Camper Special

[bigwalton]

Here we go....

[Panther]

I have the front end in and started mocking up the motor mounts before quitting time. This is how it looks now.

The first thing to go, as I make space for the motor, is the steering brace. I'll have to find another way of bracing the box but in the meantime the stock brace is gone. The other 2 cross braces are still in place.

As I set it up for the motor mount/crossmember, it looks like it will end up about 2" above the top of the frame rails. I'll have to make some brackets for the upper 2 bolts o the crossmember. This is the one thing I'd like to see in another M715, just to see how high and where exactly others have mounted this.

[bigwalton]

awwwww yeah... this thing will be driving around in no time now!!!

[charliev]

Panther,

This is looking great!

Keep up the good work!
Charlie

[jeepdreamer]

[Panther]

Yesterday was a long day.
After driving to 4 machine shops trying to find someone with a reamer to drill the taper in the steering arm, I finally found a guy to do it. Problem is that he won't have it done until Mon or Tue. It needs steering to get it out of the garage.

Then work started on the motor mounts. To mount the crossmember above the frame I used the rear M725 spring plate and cut it in half. The holes lined up with the upper holes in the crossmember and I have equal sized brackets for both sides. You can see that here:

You see I notched the crossmember to fit the steering shaft and yes it's still the manual box. I'll have to upgrade to p/s later. The pic gives you a good idea of what the cummins crossmember looks like in the M7XX frame. The holes in the frame for the shock mount give a point of reference for anyone else doing this swap. I still have to drill the frame for the lower crossmember holes, 2 each side. The way it looks now, there's room for the radiator and I can't imagine it going back much farther. The motor would have to be lowered but then comes close to the pitman arm. Anyway, I'm happy with it but you always wonder what will creep up in the future.

Here it is with the hood, grill and fenders on:


And the exterior:


Obviously the front ended up much higher than the rear, I'll have to remove a couple leaves. These spring just don't move! I couldn't believe when I drop the cummins it might compress an INCH!?!

[jeepdreamer]

Man...This is just so COOL it makes me grin! I can't wait to see it become a full fledged, road worthy beasty...
As a side note...have you ever checked out the Expedition Portal site? Lots and LOTS of great intell to be found there...almost like crack to me when my feet get "the itch" to wander around...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/

[bigwalton]

What's the good word man?

[jeepdreamer]

X2...we need our fix!
(BW, maybe you can add some more "smilies" Like an impatient one (taps foot?) or a been waiting a long time on ( think old guy with a beard that grows and cobwebs form. I have no idea where these things come from but some are pretty funny!)
Ok...back to holding my breath.....

[Panther]

Wish I had more but it's out of the garage which means outside now subject to the weather.
I've been very busy and haven't had the time, yada yada...

I've been giving some thought to tires.
NTW has a deal on 40 procomp xt's for $300


and I'm thinking about the procomp black steelies w/ round holes.


5 will run me about 2k and I'm working on freeing up the funds for the tires.

[jeepdreamer]

This may be a little "duh" but make sure you can get them in load rated (E) as I'm sure that truck weighs as much as a 4dr Fpeefifty Powerchoke.

[Truck]

Originally Posted by Panther

Also going back to the ideas of the flappac someone posted this photoshop in another thread.

Nice huh?

I have a question about this. Is the top of the truck cut on this and the whole thing flops forward so you can stand in the back of the truck and giving you a bunk area where the roof if flopped?

Truck