console to get her to sit flush. I don't have to much spare time during the week, so not to much gonna happen this week on the truck. this weekend though, i am thinking CB install and possibly sub install, a body of mine has one with a custom box built for an OBS RC, to go behind the seat with storage space for all the stock tools, and a compartment for gloves and such. Conveniently, the RC and the CC use alot of the same pieces in the back, so i will be able to b\put that right into my truck hopefully. But a CB is definitely going in this weekend. For tonight i get the "pleasure" of working on a friends broken truck. (yup, its a ferd) her fuel pump went out, and it ended up in my yard. so after work today i get to do that. She has had nothing but problems with the rig, (its an 07) and didn't think i was serious when i told her to buy a chevy instead....some lessons are learned the hard way....lol. Anyhow, i'll share a couple pictures from when i bought the utility box, its not the same box i have now. thats for sure!!!

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2011-12-10_15-58-23_344.jpg
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2011-12-10_15-58-41_790.jpg
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2011-12-10_15-58-50_137.jpg
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2011-12-10_15-58-31_329.jpg

also, here is one from last week that i neglected to share. I had to get into my rear door panel to try and trouble shoot an issue (rear windows work work from the driver door, but not the rear doors, the rear switches were bad) turns out the previous owner must have owned kids. this is what fell out of the door panel when i popped it off. i felt dirty after i reached in and found some other items in the door, sitting at the bottom...glad i found the stuff, but i didn't want to find it...thats for sure...
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2012-02-13_17-25-47_622.jpg

[Koots]

Should be an awesome rig once you're done with it :cheer:

I'm sad to see the 6.5L go (I like the sound of them the most), but a cummins is a more serious engine in stock form...no mods needed. Especially for the 6BT 12V engines.

[loki223]

Yeah, i've been partial to the 6.5 for a while, but when it comes down to ability to tow 8,000 pounds or more and be happy about it, the cummins has it. If she were just a DD, i would probably go through the engine when i had some down time. Anyhow, i've got tons of pics of this thing, here is one of some decals i picked up and had on her before she was repainted....i think you'll enjoy it Koots
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2011-09-23_15-22-57_755.jpg

[Big2500Red]

Nice lookin truck. I used to live in Spokane

[loki223]

CB arrived today, i am planning on doing the install this weekend. Should get interesting, since it is a full sized, full feature CB, not a mini. After looking at it i'm only 80% sure she will fit, bit it looks like she will just barely fit inside the stock CD player pocket. I might have to get creative with the mounts, but i do know there will definitely be cutting involved! Stay tuned for an update this weekend. I am hoping to finish off the LED interior, HIDs for the HIs, 4HI mod, CB install, and snap some pictures. I might have time to make a custom panel for my OH console so i can put some switches in there, i am thinking 4 switches, at the very least i plan on running some wires up there so when i do put in the switches, the wires will be waiting. its only Tuesday and i am already pretty excited....

[Koots]

Yeah, i've been partial to the 6.5 for a while, but when it comes down to ability to tow 8,000 pounds or more and be happy about it, the cummins has it. If she were just a DD, i would probably go through the engine when i had some down time. Anyhow, i've got tons of pics of this thing, here is one of some decals i picked up and had on her before she was repainted....i think you'll enjoy it Koots
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2011-09-23_15-22-57_755.jpg

:rocking:

I need to get me one of those :D

[loki223]

Yeah, it took me a while to find those myself. but i eventually found them on ebay. But that was several months ago, they were only like $5 for the pair, so i couldn't say no. lol

and i finished wiring up my front map lights last night. there ended up being 5 of us to remove the bed of my friends rig, so i just hopped into my truck and started running the wires the rest of the way. I also realized that the home link unit was all self contained, so it works too. Now i need to run a third wire up there so that the home link guages will turn on with the rest of my interior lights when i put the headlights on. I am thinking i will run it right to the headlight switch, but i'm not sure which wire to splice into. does anyone know which wire i need to splice to get the lights to come on with my headlights? otherwise i will jsut have to spend some quality time with a volt meter....lol. Anyhow, here are some pics of the OH console, i need a rear ac delete panel, otherwise i will just have to make some thing to put in there. I plan on running some switches for some exterior lights up there. but we will see...

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2012-02-21_17-13-04_500.jpg
http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o579/Loki-223/96%20CCLBSRW%204x4%20TD%20WIP%20DD/2012-02-21_17-12-20_859.jpg

[Koots]

That's an awesome spot for gauges, if you wanted to go that way.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=gauge+console+silverado&_sacat=0&_odkw=overhead+console+silverado&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

[loki223]

will the gauge mounts for the NBS OHC fit into the OHC for the OBS?

[loki223]

Slight update, i had the lower dash off and the bezel off this weekend to see if we cant get my full sized CB into the old CD pocket. the answer wasn't as quick and easy as i was hoping. the Cb will fit...with some careful cutting inside the dash there. The thing that stopped us, was the stickout for the coax cable. I need some kind of 90 degree coax adapter to get the CB to fit in there. And it can't be more than an inch long, preferably more like half and inch. What the issue is the heater box behind the compartment for the CD player and HVAC controls. we can open up the compartment to fit the CB, but we can't go far enough behind it to allow the installation to look good. so i will probably make something to mount it just below the ashtray and cigarette lighters. There really is no good spot for a full size CB in these trucks. lol. And on a side night, i am 90% sure one of my two batteries decided to die on me. after driving around all day saturday went to a buddies place and after a couple hours my truck was dead, jump started it and she ran fine, came home and let her dile, than turned off and she fired right back up, but was dead again in the morning. we tinkered with them yesterday with no luck and i had it on a charger all night. This morning she had a little bit of a charge, but not enough to start. so either there is a good sized drain somewhere, or my battery decided to die. Since i don't have any gremlins that i've noticed, and haven't had this issue previously with the truck, i'm leaning towards the battery. and if one is dead i will probably replace them both, because the other will most likely be working its way to death. Not sure if i am willing to shell out $400 or more for a set of optimas. Since there is a place here in town that has their own brand of good quality batteries with a 3 year warranty and 850 CCA for $90 a piece. but we will see tonight when i bring the batteries in to have 'em tested...

And in other news, last week i saw a deal i couldn't pass up, and picked up a set of 18 LED strobe lights, with the control box for dirt cheap. so when i get some time i'm gunna put those in. i'm not sure where i am going to install all of them. but i will find somewhere....I also have my eye on a 95 RCLB with a blown 6.5 in it. it also has the NV4500, and everything i will need for my manual conversion, including my guage cluster. The guy is asking a grand, but with the 2 hour drive to get there, and knowing how good i am at braking people down on prices, i am hoping to get it for $500. I am pretty sure it should have the 14 bolt in the back, and if it does i already have someone who wants that and the blown engine. the body is in decent shape, so i should be able to part it out pretty easily, or paint the box and make it so i can swap off the utility bed if i want to. I doubt i will...i'll probably part out what i don't need, than scrap the rest, and recoup most, if not all my money. we will see, if i do pick it up it won't be until this weekend....

[loki223]

Found some stuff to finish off my CB install. This weekend i plan on doing the 4HI upgrade and installing my HID hi beams. the CB will have to wait until next weekend as i do not believe i will have the parts in. I found a 90 for the cable, a longer cable, and a mount. so if the 90 won't let the CB get installed into the dash, it's getting mounted just under the ashtray/cigarette lighters. So next update with some pics should be this weekend, than again the weekend after that with my finished CB project....

and Koots, you might be happy to know when i repower my truck for the cummins, i've got a buddy that wants my 6.5 to repower his older Chevy. so while she might not stay in my truck, she will be going into another chevy!

[Koots]

I miss having a CB, I had one in my first car (Local Police "Ghost" Caprice...haha that rhymes :crazy:).

The 6.5 should make for a great engine for an older truck. Even my K5, when it was stock, was able to see peaks of 25MPG. With a 6.5TD, I would expect to see 18-19MPG on a consistent basis with stock height/tires.

[loki223]

well, my truck decided it doesn't want to run. the batteries went out on it. so i replaced those she fired right up, fired up the next morning, drove to work, and she won't fire up. WTS light goes on for the normal amount of time, and the glow plugs in her are only a couple months old. I am leaning towards the GP controller, but i haven't had a chance to go check with a tester. turns over, it is getting fuel, so i am thinking its the GPs....but, in other news there is a 94 cummins 5 speed 4x4 for sale for $3500 a couple hours north of here. I am waiting on a call back, than its just arranging the ride. depending on the miles, i've got the cash to go pick her up today. so we will see. That will be about 90% of my conversion right there, so i've got my fingers crossed....

[TheBigMortboski]

I'm not sure if its the same, but in my old 96 Powerstroke, it was the glow plug relay, not the controller. Is it cranking and cranking but not firing unless you plug the block heater in? I don't know that much about the 6.5 because I didn't want to expend valuable brain space learning about something best suited to keeping boats from drifting, but I'd try the least expensive solution first.

And is that the whole Dodge truck, if so, don't they have D60s in the front? Could be the start of something, er, solid for your front axle as well.

[loki223]

Yeah, i am leaning towards a SAS, i'm not sure if it will happen at the same time as the engine swap. if i can pick up this truck as a DD while i pull out the 6.5/4l80e, clean the engine compartment, and get the motor mounts, i'll be happy. I am just waiting on the guy to call me back. I've got everything arranged to go get the truck, just need him to call me back. Its only been up for sale for 2 days now, and i am surprised i hadn't noticed it before. So i am hoping i'm catching it in time before someone else has picked it up. I just hate waiting on the phone call since it went straight to voicemail. Another benefit to using the dodges front axle, is i'll have the tcase for the passenger side drop, and i might be able to steal a lot of parts off the dodge for the steering and suspension. Hopefully i'll get a call back any minute now and i can book it out there and grab the truck.

and as for my truck, it is plugged in, and the block heater is working, but no luck. The battery seemed kinda low due to trying to start it so i've got that charging now too, hopefully once the batteries are fully charged she will fire right up. than i've just got to make sure she is plugged in whenever she sits for a couple hours. But if i can pick up this cummins, that 6.5 will be getting pulled out pretty quick i have a feeling.

[TheBigMortboski]

Yeah, that'd be pretty much all the powertrain stuff you'd need. You could even use the rear axle if the gear ratios are different. Only thing is, those Dodges drive like dog sh!t if everything isn't absolutely perfect. Almost every one I've driven was all over the road.

As far as the glow plug thing, why don't they ever go out in the summer time? At least you'd have a fighting chance.

[loki223]

Yeah, tell me about it. But hopefully i will be able to pick up this dodge for my DD while i tear out the 6.5/4l80e Than i will also take some measurements and see if i can use all the dodge stuff for the SAS. I got a hold of the owners yesterday, and they put my off till today saying "we will call you first thing in the morning to set up a time and place to meet" It's now after 12:30. I'm giving them until 1 to call before i call again. i called around 10, and got a "I'm busy right now" but they said they would be free around noon yesterday, so we will see. I don't want them to keep putting me off and let it go to someone else. You'd think when someone says "Hey, i'm willing to make a several hour drive to meet you and i have cash in hand just tell me where to meet you" they would make some time. God knows i would....

[marcus.ayris]

Hey how much of a project is it to do the LEDs in the cluster and HVAC controls cause I've really been wanting to so it to my 2000 classic ccsb but in know the newer truck all have to have the bulbs soldered in and I wasn't sure if our body style needs that or not

[Tech89]

Hey how much of a project is it to do the LEDs in the cluster and HVAC controls cause I've really been wanting to so it to my 2000 classic ccsb but in know the newer truck all have to have the bulbs soldered in and I wasn't sure if our body style needs that or not

It's easy. I just did it on my truck. I reused my sockets that the stock bulbs were in and put the LEDs in the sockets. You just have to be sure to get them in the right way. The LEDs aren't like a incandescent bulb that can be put in either way and work.

-Pat