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The "restification" of a 98 6.5 TD...

Mr postman brought me some presents today. Had to rush out and get them installed so I could see how it looks:

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(apologies for the washed out pics, the garage door was reflecting a lot of light)

Now, how it looks is a subjective thing and is different for everyone but I like it!

The door wood just snaps into place, the steering wheel is not a bolt on though.

The hub is bigger on the GMT400 column than the STS. I had to enlarge the hole and re-manufacture the splines including the master spline. I also had to create a hole in the aluminum structure to fit the horn wire through.

Next I need to build a center section to cover the bits.

After I get the clockspring in my hot little mitts I'll get to work metering things out and incorporating the radio and cruise controls, eventually setting up the wheel heat and bluetooth button.

Now that I have the wheel and inserts I can figure out the best match for the center console wood insert and get that done also.

I really, really really like it so far and that wheel feels great in your hands. Smooth, well shaped, comfortable and just a great fit!

That's probably it for the wood though....it's just enough. Any more would probably start to look a bit gaudy....
 
Just grabbed a set of 67 Mustang hood vents for 15 bucks.

Just to give me another option if the GTA vents don't look right.

The mustang vents will require more extensive metal work to the hood to get them to look right though:

mump_0608_05z+1967_ford_mustang+hood.jpg

time will tell which way I go.....
 
photo.jpg


That chart is consistent to within 10% on subsequent runs.

Weight - 6900 lbs (scaled with full tank and driver, have about another 100lbs in it with the 3/4 plywood bed inserts)
Drivetrain loss - 15% (best guess)
0-60mph - 9.57 secs

Crankshaft HP calculated estimate from the program- 300hp

Still showing 17.30 second 1/4's at 88.2 mph

Abysmal 60 foot times of 3.50 secs, but on BFG AT tires at 60 PSI for towing. Lots of spin, lots of pedaling out of the hole. You can see it at the beginning of the graph where it's near the zero mark as I fight it for traction.

That's just a GM8, TM, diamond eye exhaust, my GMparts replacement Optimizer 6500, stock DS4 and my personal brew PCM calibration. No water injection, no nitrous, no propane, no power adders of any sort. Just dry pavement and a warm engine.

EGT's topped out at 1150, foot hard to the floor, and not letting going any higher.

Still hauls my 8500LB TT with ease and EGT's hover around 750-900F.

Pretty much the end for the truck as it sits.

Stage 2 will involve more induction changes but still use the GM8.

Stage 3 will be more radical but GM8 is still in the plan.

Stage 4 will be minor refinements on stage 3.

That's all I'm going to say. There will be no further updates.

Not really looking to discuss it, just wanted to put up one last update and then fade into the black.

Ciao.

/thread
 
Well BJ, I hate to see you fade away, I have enjoyed seeing the updates. I hope you decide to come back some day, but in the mean time god speed and good luck.
 
:stupid:

Definitely don't want to see this fade to black BJ. It's been too much of a drama to just see die. I hope you get it all figured out in time, and post back here regularly with updates. God Speed...
 
You plan on painting the topper to match the truck?

It actually looks like it currently matches the RV. :hello:
 
A few interior pics:

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79C72569-B532-48EF-AF5B-05D2871A7C73-25134-00001B47921AEF72_zpsea5bb82a.jpg


21DC97FD-CDD1-4A88-9E87-46C6EDDF5CE7-17437-000014A6CCA60D81_zps4d08ada4.jpg


FC64C815-93AA-4426-8D15-A607051F609A-18591-000015707ECA5F2D_zpsf8086504.jpg


Got tired of sandblasting the undercarriage/underbody and beating the crap out of the paint everywhere we went:

25031246-AA29-406E-A962-B3F577ED64C1-25025-000019B51445F6A8_zps43f9d18f.jpg


Inner mudflaps added to further protect underbody:

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They do their job well:

DC7995ED-9A4F-437D-81CB-D040D189C9ED-2479-0000012C88925356_zpsf1c4cdbd.jpg


That's after 30 miles on gravel roads at 60 Kph.

Barely even dusty.
 
Will L. said:
Cool, good idea with the cable to keep them away from the tire.
Click to expand...

They're mostly for keeping the flap from going in to the tire and being ripped off when backing up in deep snow. The cables are long enough (and strong enough) to allow the flap to ride up on the snow but not get caught under the tire. The truck is a pavement pounder 99% of the time so deep mud and whatnot isn't a concern. Even if I do "mud" the truck I can just double up the cable which makes it half it's original length, which holds the flaps nice and high above the ground.

I tested them at full length by backing over some cement tire stops (like in parking lots) several times while the wife watched and no problems. Did their intended job just fine.

The rear flaps have no cables, but they are high enough that they cannot get into the tire. I also have brackets holding them back hidden up under the body work.

Those are 38" long semi trailer flaps cut in half (up the middle). The go up into the wheel well and protect the metal from rock chips almost halfway around the well, which is more of the protection I was after. Most of the dirt and rocks are shed by the tires when they hit the halfway around the opening mark. Not all, but most of the really "abusive" stuff....
 
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