Building a Tow Rig

[D'Animal]

My wife will not let me buy a Tow Rig so I'm building one out of pieces and parts I have around the shop.

I'm also really tired of looking for my 12mm tools and need a mental break from the metric world.

I'm starting with a 1972 GMC 2500 Sierra 4x4.

I bought it from the original owner and it had so much crap in it that I found the receipt of when he bought it new in the glove box.

I will post pics of the rig in the "When I got it" when I resize them

[D'Animal]

I pulled the 5.9L 12 Valve Cummins Diesel engine out of my 1990 Dodge.

Once out, OrangeFJ45 helped me source out a pre computer Getrag 5 speed with a NP 205 behind it. I bought a flywheel and clutch pack from my old employer Truck Repair Inc in Fort Madison Iowa. I picked it up during my cross country trip.

[D'Animal]

Here is a pic of the engine assembly ready to install.

[D'Animal]

I pulled the rebuilt 350, tranny and t Case.

It is now ready to get the Cummins.

[D'Animal]

After much pondering and measuring I stuck the assembly in. The Engine is too darn big for those frame rails. If I cut the frame rails so it would fit I would

A. Have nothing left of the frame rails. If it was going to be a show queen I would have plated it. This will be a heavy duty Tow Rig so plating was not an option. The frames are not known to be that strong in that area to begin with.

B. Have to pull the engine to ever replace the starter.


My backup Plan came in handy.

I bought a 4x4 Dodge fame that had a Cummins in it originally.

[D'Animal]

I installed the Engine, Tranny, T-Case assembly in the new frame.

I then put my Cab on it. The front clip is just sitting there for mock up. I have to find 4" in the engine compartment.

[D'Animal]

The rear is a Dana 70 and the Front is a Dana 60 I bought from FJ40Charles.

They will be getting 4:56 gears.

I mudshipped two Dana 60s from Oklahoma City where FJ40Charles met me. The Dana's went with me East bound and then west bound for the rest of my cross country trip.

[Mace]

swap a 44 into there.

You will not need the 60 in a tow rig.

And, you then can use the 60 for a crawler

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by Mace

swap a 44 into there.

You will not need the 60 in a tow rig.

And, you then can use the 60 for a crawler

LOL!

I just took the Dana 44 out. Small Axle tubes with 1280lbs on them was not a winning combination for long term use.

I should have the cab and front clip mounted up tonight.

[D'Animal]

Too dark to get pics tonight.

The cab is mounted and the front clip is pretty much on.

[Wildman]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

I have to find 4" in the engine compartment.

I would be looking for something like 8in out front, and think intercooler okewithstick:

We just put one on a 12valve with a quick spool turbo and it works SWEET. But ran into the same problem, no grill room. The owner will build one later he says.

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by Wildman

I would be looking for something like 8in out front, and think intercooler okewithstick:

We just put one on a 12valve with a quick spool turbo and it works SWEET. But ran into the same problem, no grill room. The owner will build one later he says.

Intercooler is in the plans.

I just have to find room in the engine compartment for the radiator first. The 67 -72 Chevy/GMC truck have a lot of room in front of the radiator support. I was hoping to not have to cut and section the radiator support but if I have to I will go the intercooler route now instead of redoing it in the future.

[greenfox]

Dan look for a 6.2 diesel radiator out of a 83 on up Chevy pick up.

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by greenfox

Dan look for a 6.2 diesel radiator out of a 83 on up Chevy pick up.

Thanks

[D'Animal]

Here are a few pics of the mock up on the cab mounts. I ordered the new bushings today.

[D'Animal]

Going to have to cut and section the front radiator support to make everything fit.

[D'Animal]

The way it stands now.

The front wheel well opening in relationship to the wheel looks really bad in this picture. It's not that bad but I ordered new leaf springs today so the front axle will be moved forward approx 3". I also odered an adjustable drag link.

It will be getting a 9' flat bed and a mount to pull goose neck trailers.

[Tapage]

Hoe much boost are your planning to run . ? I like this kind of builups !

[Fromage]

You might want to look at running 4.10s... I have 4.56s and 39s on my cummins powered Land-Rover (1993 intercooled 6BT with A518 trans) and it<s about perfect, if I put a 5 speed in it would have 4.10s... These things have more than enough oomph at 150-1800 RPMs.

Now you will be looking for your 10mm metric stuff after working on the Cummins

Edit: Does the GMC have the Eaton or Dana rear axle? If it's an Eaton I want the pig!

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by Tapage

How much boost are your planning to run . ? I like this kind of builups !

I don't know how much boost I will run. It came out of my 1990 Dodge and the pump was truned up a bit, but it had an automatic.


You like build up's where nothing fits or was ever intended to fit, huh?

LOL! I guess I'm stuborn.

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by Fromage

You might want to look at running 4.10s... I have 4.56s and 39s on my cummins powered Land-Rover (1993 intercooled 6BT with A518 trans) and it<s about perfect, if I put a 5 speed in it would have 4.10s... These things have more than enough oomph at 150-1800 RPMs.

Now you will be looking for your 10mm metric stuff after working on the Cummins

Edit: Does the GMC have the Eaton or Dana rear axle? If it's an Eaton I want the pig!

I will be running 35's and some of the freeway speeds are 70mph when not pulling a trailer in California. In Arizona and a few other states it is 70mph or 75mph. I think Texas has a daytime and a night time speed limit.

For the RPM to be in the torque band, from my rough calculations I think I need to run 4:56's.

I have the sierra nevada mountains that I will be pulling my 40's, 45's or 60's through. Some of the grades like going from Sacramento to Deer Valley is an 8,200ft climb in elevation in about 60 miles. I want to keep up with the rest of the tow rigs and the rigs that are diving.

[splitshot]

Hey, when your done with that, you can come toss one of those in my 'ol 68 F250

I'd miss the FE block, but diesel is the way to go.

[JJS]

Originally Posted by splitshot

Hey, when your done with that, you can come toss one of those in my 'ol 68 F250

I'd miss the FE block, but diesel is the way to go.

You can't beat 360...uhhh...power? The FE motors don't have great power to weight ratios, but they're work horses.

Cool project, D'Animal. Those trucks have a great look to them.

[splitshot]

Originally Posted by JJS

You can't beat 360...uhhh...power? The FE motors don't have great power to weight ratios, but they're work horses.

Cool project, D'Animal. Those trucks have a great look to them.

390, 10:1's, it's a screamer, but I'd rather have torque now that I'm becoming an old fart.

I agree, the old Chevy's and Fords have classic lines.

[JJS]

Originally Posted by splitshot

390, 10:1's, it's a screamer, but I'd rather have torque now that I'm becoming an old fart.

I agree, the old Chevy's and Fords have classic lines.

Now you're talking. The beauty of those FE blocks is that you can bore the hell out of them. Swap out the intake, and you've solved a big part of the weight problem.