The Dakota Cadillac (68 K20 w/ Cummins)

[Dieselwrencher]

I just noticed the mirrors on your burb. I'm not quite sure I like them yet.

[lowrollin70gmc]

You can hate them if you want to, I know I do. Somebody did a lot of work to make mounting brackets and drill a huge hole in the middle for some fugly mirrors.

I'm going with 68 style mirrors as soon as my bodywork starts (might be a year or three). I've got to paint my dad's El Camino, my Nova, and then it's the Burb's turn.

[Dieselwrencher]

I know how that goes man! At least they're function able for now. That's what matters until you get tired of looking at them.

[1leglance]

I am really liking your build and taking notes for mine..
All you stick shift guys...what about us auto loving folks?

[jbclassix]

what gears are you running in your truck? are they the stock 4.57?

[lowrollin70gmc]

Originally Posted by 1leglance

I am really liking your build and taking notes for mine..
All you stick shift guys...what about us auto loving folks?

Can't help you there, it seems like it takes a lot more money to have an automatic hold up to the torque of these motors and I love having three pedals. Of my 4 vehicles, there's one 3 speed, one 5 speed, and two 6 speeds (and an extra 5 speed sitting in the garage).

Originally Posted by jbclassix

what gears are you running in your truck? are they the stock 4.57?

Running 3.55 up front and 3.73 out back just for the challenge! Actually I need to regear the dana 60 to 3.73 up front and I'll be swapping the rear dana 60 to a newer 10.5AAM 14 bolt for the disc brakes and integral parking brake plus the additional width I need to clear my wheels.

With the low rpm torque and 3000 rpm redline (stock) of these motors, anything above a 3.73 really cuts down the highway mileage and potential and having the granny first helps off the line when needed.

[Dieselwrencher]

If you're going with a newer rear axle, you may want to try to find some different off set wheels. I have an 01 D80 in the back of my Longhorn, and the rear tires hang out of the box sides pretty far. I can live with it, but other people think it looks weird.

[lowrollin70gmc]

I'm going to scout for axles with a tape measure in hand looking for 67"-69" WMS to match my Dodge front end of 67.5" (I think my stock rear is 63-65" but I'll measure before looking). The 17s I'm running right now have quite a bit of backspacing (they're off of a 2005 Dodge). Right now the tire rubs the inner wheel lip after about an inch of compression so something has to happen and I'm hoping for 2" of width additional on each side.

It's just hard to figure out the WMS of newer axles as everybody quotes the older 14bolt and I don't think they're the same width.

[Dieselwrencher]

I thought about going to a 14bolt in the back of my Longhorn, but I want the strength the D80 offers. And I'm on a tigh budget so building a new axle when I already have the D80 that's ready to go is a moot point. I just have to deal with the rear tire stance.

[jbclassix]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I thought about going to a 14bolt in the back of my Longhorn, but I want the strength the D80 offers.

See pics below
I disgree with a dana 80 being any stronger than a 14B. Heavier, but not stronger.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

And I'm on a tigh budget so building a new axle when I already have the D80 that's ready to go is a moot point. I just have to deal with the rear tire stance.

IMO a 14 bolt is dirt cheap and cheaper than dirt to build. If you have a Dana 80 laying around, definitely cheaper to use! BTW, that was the 3rd axle under that truck.

This is just my opinion... to each his own... 14bolts are actually my 2nd favorite rear axle.

[1985-GMC]

What were they doing for that to happen? Looks like there was no oil in the axle.

[Dieselwrencher]

Show me any 14 bolt that will hold 1250hp + and 2,000 plus ft lbs of tourque +. I'm talking non AAM axles here too. That failure could have been a lot of things. No gear lube, improper pre load on bearings, I could go on and on. But I've been around truck pulling too long to believe a 14 bolt will out last a dana 80. If it were true, you'd see them in 90% of the pulling trucks. But you don't, and for a reason.

[jbclassix]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Show me any 14 bolt that will hold 1250hp + and 2,000 plus ft lbs of tourque +. I'm talking non AAM axles here too. That failure could have been a lot of things. No gear lube, improper pre load on bearings, I could go on and on. But I've been around truck pulling too long to believe a 14 bolt will out last a dana 80. If it were true, you'd see them in 90% of the pulling trucks. But you don't, and for a reason.

Hey! I think I found a touchy spot for Ryan
As for that axle failure... I have no clue, no one on my shift ever drove that truck.
So, do I really know if a 14Bolt (10.5) is stronger than a Dana 80? Hell no!
Anything that I have ever messed with over 1200hp (and not over 60 Liters) has been in a top fuel hydro. No axles there!
The only reason I prefer the 14B is they are a dime a dozen, which translates into Broke-Jeremy-Can-Afford-It!
I'll really make you mad now, I would take an Eaton HO72 over a 14B any day!
But hey, I'll never own anything that makes enough HP to even touch an Eaton...
By the way, my Dana housing spreader doesn't like Dana 80s either!

Anyways, Lowrollin, You got any pictures of where your shift lever sits? Now that I hijacked it...

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by jbclassix

Hey! I think I found a touchy spot for Ryan
As for that axle failure... I have no clue, no one on my shift ever drove that truck.
So, do I really know if a 14Bolt (10.5) is stronger than a Dana 80? Hell no!
Anything that I have ever messed with over 1200hp (and not over 60 Liters) has been in a top fuel hydro. No axles there!
The only reason I prefer the 14B is they are a dime a dozen, which translates into Broke-Jeremy-Can-Afford-It!
I'll really make you mad now, I would take an Eaton HO72 over a 14B any day!
But hey, I'll never own anything that makes enough HP to even touch an Eaton...
By the way, my Dana housing spreader doesn't like Dana 80s either!

Anyways, Lowrollin, You got any pictures of where your shift lever sits? Now that I hijacked it...

Not mad at all. I hear this from the early GM guys all the time. And then when their built 14b breaks constantly, they wonder why. For normal abuse and hauling, heck yeah, a 14b will work great. But I plan on doing things occasionally the normal guy won't. I like the HO52's and 72's too. But the parts are getting harder and harder to find for them. Last year some friends of ours went through 5 sets of ring and pinions alone. Not counting axles and what ever else they broke. This was a HO72 in a first gen dodge with 700-800hp. They're going to a D80 now.

Sorry for the jack Lowrollin!

[lowrollin70gmc]

It's all good, and this is the only picture I currently have of the shifter location. It's not too bad, but I'll have to make a new hump as this one is too short and has had three different transmissions/shifters hacked in different locations.



I only plan on 300-350hp and 700-800 ft/lbs so I think the 14 bolt will work. No tractor pulls, no rock crawling, and no goosenecks (that would be a sight on a burb),

She'll be a winter daily driver as well as an all purpose hunting, snow/mud rig with 10k lbs max payload. That's why I want to keep a high belly and low center of gravity. Might even keep stockish bumpers on it.

[Dieselwrencher]

That sounds like a cool place to be. That's how my truck build plan started, then it kept getting out of hand.

[jbclassix]

vintage boot looks good!

[Dieselwrencher]

That reminds me I have to find or build a shift handle for mine too. dang it.

[lowrollin70gmc]

I hear you there, I'm trying to figure out a t-case shifter and handle.

Options:

Fabricate bracket to attach dodge shifter to the side of the NV5600 but that trans is so wide that passengers would kick the dang thing!

Make a cable shifter with stock pattern and mount in front of trans shifter.

Twin stick it and make / buy a cable shifter and mount in front of trans shifter.

I lean towards the twin stick so that I know what exactly my front and rear drivelines are doing. The stock shifter always had me guessing and I would normally get under the truck and play with the front driveshaft to make sure I was in 2Hi not 4Hi. I wouldn't modify the rails at all as I don't need front low, but rear low would be nice.

[lowrollin70gmc]

Finally back in SoDak and working on the burb. Currently swapping an 05 Edit: 11.5 AAM for the disc brake/parking brake combo as well as a couple extra inches of width to have the tires clear the inner fender. Also picked up some 37x12.5x16.5 Baja A/Ts for future fun times on black steelies.

I should get the shackle flip and axle tacked up tomorrow and I'll show some progress pictures.


I weighed it this morning, are there any guesses for the weight? I unhooked the trailer on the second scale plate so I have true vehicle and trailer weight.

Best guess gets free crusty 4" lift blocks!!! Just stop by and help wrench and pick them up on the way out. Offer also includes free beer/soda to any parties willing to help anyways.

[Dieselwrencher]

6800lbs

[mosesburb]

6600lbs

[1985-GMC]

6914.52lbs lol

[FrankieD]

5950lbs

[lowrollin70gmc]

Well, of the three guesses, FrankieD has some new crusty lift blocks! Genuine steel vintage units! She weighed 6200lbs with me in it and low fuel, so I'd estimate 6300 with a full load of fuel and no passenger (I'm 180 and additional 40 gal at 7lbs per gal is 280 lbs).

Now I will be adding more weight with an interior and other small things it's missing.

But for pictures:

edit: 11.5AAM in place, spring plates from DIY4x welded in place currently mocking up shock mounts.



Shackle flip installed, still need to throw some bushings in the springs.


And debating keeping this tank in the long run, 50 gallons of diesel will let me cover huge distances.



Finally, the BAJA A/Ts I picked up before I moved back to the Dakotas. It'll take a little trimming to fit the 37s at my current lift but I'll make it happen eventually.