1988 suburban with cummins 4bta and ford zf5-s42

[wildcatjason]

I think it's cool to see a site that finally appreciates the old square body suburbans. I love the convince but hate the gas mileage. This is my solution. I have attached a picture of the donor 1986 Utilimaster step van this 1990 cummins 4bta came out of. It's rated at 120hp and 305ft/lbs of torque. I put a transmission in it that has a granny 5spd with an overdrive with the idea of raising the rear to a 2.73 ratio putting the granny first very close (its still a little lower then the 700r4 1st) to the overall ratio of the original 700r4 what will feel like a double overdrive since 4th will be 2.73 and 5th will be a 2.05 if I remember correctly.

[Captkaos]

your picture didn't work.

[wildcatjason]

Sorry I can't shrink any much further it says they are to big. I'll see if this will work it is of the donor.

[Captkaos]

Use this link to resize and upload, you are putting the location on your local computer...
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=6428.0

[wildcatjason]

Here is the engine before I pulled it out and preformed a total overhaul and here is one after the overhaul on a stand.

[wildcatjason]

The recipient after the worn out 350 was pulled and put in these cool turn signals. I am going to make a custom grill out of round bar with the block warmer attached.

[wildcatjason]

I know there is a tilt to the engine because I originally had the 700r4 behind it, but I had some issues with that transmission so I went with something tougher. It is level now. They tilt the cummins to chevy adapter in those stepvans due to engine fitment. The stepvan had a chevy 400 turbo behind this engine. I wanted overdrive. I went to a destroked adapter with a zf5 that leveled out the engine so I can shut the hood. I was going to put a cowl on it.

[Captkaos]

you have to make a copy of the image before you resize it.  Or if you can't figure that out, upload it to a photo sharing site.

The images you linked are on another site and it won't show up as they require a membership to view it.

[wildcatjason]

Here is one with the engine level and the hood on, also the rear of the truck.

[wildcatjason]

Sorry about that. I will see if I can figure it out.

[wildcatjason]

you have to make a copy of the image before you resize it.  Or if you can't figure that out, upload it to a photo sharing site.

The images you linked are on another site and it won't show up as they require a membership to view it.

Thank you for the help. I will contribute. Money is tight right now because my wife recieved a concussion and has been out of work for the past month, but when she is able to go back to work I plan on it. I love these sights that help guys experiment with new things. Keep up the good work! The problem with my picture was that my digital camera was storing pictures as several hundred MBs there was no way to shrink them down under 128kbs. Flickr did it for me. Thanks again!

[zieg85]

Please report when you start driving it, especially the fuel mileage.

[wildcatjason]

Please report when you start driving it, especially the fuel mileage.

Will do! I got to drive it a little bit with the 700r4 and I could tell the difference in how fast the gas needle would move, but I didn't get to drive it enough to get numbers. I thought the torque converter went out, but it was an adapter bolt that backed out and got in the flexplate, so I bought a 5 speed before I pulled it out and found the problem. I wanted a 5spd to begin with, right now I have to build a transmission crossmember, get a starter, and have a driveshaft made/modified. I should start rollin coal after that.

[paniolo]

Cool ... love seein the burbs!  Figuring out a way to get decent mpg and I would drive mine a LOT more

Love your pics.  Would like to see more detail though.  Since you already have a Flicker acct you can just link to the pics there and post bigger images.  Somewhere on the Flicker page there will be a link listed.  Just copy that then in your post here click on the little insert pic button below the formating line and past in that link.

Did you get your a/c working?  Did you fab up that bracket?

[wildcatjason]

Maybe it's because I'm not a member, but I have not been able to do it. I've tried several times.
My a/c compressor was going out before this swap. It will turn on, but makes a horrible grinding noise. There is a place in montana where you can buy the bracket lots of chevy/ford trucks to the 6bt. It took very little modification to make it work with my ac compressor and it would hit the power steering pump without the vacuum pump. It was an easy fix. www.autoworldmt.com has lots of swap stuff for cummins.