6BT, CUCV Axled M715 Build

[randyscycle]

One big thing I have found with most every dual-battery diesel arrangement is that no matter how great the batteries are, the connection between the two of them and the cables to the starter are very important to keep both clean and in good condition. Otherwise, you really are only trying to start and charge only one battery.

[defbob]

What about the dual battery isolater kits?

[randyscycle]

What about the dual battery isolater kits?

An isolator is used when you want to charge two batteries from one alternator, but only drain one, in a situation such as a motorhome, RV, or other application where you may need 12 volts to power accessories, but still need a starting battery.

Most 12 volt diesels pair up two 12 volt batteries in parallel for the extra amperage to light the glow plugs and crank over the high compression that diesels rely on to ignite diesel fuel.

[Octamog]

Cool build!

Sent you a P.M. regarding your transfer cases.

[coreyallan]

Barrman, nice build. Sorry to hear about the judicial system dissarray... Did you perform the same front axle mount mod as Randy?
Also, can you take a pic from directly in front of the truck and directly in back of it, I would like to see the tack width..

[Barrman]

No on the front axle mounts. These are CUCV axles that were modified to be spring over in a M715 by somebody else. The truck didn't drive good, so they were made to be spring under. That didn't drive very good, so the axles made their way to Sermis in a trade. I think a few other people had them in there as well. These axles had been welded on and ground on a good bit before I ever saw them.

We just put the bare frame with leaf springs on the axles, rolled it onto an alignment machine and kept twisting the front one until they met the specs for a 1984 K20. Then welded the mounts in at that angle.

Using some of the supplied mounts that came with the axles, we made a mount for them. We are about to the point that it needs to go back on the alignment machine for final fit before we take it all apart to paint. I will post up pictures and a report then. The camera has been living in the welding shop for the last few weeks, so I can't do any picturs now.

[coreyallan]

Alright, understood.... Looking forward to your continuing progress. Subscribed...

[sermis]

Any progress yet so I can start to drool a little?

[loosewrenchcowboy]

its been a while since anybody posted on here. any progress on this project?
with regards to the coolant heater-try looking in the junkyard or scrap yards for a 1970's motorhome. i found several heaters (3)i pulled from a dodge executive model-its kinda like the "mojave" heater they sell at quadratech jeep and a few other sites. its a setup for the cj-5's and older jeeps. basically, its a heater core in a steel box with a blower motor on it. it mounts in the cab, and is about 12x12x12 inches square, mounts on a flat surface with 4 bolts, and uses 2 wires for the blower and 2 hoses. easy fit. some of them have a cable actuated door to run a defroster with a 2 inch tube outlet built in. you just need to add a cable or vaccumm heater coolant selector valve under the hood to stop the flow of hot coolant into the heater. hummers and 70's and older trucks had em. saw a hummer unit on ebay today for $20

[Barrman]

No, no progress on the truck. We basically had no school the entire month of August. Then, after telling us no to air conditioning our classes. We got a yes because some bucket of money still had some left at the end of the fiscal year. I now have eight 6 ton a/c systems in my class because there was money to buy them. But not money to install them. I have too many blind spots in my room now to let the students work.

Hopefully soon.