Kinda like a hot rod but it isn't hot.
 

Ok, I finally picked up a tranny for my cummins 6at and I'm heading down to the shop to work out some clutch details. The cummins has a chev bellhousing. It came from a UPS truck and was set up to replace the 292 chev six they were built with. This 6at was made in 1988 and UPS ran them for about 8 or 9 years until the drivers were sick of glow-plugging and the noise. They were pulled in the late 90's and replaced with gm v6 power. A bunch of the 6ats came on the market at that time. It's no powerhouse being only 210 cu in and 120 hp, but they work really well the way I use a truck. My 54 GMC has had one for about 10 years. I bought it from a friend who did the conversion. The jimmy has a th 400 auto but this time I'm gonna do it my way. The tranny is an sm465 4 spd from a '77 chev 3/4 ton 2wd and was behind a 454. I just need to do the research and find what clutch and presure plate and throw out bearing to use. Looks like the chev bellhousing on the cummins used a hydraulic clutch, which is sweet because so does the fridge. Does anyone know the dia of the fridge clutch mc? I've been told the slave has to have the same bore. Once I have the engine/tranny coupled, I'll pull the whole nose off the fridge and dig in. While the engine is out, I'll fix the floors and check out the front cab mounts. They seem ok, but that's the time to do any work in there. I guess I'll probably do this as a build thread, maybe even starting at the beginning with the rear end swap and front axle and spring work. When it's all done I will have done just as much work as some of the hot rod guys, but it will still have manual brakes and steering and will have to downshift going up a hill. Call me old school, it won't insult me..........:-X03

I would think that "old School", would be taken as a compliment!

I believe the MC bore for the clutch is 1 1/16". However, I think the slave bore is 7/8". At any rate, it is smaller than the MC. By the looks of your pics, you are having a lot of fun with the old weasel engine.

Nice shop...nice property...nice truck!

Thanks. Got the bellhousing off the diesel, pulled the clutch cover and it's all chevy just like the one in stock at napa. I had done some previous measuring on my way home from a jobsite. It's a 12" clutch. Still need to find out which chev slave cyl fits the bracket on the bellhousing. I might take the one from the 223 and make a bracket. Heck, I just bought that cylinder in October. I still had some time as my other half was working late, so I heated all the bolts I could find holding the nose section of the truck and got them loose and sprayed them with pb blaster. Here's what I found. Is this all there is? One each side at the bottom corner of front fender, one each side in a window between the door hinges, 3 each side in an 'L' shaped bracket near the hood hinges, and a big stud either side of the radiator surrounded by a spring. These came out at the course thread on the bottom of the stud. I considered that good as I wont have to lift the nose up and over the tall studs. Bad part is I won't be able to cruise over to my buddie's places in it on weekends. I hate it when a running vehicle becomes a dead hulk and can't move under it's own power, but it will be worth it because it's my ultimate tonner build, done my way. So far the truck was 600.00, the 9' box was 600.00, the cummins was 1000.00 and the tranny 175,00. The tires and wheels as well as the sterling 10 1/4 rear axle came from a '92 f350 dually I bought for 200.00 and later sold for 350.00 to the scrappers. Watching 'gold rush' now.......

missed one
 

Hey JB there are two studs on the inside holding the fenders to the cowel. one above the top hinge and a second one halfway down inside the "window" between the top and bottom hinges.Like the shop as well -looks clean, organized ,and well used-- just as they're ment to be. Mark

I have worked for Frito Lay for 22 years as a fleet mechanic, we used to have a lot of trucks with Cummins 4BT and 6BT engines. They had an adapter plate that mated up the same transmission you have, but had manual clutch linkages. They switched to turbo 400's years ago, because they couldn't find drivers who knew how to drive 4-speeds. I have a new clutch and pressure plate in my basement, and I think I have an old flywheel at my shop laying under a bench(not positive, but will check). I also may have part numbers for all the linkage pieces at the shop. I loved the Cummins engines, with the 4-speeds they were bullet proof, and very easy to maintain. I would guess if you wanted to use a hydraulic slave cylinder, it would be very easy to adapt to the transmission.

I ran down to the shop last night with a flashlight and sure enough there was that stud above the door hinge. Looks like I'll have to pull outwards on the rear end of the fenders so I can clear those studs whem I'm removing the nose of the truck. Thanks for the help. Question about terminology.... The term 'front clip'. Does that refer to the assembly of the grille, rad support, inner and outer fenders that I'll be pulling? Sometimes I see 'mustang front clip' in an ad for a vintage vehicle and I know they are refering to the front axle/suspension steering etc. Which is correct? And pepperdyne thanks for the encouragement. I went back and forth many times on this swap, but made my mind up last week. :-jammin

Front Clip
 

GB, I've heard the term used for both items mentioned for so long that I've just gotten used to it meaning 'either or'.
I put a '76 Camaro front suspension under my '56 F-100 and to many/most, that's a front clip.
I also like the looks of your shop and admire the projects that you undertake. I have a '57 fridge waiting in the wings for my attention so am partial to yours.

progress report
 

Not much progress for a Saturday, but we had lots to do. I did get all the bolts for the 'front clip' loose as well as the hood bolts. As soon as my employee and son show up, we'll lift it all off and then I can get down to the nuts and bolts of how I'm gonna support this 700+ lb engine in there. It helps that the frame is huge. When they started this series of F350 in '53, they used the frame from the F4. The engine mounts on the diesel are about mid way down the block and I'm not sure if I need a crossmember at that point or just mounts between the frame rails. The cummins mounts are rubber isolated and at 45 degrees, so I see a couple of pcs of heavy wall tubing comoing off the frame rails at 45 degrees or should I build a crossmember that spans across the frame and has a 'saddle' on it? It looks like I will support the tail end off the rear of the tranny and that definately means a fabricated crossmember there. I'm jumping the gun here.... I'll get some photos after I have a empty frame. Family members have said I'm just like a kid when I dig into something like this...... Thinking I'll buy the clutch, pressure plate and tob from napa. I'll need that to measure the stuff I need for the slave cyl. Pepperdyne, are you wanting to part with your stuff. But shipping?..........

The clutch was free to me, so it would be free to you, it would just cost you shipping. If anyone else wanted one, I have 2 of them. It will help me in the process of cleaning my basement.

Gary, if you wanted, you could drive the box truck over and pick the stuff up. You could swing up by my place for a rest stop and a mere 10 thousand miles later or so you would be home with your free clutch! :-X04

Wow! Thanks Pepperdyne. Work has been slow or I would have already bought the assembly at napa! We should do a measurement check first on account of mine being an 'A' series engine as opposed to the 'B' series in the frito trucks, but using same tranny, it seems quite promising. ..... OK, here goes: Clutch cover, 6 bolts (3/8") on a 12 5/8" circle. Clutch disc can be no larger than 11 7/8 dia. I think the one at napa measured 11 3/4-11 7/8 (it was wrapped in plastic). If this works we can PM the arrangements. Holding my breath in Olga.....

Clutch disc is 11 inches in diameter, pressure plate has 6 holes, they are 12 3/8 center to center, not sure if they will work for you.

Well, It was a great try, but I guess that isn't gonna work. Thanks anyways :-X22

I researched the part number for the clutch, it is for Fords. We had Ford chassis route trucks in the early 1980's with 4BT engines adapted to a Ford transmission, so that is the story on these clutches. Sorry to get your hopes up.

No problem, I did get my clutch kit today from napa. It came with a pressure plate, disc, throw out and pilot bearing. Also a plus was an alignment tool. Got the hood pulled and a few other things disconnected but ended up working late in the shop because of a Friday deadline. Hate it when the dang customers always have to come first.....

Good bye ol' faithfull 223! :'(

I have only driven the 223 for about 15 illegal miles, so it's not like an 'old faithful' to me. Not that it was bad or anything, it's just that my vision for this build included the 210 cu in diesel I had running on a stand in the shop. The 223 had compression of 100 110 120 100 120 100. I think that is fine, but I think I read it was 8.5 to 1 so maybe it should have been more. Neveretheless it will soon be history, Sorry ford purists. I still have the '37 which is quite pure except for a later 8ba flathead, which btw has the distributor in the right place and only one set of points! OK, back on topic.....tonight I installed the clutch and pressure plate so there's no turning back. I measured the pilot 'bushing' about 3 different ways and the existing one was the same size, so I decided to keep the one that was already in the crankshaft. The clutch kit is chinese:'( (napa's best grade) and at least the original pilot bearing is most likely US made with no measureable wear. I smeared some 30 wt in the bushing and the pourous bronze should soak it up for a good many years of shifting. I'll most likely be the only driver and I dont sit at lights (even if we had one on the island) with my foot on the clutch. Tomorrow after work I''l bolt up the tranny...... Oh, and spurredon, if you see a good deal on earplugs somewhere on the mainland grab a couple pairs for me and the little misses!

So glad you are enjoying your Fridge! That is what they are for.

Ear plugs? Now you got me curious! My wife needs ear plugs when I pull out in the morning when I drive the '86, so she tells me. Sounds quiet in the cab but you can tell it's running. You gotta love those Flowmasters!:)

All I ask is that you give the 223 a respectable resting place, like sitting on an old tire underneath the bench or something! I think the front casting of the water pump and water neck are an art form. The whole thing is one of the prettiest little engines Ford has made. Purely subjective of course.

Ear plugs for the rattley, clattery diesel...... Well, the way I blab on and on, she would probably love some. The diesels just have a big draw for me. If I had to figure it out, it was in 1976, driving cross country I stopped at a mom and pop store / gas station in Colorado. There was an old dodge power wagon idling out front with some kind of diesel under the hood. It became etched on my mind. The gmc I have with the cummins was done by someone else and has an automatic. It will most likely show up on craigslist this spring.....I have just wanted to do this once by myself with a ford, and a one ton pickup is just another step towards nirvana. I will treat the 223 with utmost respect and either store it for another project or turn it over to someone else who needs one. Got the front clip off after work and was pleasantly surprised at how sound the sheet metal was under there. The nose is sitting on the trailer frame that the 9' bed came on. This way I can move it around and when the weather warms up I can work on the fenders and paint it inside and out with my homemade rustoleum meadow green.

progress pics wouldnt load up before...

looking good! can't wait to see it sitting between the framerails, speaking of which, as far as mounting it to the frame, here is a pic of mounts to put a 4bt into a jeep.

http://www.jdjeepstore.com/images/T/mount2.jpg

Those mounts look good, but mine on th 6at are on a 45 degree angle... They have rubber mounting pads. The mounts are about midway along the engine block and with the sm465 gm tranny the rear mounts are at the tail end of the tranny. I know it's too early to ask you guys where to build the mounts, but real soon I'll have some pics and some questions. Today I got the correct throw out bearing from napa. It was based on a measurement from a clutch/ sm 465 website for jeeps. Based on the specs from the pressure plate and the bellhousing etc, the throw out assembly came out to 1.410" or what my napa guy said the only application was for a corvair. wtf? Opening the box and wax paper I DO find it's the perfect fit on the input housing for th sm 465 4 spd truck tranny......it's late, over and out

Got in an hour tonight. Coupled tranny to engine. Corvair TOB looks like right match. Now I need to find a slave cyl with 2 mounting ears above and below with 2 1/4" centers. the photo shows some aluminum bracketry on there now that doesn't look like it belongs. Searching on line I found a dodge truck slave cyl form the slant six era that looks close but the centers are unknown. We're going to the mainland tomorrow where they have lots of auto parts stores, so I'll do some looking. Any ideas will help. Thanks

Well, I will admit that your engine is nearly as squared-off and ugly as the truck you are putting it into! LOL! :D It is a match made in heaven! I can't believe I didn't see that before! It is so utility looking it belongs in a Fridge! Kind of would like to have one myself! Did I say that out loud! :-huh

Hey, It was last seen in a UPS truck. Those things make a fridge look like a lamborghini. Maybe it gravitates to boxy squared off vehicles, kinda like some of the folks in this group :-X0A6! Just got off the 1 1/2 hour ferry ride from our day on the mainland. Man, it's scary over there with all that traffic and stop lights and confusion, but I got to compare a lot of clutch slave cylinders........dang they got a lot of those auto parts places over there.

I get scared every time I go to our little town 7 miles away, about 8 thousand folks. Every one is always in a hurry and trying to cut in front of you so they can get to nowhere. Man am I getting old!

Yesterday, (sunday) stuff kept happening that kept me from my goals. (sound familiar?) Tonight after work it was snowing and I froze my hands in my unheated shop working on my slave cylinder bracket and my alternator bracket. Ran into snags on both and came into the house and soaked up heat at the wood stove, then soaked up the hot dinner that was waiting for me. :-jammin March here can go both ways and maybe it will get warmer soon. Either way, I pick away at it. It's what I do.

Well keep on going! It was only ten degrees this morning but suppose to be near 60 degrees tomorrow. I am waiting for a rear emergency brake cable for the Fridge. They are back ordered. I also need to change out the TOB as well. Got the new one all set, just need to move the truck from upstairs in the barn to the shop!

Got home late tonight.... I hear Thursday is supposed to be pushing 60 degrees. I wonder if I can trick my employee to work on a jobsite so I can finally get this stuff done on my fridge.....He is WAY worse than having a wife. sheesh, my soon to be wife brought home a 6 pack for me on Sunday after she picked up atcetylene at napa. and I didn't even have to ask her....:-jammin

What a woman!!

I hired her son to work for me in my shop and slowly I got to know her better. She comes equipped with her own chainsaw (stihl) and a 4x4 ranger pickup. Retired from 20 yrs emt and firefighter (volunteer) and works as a nurse at the medical center here. First date she suggested we go fishing. I'm not making this up. Now I am soooo off topic :-drink. Expect a big day tomorrow for my project. Got all the bolts out and connections undone and I just need to disconnect the speedo cable and the e brake lever and shifter from the tranny, then I pull it in the morning and have the day to clean the frame and paint it and get those engine mounts laid out. The alt bracket is done and just a couple welds needed on the slave cyl bracket...... this photo proves she's a kindred spirit!

Nice build so far, GB SISSON. Awesome find. I can't wait to see the finished product. Subscribed

if we all could be so lucky! congrats!

Just got in for dinner. Clutch slave cyl bracket hung me up for hours, but I did get the engine pulled and decided I HAD to remove the tranny crossmember and make a new one for the gm tranny. I told you it was filthy in there!

Dinner over and now I can post a couple of pics from today.......

OMG, its Ernest Hemingway! :-missingt

Man this project is so cool! How much torque does that Cummins 6AT make? At what RPM?


LOVE this project!

Oh yeah, Ernest, I remember him. He was awesome in 'Ernest Went to Camp', not to mention those epic Ford commercials. Didn't know that was his last name! No, but seriously, the cummins 6AT is indirect injected like my old 7.3 IDI. Some call this type of diesel engine a 'spinner' because they develop their peak hp at relatively high rpms. While no expert by any means I think they have pre combustion chambers, but I don't know why they rev more because of that....The higher revs make it a more direct swap for a gasser because of the similar rpms. Here's the specs: 120 hp@ 3600 rpms, 220 lb ft torque @2000 rpm

You can still raise your arms that high? You must work out! :-X04 And the little 223 sort of looks content sitting there on a tire! Glad you are progressing so well.