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barrman : Observations
Observations
Post by barrman on Jul 11, 2006, 9:06am
I don't get to daily drive the M715 anymore like I did for years because of fuel cost. So, now when I do get to drive it, I notice more stuff. I know a lot of people are upgraded their trucks for daily use and thought I would add some of my observations.
Rear Locker: Great add on. Really fun in the rain with the 230 and NDT's. Can you say powerslides? The big block makes the locker almost dangerous in the rain. I also eat up tires if I don't keep them really high psi. 35 + for front NDT's and 80 for XZL's.
NP200 straight through conversion: Didn't help the over heating at all. But, no noise sure is nice. I would save your money for a NP205 if your choice is straight through or a swap. I decided to gamble on the heat and lost. They are about the same price. I will now have a really really expensive NP205 since I have done both. ($175 VPW straight through conversion kit 12/03, $100 NP205 11/05, flanges and yokes for NP205 $50-$100.)
Big Block V8: Amazing. Being able to pull a trailer loaded down and a bed full of stuff and still pass people is great. Plus, the sound is just music to my ears. Side exhaust sounds good, but heat dictates that you should run it out the back with the mufflers under the bed.
NV4500. Being able to do all the stuff above, plus get 12-13 mpg on the highway is really cool. The only complaint I have about the NV is the long shift throw. I grew up driving sports cars and racing SCCA stuff. Trying to do a heel/toe downshift with the NV4500 doesn't work all that good. I doubt anybody else will notice this though.
Corvette MC: My old mc was bad and I had to replace it anyway. This dual line mc stops the truck great. I would recommend that you lengthen the push rod though. I had a lot of trouble at the FE because of it. My engine didn't like the hills and stalled some. My foot was so far down on the brakes, that I couldn't get any part of it on the gas to restart. Again, probably just something I would notice. But, since I didn't lengthen mine in anticipaction of a Hydroboost in the future. I can only blame myself.
Michelin XZL tires. Looks alone should sell you on these tires. Road manners are great, they don't rub and once you air them down to around 10-15 psi, they do great in the dirt. (I tried at 80 and got stuck a lot.)
Roadster doors: I really like these things when I am in shorts and playing around on dry days. Driving to work in nice clothes and it is raining, drizzle, run off from a sprinkler, gets picked up by the front tire, I wear it. I can slide in and out of the gap when in shorts, but not in jeans. They fit great until yesterday when Colton decided to use the passenger door as a swing. I have to refit the hinge/latch now.
Roll bar/ bikinni top rack: I love having the top off my truck. I hate having to bend down my head to get in under the stock top bows or a hard top. Making a seperate bikinni top rack makes this a true topless truck and so much more fun to drive. Especially at night.
On Board Air: I love it. Kind of a hassle to get it right. But, it sure is usefull. I couldn't have done what I did with my trailer tires/wheels at the FE without it. I then blew up a hose and had to use DP's oba to finish airing up my tires the last night. Thanks again DP! I would recommend oba or some kind of air tank.
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luckypabst :
Re: Observations
Post by luckypabst on Jul 11, 2006, 10:08am
Cool post Tim!
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boghog :
Re: Observations
Post by boghog on Jul 11, 2006, 10:48am
Wow! Thanks, After reading that I have changed my plans. Its a pleasure to learn from others experiences, cost less too. LOL. Thanks again
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barrman :
Re: Observations
Post by barrman on Jul 11, 2006, 8:53pm
I drove home and remembered what I think is the most important modification as far as driving pleasure. Power steering! I added it 4 years ago when I still had the 230. I am so used to it that I don't even think about it any more. At the FE, I made it up a few trails before others. I would walk back down and advise the next one up on what not to do. Those without ps put me straight that my idea of "go up there, turn real hard, go a few more feet, turn full lock the other way and then..." was not to their liking. I think some of the guys would have looked like body builders if we had stayed a few more days.
I have a 66 K20 that I built years ago, but didn't add ps. I don't even want to start the truck hardly. Especially since I have 35x12.5 BFG tires on it.
Another mod I don't think about anymore is the lock out hubs. They work and everybody knows how.
If I had another stock truck that had a good engine and was going to build it up to handle 95% of the terrain I have ever seen trails on and didn't care about going more than 50 mph. I would add front and rear lockers, lock out hubs, power steering and Michelin tires. That is it. Several stock 230 powered trucks kept up with a pair of big blocks and a few small blocks at the FE. The lockers are the great equalizers. Power steering is for comfort and "want to drive it ability." Lock out hubs make the front locker streetable and the tires speak for themselves, plus they actually increase your speed from 50 to 54 without hurting the t-case.
Didn't mean to ramble on. Just remembered a few more things.
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hiker :
Re: Observations
Post by hiker on Jul 11, 2006, 8:56pm
Great info.
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oilcan :
Re: Observations
Post by oilcan on Jul 12, 2006, 5:12am
Good post man.
When I got back from the FE, I also made a list of mods that would make the truck better the next time out. First up was more experience. There were a lot of times when someone who knew what they were doing would have had no trouble with my truck where I was having fits. Of course that experience takes time, and it ain't free! I can't argue with the locker business at all, either. Since I can't afford one right now, I almost talked myself into welding the spiders up. Had a whole conversation with Doug about it. I'm still on the fence. Maybe I should wait for a real locker...
Since I went from a set of square-profile tires to the XL's, I haven't had as much trouble out of the non-power steering. I've never driven a truck with NDT's, so it might not be that big of a deal. A power setup is on the list, but it's not the highest priority.
Diesels are good on hills, if you have the traction. No carb to ruin your day.
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compexp :
Re: Observations
Post by compexp on Jul 12, 2006, 12:04pm
power steering was a major improvement for me. Also, moving the driveshaft, as you mentioned - saved what's left of my hearing.
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barrman :
Re: Observations
Post by barrman on Jul 13, 2006, 11:52am
One other thing to add. Well, actually two.
Joe's M715 with the 454 and TH700R4 went over just about everything he tried at a nice slow pace with him in complete control. Not all of us with standard transmissions can say the same. Matter of fact, his truck went over some obsticles with very young and inexperienced drivers that the rest of us never made. I wanted to make sure that he and his truck got attention I think it deserves.
I don't like automatics for several reasons. But, if I was going to build one of these trucks to play in the rocks, I would really look into that option.
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blairdes :
Re: Observations
Post by blairdes on Jul 13, 2006, 6:05pm
Tim,
What do you think of the cummins 4bt? The next purchase for the rebuild is the engine. On the fence between the cummins, a straight 350 or a 383 stoker. Any thoughts?
Rob
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tacomainoh :
Re: Observations
Post by tacomainoh on Jul 13, 2006, 6:20pm
Timmer:
your prejudice against automatics is the last vestige of Old Skool Thinking. I know because I was the same way: they are finicky, they overheat, they're full of tiny parts, grrr
A big cooler and a competent builder are what you need and you will never look back... at least if there are any hills around. All my junk will be automatic forevermore.
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joeia :
Re: Observations
Post by joeia on Jul 13, 2006, 9:03pm
I had reservations initially about the auto for wheeling myself, since I was used to a manual. I had mine built by a shop that apparently knew what they were doing because it has held up well for the last 10 years. It actually makes it easier to go over some obstacles without abusing the truck too much. It even will hold fairly well while going downhill, better than I expected.
It has also hauled numerous, very heavy loads with no issues so far.
The 30% overdrive also makes the truck much more drivable on the road.
It's also easier for us "old folks".
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jeepistdougiowa :
Re: Observations
Post by jeepistdougiowa on Jul 13, 2006, 10:28pm
Quote: <TABLE class=bordercolor cellSpacing=1 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE class=quote cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">
Joe's M715 with the 454 and TH700R4 ....
....Blah blah blah....
....I wanted to make sure that he and his truck got attention I think it deserves.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Oh man, is his head ever gonna swell now.
Just kiddin!
On a serious note, I've had the pleasure of wheeling with Joe quite a bit, it's not just the auto trnny, he knows what line to take, and how to make his truck work to it's fullest. You can learn a lot just watching the ole guy...the other cool thing is getting in on all those senior citizens discounts when you go to dinner with him.
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barrman :
Re: Observations
Post by barrman on Jul 14, 2006, 8:40am
Tacoma,
I know I am stuck in the past. I drive a 40 year old truck as a daily driver. My daily driver car is a 40 year old Mini. I have been "forced" to ride with my wife to work for the last year in a 2000 Suburban. Every chance I get I drive one of "my" vehicles I do it. But, after watching Joe and his truck at the FE and then talking with him a while about the transmission and what he had done to it. I am more open minded now. I also noticed that all of the big 3 are selling diesel trucks with higher rated engines in front of automatics for the first time.
If I were to start all over from scratch on another truck, I would look real hard at an auto. The price will be about the same as buying a new NV4500 with all the fittings and stuff. Plus, after my toe surgery last winter using my right foot to slam on the brakes really hurts. I had to spend the last day at the FE driving in sandles because my foot was so swelled up. Being able to use the left foot to brake would add a lot of comfort.
Rob,
I drove Lee's 4BT truck around in 2nd gear 2 years ago. Other than that, I have never driven a 4BT. That being said, I was impressed with it. I have seen a lot of projects on the internet with that engine. Bob Cowen thinks they are better than sliced bread and he has probably 2000 square feet of every engine imaginable sitting in his shop. The only diesel at this years FE was the only vehicle not to stall at least once. Diesels are more efficient engines than gas. They last longer when properly cared for and run a lot cooler too. The only negatives are the high initial cost, more weight and the few components that can break cost a lot more than gas stuff.
I think you should only put one in a 3/4 ton or heavier vehicle. I would recommend an axle swap if you are putting it in a M715. 400 pounds more doesn't seem like much, but by the time you add taller tires like the Michelins you are looking at more than 600 pounds of constant stress added to the axles. Plus, you won't go very fast with a 3000 rpm redline engine with the stock gears. 4.56 is about the highest you will want with an overdrive. Cost and longevity wise, open knuckle D60 axle in the front is about the smallest you will want.
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brute4c :
Re: Observations
Post by brute4c on Jul 14, 2006, 8:53am
Joes driving skills are far beyond what mine will ever be...his ability to pilot an M725 at the Iowa Regional was amazing...he was driving it because the owner wasnt sure it could go through a tricky section without laying over...Joe made it pratically look like he was driving on flat ground...
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gimpyrobb :
Re: Observations
Post by gimpyrobb on Jul 14, 2006, 9:43am
I think the 725s are more stable than alot of people give them credit.
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joeia :
Re: Observations
Post by joeia on Jul 14, 2006, 2:32pm
I believe the weight distribution of the 725s can help in some of those situations.
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redneck1 :
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blueridgekaiser :
Re: Observations
Post by blueridgekaiser on Jul 28, 2006, 11:34am
i agree on the automatic. you just need a good builder to upgrade a few parts and for about the same price you will not look back.
