Re: '53 duramax
 

Guess we'll find out lol. Motor doesn't weigh anymore than an old iron hemi and they stuff them in a lot of stuff without problem. I can't imagine that the front end couldn't hold an additional 300 lbs over what it would've weighed if I had put a 6.0 in it like I had originally planned. I know it sounds like a lot more tho.

Re: '53 duramax
 

And if they're gonna make a 700 lbs spring I would think the rest of it would be designed to take it, trust me it's been on my mind lol. If I take my first trip down the road and the front wheels fly off, I guess it couldn't handle it lol

Re: '53 duramax
 

I think you'll be fine. I pondered putting a 5.9 in my 40 Ford and the only thing I'd be worried about is lower ball joints. Like you, I figured an old hemi with a blower would weigh just shy of 1000lbs. I see hot rods with blown hemis racing and being beaten with MII's all the time with no issues. I have an old friend that had a 49 Chevy truck that was pro streeted and had a cab that was crew cab length, but only a 2 door. It was a heavy ride to have a MII front suspension. He had a lower ball joint rip out of the socket once. He baught stronger ones and kept an eye on them and never had a problem after that.

Re: '53 duramax
 

Kinda what I thought too, it's a trial and error build, with most of it being error lol.

Re: '53 duramax
 

You can't prevail without some failure first. :lol:

Re: '53 duramax
 

Can't wait to see it. We go every spring and fall and drive right through Red lion to get there. Hope to have my suburban there this year

Re: '53 duramax
 

Very cool!! Nice to see another out of the box thinker like my '52 with a 7.3L. Just use all high quality suspension and steering components and check often. What rear end are you going to use?

Re: '53 duramax
 

I have a chromoly fabricated 9" housing with a set of currie forged axles.

Re: '53 duramax
 

Yup that should handle it!!

Re: '53 duramax
 

Hung the front fenders today to see how everything fit, steering is done too. Plenty of room![IMG]http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...312_151420.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]
[IMG]http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...312_151547.jpg[/IMG]

Re: '53 duramax
 

[IMG]http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...312_151509.jpg[/IMG]

Re: '53 duramax
 

Looks great. We're either doing a Duramax or BBC

Re: '53 duramax
 

So far the duramax has been pretty easy, a lot of cutting, grinding, one off parts and welding tho. we made everything to pit this motor in from scratch and we don't have any fancy fabrication tools other than a plasma and a welder lol

Re: '53 duramax
 

Sounds good. We arent scared to cut or weld :). Will be watching for when yours is running. Thanks

Re: '53 duramax
 

This is sooo freaking cool. I love the Allison in my '02...actually shifts very smoothly for such a large beast and I'm told can be made even better with some tuning. Your creating is going to be a tire fryer, but you already know that! Thanks for the entertainment!

Re: '53 duramax
 

If one will fit in that, I should be able to put one in my 3 ton 50 GMC 5 window cab firetruck. Still looking for the DMax. Could you have put a remote oil filter setup in?

Re: '53 duramax
 

I looked into them, but one, they're $400 and a grinder wheel and a lil weld wire and a lil 75/25 is cheap lol. Plus it wouldn't have really helped because all it does it relocate the filter itself. The problem was the filter head was hitting the frame as well as the filter so it was easier to just notch the frame. You should have no problem putting a duramax into a 3 ton. A local shop to me is building a COE AD truck on a duramax chassis. It's an awesome build too

Re: '53 duramax
 

Yes it will fit. I have a 7.3L in my '52 9700 GMC p/u (that was a fire truck)and I don't have a plazma lol
Great work in getting the front end on !!! Fits in there really nice.
Why is your turbo/intake apart?

Re: '53 duramax
 

Tore it all apart to paint the motor parts, as soon as the body guy comes and looks at the body work, it's all coming back apart to get new head studs, injectors, gaskets thru out the motor. I just set the turbo on to make sure it would clear the firewall recess.

Re: '53 duramax
 

very cool build, my friend and I always thought a diesel build would be great. He'd luv this, as he has diesel everything, even his lawnmower! I'll be taggin along.

Re: '53 duramax
 

Got the grill and running boards on today, grill was a royal pain in the butt! Doesn't line up quite right with the rest of the mounting holes in the fender so I guess I'll have to figure something out. Hood fits like crap too, seems to be too wide in the front...anyone have any ideas? I guess if I have to I'll split it and make it fit!
[IMG]http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...319_145636.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...319_150619.jpg[/IMG]

Re: '53 duramax
 

It's looking nice! Every after market grill I've had to put on any of these trucks never went well and was a PITA!

Re: '53 duramax
 

yeah grilles can be a pain, same with hoods. are those repop fenders? also if you replaced your cowls its possible its throwing off the fenders. Do you have your hinges on the hood? coming along nicely.

Re: '53 duramax
 

I like your wheel choice. What size are they? Are you going to have to tub the bed to clear the rear tires?

Re: '53 duramax
 

Yeah they're repops, and I replaced both side cowl pieces. I had to slit the whole length of the front fenders on both sides to get them to fit tight to the body. The hinges aren't on yet I left them at the house. Here's a pic of what I had to do to the fenders...
before:
[IMG]http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...ploads/124.jpg[/IMG]
after:(even tho they're opposite sides you get the point)
[IMG]http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...ploads/122.jpg[/IMG]