New "Daily" Project

Recently I came across a neglected "barn find" for a somewhat reasonable price. Truck is a bone stock 1996 RCLB 2wd auto with 209,XXX miles. The body is almost perfect other than clear on the hood and top of cab. Engine has sat open for a few years with parts missing that other people have robbed (myself included) and missing the rear end. Engine is no good in current state.

Found and purchased a bone stock donor truck 1996 RCLB 2wd auto with 265,XXX miles that I plan on swapping everything this green truck needs. Going to do a cab off engine swap. I am really torn between the two frames because one has light rust all the way around and the other has heavier rust in a couple spots. I already planned on knocking the rust off a frame and shooting it. A body swap would be the easiest route but I don't want to run into bad rust problems down the road. Not 100% sure on what to do there yet. Hopefully you guys could lead me in the better direction.

My end goal for the truck is a reliable ~400hp capable driver. Mostly geared towards fuel mileage and reliability with a few power adders. I plan on making a trip with it up to Minnesota in August of 2019 (15 hour drive). Cost is definitely an issue with this build so keep that in mind. Will be using used/left over parts I have in some places.

My plan of attack:
-Body/frame
-Shedding weight where possible
-Factory air dam on front bumper
-Aluminum 3rd or 4th gen 17s
-Taller and narrower tires like a 235/80r17

-Engine
-Head will be decked, o-ringed, machined for top hat seals, studded, and 60# springs
-4" straight
-Old FASS HD 95gph off my pulling truck w/sump
-No plate
-Stock dvs
-4ks
-Properly tuned
-19* of timing
-5x12s from Seth Haley
-24v oil pump
-Amsoil 15w40 and diff fluid
-Turbo will remain stock for a while

Stock Transmission
-Yes, stock transmission
-DPC billet single with 150 under stall
-Firepunk VB
-Adjusting bands, etc...

Feel free to criticize, voice your opinion, and/or help out. My ears are open.

Pictures are as of 10/28/2018

Donor Truck

Doesn't drip a bit of oil and fires up within 1 crank. Guy I bought it off of was going to swap it into a project but was literally going to hack the cab off...:doh:

Some of these are out of order but you get the idea.

Cool project. I just picked up a 95 that I’m getting back on the road. I kinda like the frame on the green truck better. Something rotted the white truck pretty bad so I’m sure the frame has started also.

Pulled the front cover last night and swapped the oil pump. Getting ready for the timing bump and 4ks.

Whats the benefit of the 24V oil pump over the 12V oil pump?

PVXCummins said:

Whats the benefit of the 24V oil pump over the 12V oil pump?

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In my case, brand new vs 265,xxx miles and the it has more volume and a touch higher pressure than the factory 12 valve pump.

Flows better and gives better pressure.

I believe if you order a 12valve pump today you actually get the 24V pump.

Its the exact same pump with an updated/ upgraded design.

But, it's GREEN!!! LOL
Biggest reason my '98 12 valve is still sitting here.

Mark.

Mark Nixon said:

But, it's GREEN!!! LOL
Biggest reason my '98 12 valve is still sitting here.

Mark.

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Not a popular color, Mark?

Apparently not a good color.
I like (non-John Deere) green, just can't bring myself to beat up such a nice truck, so it sits here.
I need another truck to pull my big trailer with, and soon, so I guess it's going to have to do.

Mark.

Mark Nixon said:

Apparently not a good color.
I like (non-John Deere) green, just can't bring myself to beat up such a nice truck, so it sits here.
I need another truck to pull my big trailer with, and soon, so I guess it's going to have to do.

Mark.

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With the clear gone on some of it, I'm not too terribly worried about it looking that good thankfully.

And now its at 19*. By far the easiest timing bump I've ever done! Waiting on governor springs and going to tune the afc on the bench to get it close to what I need.

The frame on that white truck is trash, you can see where rust is blowing the two sections apart at the splice.

Got the engine running again and brought the green truck home this past weekend. They met at last. Now I can finally start the swap process and get the head to the machine shop.

Had some time off during the holidays so I worked on the truck a little. Also found that the entire front end is shot minus ball joints. The donor truck appears to have newer steering components and rotors, calipers, and pads.

How do you think the trans will hold up with just the torque converter and valvebody? The reason I'm asking is I want to set mine up about 400hp as well. Thought I would do the same, with trans, as you had mentioned as well.

Build is looking good too.

What size shop you have? That is nice.

Mark Nixon said:

Apparently not a good color.
I like (non-John Deere) green, just can't bring myself to beat up such a nice truck, so it sits here.
I need another truck to pull my big trailer with, and soon, so I guess it's going to have to do.

Mark.

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I mean you could put together which ever truck you want with all the parts that goes through your hands. :hehe:

regcanfan said:

How do you think the trans will hold up with just the torque converter and valvebody? The reason I'm asking is I want to set mine up about 400hp as well. Thought I would do the same, with trans, as you had mentioned as well.

Build is looking good too.

Click to expand...

I honestly don't know for sure. It's something I've been wanting to try for a while. When I had the stock trans in my red truck, it lasted quite a while at ~450 horse and beating it to death with 199k on the clock. This truck WILL NOT be beat on nearly as hard so it should last a good while longer.