Build Building a Tow Rig

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Fromage said:
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!
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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.
 
Hey, when your done with that, you can come toss one of those in my 'ol 68 F250:D

I'd miss the FE block, but diesel is the way to go.
 
splitshot said:
Hey, when your done with that, you can come toss one of those in my 'ol 68 F250:D

I'd miss the FE block, but diesel is the way to go.
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You can't beat 360...uhhh...power? :flipoff2: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.
 
JJS said:
You can't beat 360...uhhh...power? :flipoff2: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.
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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.
 
splitshot said:
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.
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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.
 
D'Animal said:
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.
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Just coz it's a Turbo diesel buildup :D
 
JJS & Splitshot

One of you guys need to buy this.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=167470

Or let me know if you are interested in a completely virgin, bone stock 1971 Ford Bronco w 24k miles on it. The factory hub caps are still on it and the jack is still under the hood.

Yes I have pics
 
Hi All:

Cool build "D'Animal!" :beer:

Shouldn't this be in the "other vehicle tech" section? :grinpimp:

Regards,

Alan
 
LOL!

Well it is kinda hardcore since it is a complete built rig that will have 35"s on it and it will be dedicated rig used to pull one of my 4 Landcruisers.

I'll let the moderators decide to move it or delete it.

Josie'sLandCruiser said:
Hi All:

Cool build "D'Animal!" :beer:

Shouldn't this be in the "other vehicle tech" section? :grinpimp:

Regards,

Alan
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D'Animal said:
JJS & Splitshot

One of you guys need to buy this.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=167470

Or let me know if you are interested in a completely virgin, bone stock 1971 Ford Bronco w 24k miles on it. The factory hub caps are still on it and the jack is still under the hood.

Yes I have pics
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I've got too many irons in the fire (sound familiar?). A friend of mine has a '69 55 series that he's talking of finding a good home for and I still have alot of money to dump into the 40.

Those Broncos are worth good money in that condition, one locally sold for 30k.
There is one in Oracle that has been sitting in someone's yard for a couple of years, I just can't seem to bring myself into stopping and checking it out.

JJS, it's up to you:D
 
D'Animal said:
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.
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You do not want 4:56's. 4:10 and 35's will be perfect for towing and still be able to run 70-75mph. Optimal cruising RPM should be 2000-2250 RPM. I'm running 4:10 with 37's and at 75mph I'm running 2250-2300 with a 5spd.
 
DWitcher said:
You do not want 4:56's. 4:10 and 35's will be perfect for towing and still be able to run 70-75mph. Optimal cruising RPM should be 2000-2250 RPM. I'm running 4:10 with 37's and at 75mph I'm running 2250-2300 with a 5spd.
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Thanks for the info.

How is your rig for stopping and starting going up hill while pulling?

I've heard horror stories about towing up the Grape Vine or to Tehachapi or to Shaver Lake and getting stopped do to construction. When you try to take off the power train is geared too high to get the rig moving forward. You literally have to dump the clutch to get going.

I personally have had no problems with the companies F450 pulling a 38' trailer.
 
1st gear is too low for anything but taking off from a dead stop with a heavy load. These engines produce incredible torque so having one under geared if you don't tow heavy is a good thing. I can take off in 2nd towing 12,000lbs but it's a little hard on the clutch. My truck towed better with 35's.
 
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Looking very nice Dan... It is going to be real funny seeing the look on the Chebby guys when they hear the mighty Cummins........
 
Over the weekend I'm hoping to install the new sheet metal on the front clip and get the radiator installed.

If the rain holds out I might even get the lift installed.
DSCF2331.webp
DSCF2333.webp
 
DWitcher said:
You keeping the GMC grille or going to Chevy? I'm a big fan of GMC with the dual headlight.
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Keeping the GMC 4 headlight set up.

I had to buy a new Chevy radiator support. The truck Shop in Orange and LMC do not carry the GMC radiator support. I have to move my 4 headlight buckets from the old support to the new chevy support. I then have to cut and section the new support to fit the radiator and the inter cooler.

These "little things" are the most time consuming.
 
"These "little things" are the most time consuming"
Tell me about it.
A word of advise on that 5 spd that there is a lot of talk from guy's running that tranny that have said to add 1 extra quart of fluid in at the top PTO cover bolt due to oil starvation to the input bearing when pulling big hills.
 
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