My other project - Animal

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Wageslave

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Jan 25, 2017
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The other project that I have been working on is my 1991 International 4600 Crew Cab. It has a 12' flatbed an a 7.3 IDI diesel.


It used to be an old IDOT truck, then was used to haul carnival rides until I bought it. It needs a little engine love and a lot better gearing, but I can say that it will pull stumps out of the ground easier than a Kubota tractor and it sounds awesome.
 
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Wageslave

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Jan 25, 2017
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So I have been thinking more about this project, and I am beginning to wonder if I should do something different with the drivetrain.

It currently has a Navistar 7.3 IDI diesel with a AT545 Allison transmission. It is not fast, but with 5.38 rear gears it will pull about anything. The motor has a knock from a wrist pin on the #8 cylinder. Not terrible to fix, but a rebuild kit is $1500 and up and I can still only go 55mph.

I was thinking a 6.0 LS and a 6L80 would be just as powerful as the old IDI and would be a little more streetable. I would lose some of the cool factor of the diesel engine, but having a workable big truck that could go down the interstate might be worth the effort.

What do you guys think?
 

Injectedcutty

G body LS mafia
Nov 24, 2014
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I'm not super knowledgable in the diesel world, other than driving my International work truck that has a Cummins that will run 80mph all day(well except for hills lol).

However, UPS has been running 6.0L LS engines in their delivery trucks for years. Reliable...yep, highway capable...you bet your *ss! Also, add in the fact that parts are cheaper and they are easier to diagnose, to me it's a win win!
Sure you might lose the cool factor, but build it for you. If anybody tells you to swap to another diesel, hand them the parts list and cost and tell them to foot the bill!

Obviously that's just my .02.
 
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86pontiac2+2

Greasemonkey
Jul 14, 2016
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The 454 will yield lots of torque but the fuel efficiency won't be there of you wanted to go gasoline. There is also the 6.2 which used in the Cadillac and Denali trucks. Both of these will work with OD transmissions. Cummins is another excellent option. Those low geared rearends though. What is the purpose of your build?
 

Turbo Zach

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Sep 8, 2015
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You could find a two speed rearend. 7.3 are good engines, but expensive. So are Cummins.
 
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Wageslave

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What I eventually want to happen is that I can throw a drop-in camper off of a pickup on the bed, and be able to tow a 18' car trailer with a car or truck on it cross-country. The thing is rated at just under 26,000lbs so the suspension should have no issues, but it is a long trip to anywhere when you are pushing a diesel to the governor just to go 55mph. I have already looked at gearing, but road gears are expensive and hard to find in those old Eaton rear axles. A 2 speed would be nice, but I would have to convert one to hydraulic brakes and they are typically 5.XX in high and 7.XX in low range.

The Cummins option would be so much easier, but where I live they are insanely expensive due to every a-hole with a little bit of money needing one to get to Wal-Mart and back.
 
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Wageslave

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Jan 25, 2017
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The 454 will yield lots of torque but the fuel efficiency won't be there of you wanted to go gasoline. There is also the 6.2 which used in the Cadillac and Denali trucks. Both of these will work with OD transmissions. Cummins is another excellent option. Those low geared rearends though. What is the purpose of your build?

This thing gets 5 mpg when loaded according to the previous owner, so if I could get 9 with a different setup I would be in hog heaven.
 

DRIVEN

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Apr 25, 2009
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7.3 is a pretty common engine so a replacement shouldn't be tough to find if yours lets go. I'd be tempted to just run it until it blows. Might bed a week, might be a decade.
Have you considered a Brownie for extra gearing?
 

Wageslave

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Jan 25, 2017
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Have heard about them, but they are also kind of rare and I didn't think that they played well with an automatic since you had to be in neutral to engage them. Never actually got to use one in real life though.
 
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