1994 Chevy C3500 Crew Cab Long Bed Build Thread

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meterman

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2wheel drive 4" fab tech spindle lift pro charged 350 super mouse


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JScott23

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Yeah, i had a set of 4" fabtech spindles but I sold them. Got an offer that was too good to pass up.. Can't find another set but i'm okay with it. Stock height is ok by me.

What nerf bars are you running?
 

JScott23

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They look good.

But yeah, i sold my fabtech spindles to another member on here. The 4" of lift would've been nice, and would've given me a ton more wheel/tire options... but idk. if i find another set for cheap i'll buy them, but i got a good price for them, they're in high demand.
 

JScott23

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So it has begun.
The interior has been completed, the buckets bolted in and secured front and rear. Really wasn't that bad, got some square tubing, spaced up the seats to level, drilled new holes and bolted them in.

I started unhooking things last night and pulled the motor tonight. I'm strongly considering buying a 2500 4x4 that i found, which would hault this project once again, but we'll see what happens with that.

Anyways...

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As you can see, not much wiring. Will have sensors for the oil pressure and temperature gauges... plug ins for the TPS and AC and thats about it. I've bypassed a lot of the BS by my prior conversion from electric injection to mechanical injection. Truck is set up a for a carb 350, obviously LS and cummins swap would be awesome, but a little more than i want to do with it. A carb 350 or 383 will be a simple and sufficient motor, especially for what i'm after. I don't tow heavy enough loads to really justify a cummins swap. Although this truck would make an great tow pig...

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Once i'm done with this the truck will get washed and detailed.

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I have done a lot of reading recently on SAS kits. I know the 2WD frame makes things difficult, but i would be open to exploring that avenue in a year or two. Find a 4L80E with a transfer case, get a front axle and do a lower profile SAS swap. (Approx 4-6" lift would be what i would be after.) I'm not sure i'll ever get to it, but i would sure like to SAS it. i think that would be awesome, literally would have everything i could possibly want, besides power windows lol
 

JScott23

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Continued to prep for the gas swap by pulling the gas tank.

Probably going to end up with the GM Performance L31 Crate motor which doesn't have a mechanical fuel pump provision. Now i know a carb motor isn't the most desired preference, but i don't want to spend Cummins/Duramax money, or take a risk on a used LS. A new engine will make me feel better about it, even though its "outdated technology" Whatever, fine by me.

Now since the motor doesn't allow for a mechanical fuel pump provision, That will mean i will need to use a electric fuel pump. Now unless i can make the 6.5 fuel pump sender work with a in tank fuel pump, i'll have to find another place to put the fuel pump. I know electric fuel pumps push fuel better than pulling it, so I'm currently researching to see if there is a way i can use a high volume diesel lift pump to send gas up to the motor from the original diesel lift pump location at a sufficient rate for the carb. Only need about 5-6 PSI for the Edelbrock carb. I think the 6.5 Diesel Air Dog Lift Pumps send about 8. Now obviously i'm in the initial stage of research so who knows, it may not work. I was just checking fitting sizes and PSI ratings of different pumps and decided to check the lift pump ratings. Regardless of what fuel pump i run i'll be using the original Oil Pressure Sensor circuit to run the fuel pump. That way its only pumping fuel when it should be. A regulator up by the carb will make sure we're sending only the appropriate amount of fuel and no more.

I'm ging to attempt to re-use the 6.5 fuel tank (will clean it out) and will attempt to keep the original 6.5 fuel lines with whatever pump i use, and will add a regulator that has a return line to send excess fuel back to the tank. That way i can re-use the entire 6.5 fuel system.

The alternative option is to find a gas truck with an in tank fuel pump and try to make the wiring work. Really want to retain all factory gauges so i'll have to get a schematic and see which wires send fuel level signal back to the truck, then find out how to wire and make the fuel pump run using the wires from the Lift pump which are triggered by the OPS circuit. If i can use a diesel lift pump, or an electric pump outside of the tank without burning through them like hotcakes i'll do that. I know the benefit of the in tank fuel pump is it uses the fuel to keep cool.

We'll see what products are on the market, again, i'm in the very initial stages of researching this.

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Also grabbed some Rubberized undercoating for the fenders and underbody. Started with the front fenders, will do the rest another time. Going to need a lot of undercoating for a 21 ft CCLB.

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Again, as far as the body.... you just don't see trucks this clean in the midwest, particularly a 1994. Big reason why i'm rebuilding this truck rather than junking it. Below is the underbody of the truck bed.

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JScott23

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Thanks man, yeah i've been pretty detailed about documenting this build. It's gonna be pretty sweet when its done.

I could, and probably should do a cummins, duramax conversion, or even an LS swap.... But to be honest, i'll just be happy to use it as a daily driver Don't really need it to be a tow rig. I just like having the roomy crew cab, and the 8 foot bed. If i really wanted a tow rig in the GMT 400 platform it would be a 4x4 dually, and would have a NV4500.

A 350/4L80E will realistically tow anything that i need it to. Plus the bauman US shift controller can be programmed for Normal, ECO, and Tow Modes. Not sure i'll ever adjust the trans settings that much, but the option is there.
 
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I know what you mean. Plus I've towed more then what my truck should have (580c case backhoe) didn't get home very fast but got it all home everyone said I couldn't do it (duramax and Cummins owners) but never can hold back a gmt400
 

JScott23

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I typically am rather conservative about it.. you have to take into consideration.....how heavy? How far? steep hills?

I've hauled trenchers, Kubota's, Small Bobcat's, loaded box and flatbed trailers with each of my trucks and each truck handled those loads fine.... I'm confident the 350 would be fine with any of those loads too.

Now hauling large equipment wouldn't do. I would use a dump truck or something that's built beefier, even if i had the 454 or a 6.5 in it.

For all of the guys that do cummins swaps, you're going to need a beefy 4L80E or an NV4500....better brakes, and air bags in the rear end if you're going to try and haul a ton of weight with a GMT400. In my opinion, however i play it rather safe when it comes to towing.
 
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