My 12v cummins build

[1500ram12]

This past weekend I picked up a 1990 (originally thought it was a 89) w250 5.9L 12v cummins with 121k miles. I wanted a project truck to work on. Today was the first day I had a chance to go through it. It's a little rougher then I hoped. I expected to replace the cab corners and rockers and some body panel's or patch them. Just about every panel, cab mounts need to be replaced. The frame is technically solid but is in worse shape then expected. The part that is going to be harder than I thought is the interior. It does have the dash which is in really good condition, the dash bezel and cluster. But seems to be missing a lot of electrical components. I've figured some things out. But don't know what's missing or maybe just didn't have anything to it. But going into I knew even if I couldn't repair the body I basically payed for the motor/drive train and axles.

Finding individual used pieces is proving to be difficult and expensive.

So my new game plan is to find a donor truck. Either do a engine swap depending on frame condition or swap bodies.

I'm waiting for some more pic's on a potential donor truck. Of course it will be another 12 hour round trip.

Here are some pic's of its current state















2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[392DevilDog]

Projects are always fun then they start out more than expected.

Good times. Hope the donor truck works out.


These were my projects from a few years ago. Whatever you do do not sell it when your done...you will always regret it.

I sure know I do.

 

[1500ram12]

Projects are always fun then they start out more than expected.

Good times. Hope the donor truck works out.

View attachment 211868 View attachment 211869
These were my projects from a few years ago. Whatever you do do not sell it when your done...you will always regret it.

I sure know I do.

Yes they are. It wouldn't be so bad if I had all the interior/electrical parts. I could figure out where they went and deal with fixing the body. Not knowing what's missing and trying to find parts piece by piece is expensive. It's crazy how a whole truck is worth less than its individual parts. I'll be able to sell the drive train out of the donor truck for almost more than what I'm paying for it.

Definitely will not be selling it unless I absolutely have too.


2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[392DevilDog]

That was my issue with the yellow truck. Paid 650 bucks each for both of them.

Got the yellow truck knowing it needed tires and then realized, damn 2 grand, the truck aint worth that.

Then I needed a clutch and linkages were screwed up...another 600...don't make much sense.

I drove the heck out of them before i parked them to begin the work...then no time, then no money, then I sold them.

It is a vicious cycle.

 

[1500ram12]

Not much done today. Labeled some wires. Struggled to get the snow plow frame off, well most of it. Took the grill/surround off. Prepping for the possibility of pulling the 12v out. Should find out tonight if I'm getting a donor truck or if I'll have to keep looking.




2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

The donor truck I was hoping to get now I'm not sure of. The seller is being awful shady about getting more pics (it's 6 hour's away from me) and I thru him a offer of $300 for it and didn't even think about it and said yes. So I'm thinking it's in way worse condition then the pic's he did post show. Don't want to spend 2 day's traveling for a rust free donor truck. My cab isn't bad, replacement doors are fairly cheap so are fenders. It's the interior parts and electrical components that I'm missing are what scares me. Waiting to hear back from a local person who's parting out a 93 d150 on what they want for the dash and seats (need the seat frame that bolts to the floor). Hopefully whatever I'm missing will be interchangeable with that truck.


2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Picked up a used dash and some interior pieces and a bench seat out of a 91 w150. Grabbed the cab side wiring harness also to compare connectors.





2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Bought some Eastwood Rust Encapsulator Platinum and some extreme chassis black satin. Going to order some more chassis paint. I'm sure 2 quarts would be plenty but want to have more on hand just incase




2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

And pulled the bed off. Little bit of a pain in the ass doing yourself without any way to easily move it. Can be done by yourself. Wouldn't recommend using metal saw horses. Stupid legs kept collapsing in. Granted they started out on a slight slop and ended up on "flat" land. Bed is up against the tree so shouldn't really go anywhere.





2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Hopefully end of next week I'll be able to get it in my garage and get the front end off and the cab so I can start cleaning the frame up. My potential parts/upgrade list is growing every day. Still on the hunt for a donor truck.


2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Well no progress has been made. Wife's truck is still in the garage. Should hopefully have it out this weekend.

But the 90 may turn into a 92. Picked up a 92 w350 w/360. So once I get things torn down I'll see if the 12v will be going into the 92 or most of the 92 will end up on the 90 chassis.





2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Finally in the garage. Let the fun begin

Thinking I may build the the 92 also, but will be a toy.












2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Doesn't look like a lot was done but took all day. Fenders and inner fenders are off. Drained the radiator and removed it, core support is off. Dropped the fuel tank. And took the doors off the donor truck






2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Started on the 92. Bed is off, grill and driver's fender.




2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Added some parts to the 92. That'll be moving out of the garage soon. Thinking about taking the steering column out of the 92 and using it on the 90. Of course the connections are different. I have some wiring diagrams for both years so this weekend I'll try and map out how to splice the 92 into the 90's wiring harness.






2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Not much done lately. Few small things. Prepped the cab to be removed. Just have the the cab mounts left. Decided to swap steering columns/wheels. Connectors and wiring is different. So spent some time going through wiring diagrams and harnesses to see what's what. I had a cab side harness off a 93 (same as the 92) so I cut that up to make the conversion harness. Got the ignition figured out I believe, and a majority of the wiper/turn signals figured out. won't know for a while if it works. Checked the gear ratio between the two and surprisingly they are both 4.10's. So I'll be switching front axles. The 92 has the new style locking hubs which I want, so I can upgrade them at some point.


2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

New addition to the garage



Spent a good 6ish hour's cleaning up the 12v. I'm probably 60%-70% done with what I can reach. Hopefully will get the cab off tomorrow and swap axles.


2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Axle 1 off


Axle 2 off


And axle 1 on truck 2


What a pain. Little hard with limited room and no lift and 1 person. Definitely getting a couple wheel dollies when I'm ready to put the other axle on


2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Parts truck in its resting place for a while



And she's *******





2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman

 

[1500ram12]

Degrease, Degrease, degrease. Probably have close to 20 hour's in degreasing and cleaning the engine, trans and transfer case. On the home stretch. Should be as close to done as I can be without tearing the motor down. Few areas that I want to revisit then move onto cleaning the frame, mostly with a wire wheel.


2018 2500 6.4L Hemi Tradesman