Hey guys, Ever get a bright idea and start figuring things out as you go only to find you are way in over your head? Well, that's where I am. Problem is I am sorta like a pitbull in that I bite down on something and then I am too dumb and too stubborn let go. I got a 1931 Buick that I am shoving a DT466 Diesel (yup a school bus motor) into and I need help figuring things out. Starting with suspension and frame. If you guys are out there. Point me in thie right direction will ya? -Al
Buicks came in many sizes. I hope you have the biggest one I worked on DT466's for a couple years and they are huge...and heavy.. Hamb is mostly for traditional rods and customs, but there are a few threads that were allowed to stay on here about diesel rods and trucks. most are the 4 and 6 BT Cummins, but maybe you can pick up some advice from those guys.
Welcome to the insanity!! Much to learn and share with others here. Hmm, a BIG diesel into a 31 Buick, eh? Well, you certainly didn't pick a cookie cutter project!! My advice it to approach this the same way you eat an elephant...one bite at a time. Due to engine weight, I would recommend not using a light or medium frame. No harm goinga bit stroner than what you'd think. Lighter could be a disaster. Pretty much everything needs to be built up a bit (or more). Keep us updated with words and photos.
Thanks thanks for the welcome guys, The car is great for this project. It sorta looks like my favorite rod syle (model A's), but it is longer and gives me added room. The length also adds to the long signature of the engine. I know my engine choice is not the standard, but I am trying to keep a sort of traditional flavor to the vehicle. I am a big fan of all the old school rodding mags and what I am trying to do is along those lines, but with a new twist: A lot of cars out there have a WWII theme which is awesome. They are a cool tributes to that era. What I am trying to to is a tribute, but to the new war and the men and women I fought it with. I was blown up 4 times during combat operations in Afghanistan and owe my life (literally) to the MRAPs I drove. I think they will find themselves on the History Channel one day. We hated em somedays, but I made them do what no engineer ever imagined and they did it well. The DT466 is the ancestor to the MAXFORCE engines running them. It is all mechanical however and so is the tranny - keeping it budget friendly and traditional (without all the computers and so forth). Okay, so if I have questions about suspension and frame, where should I go on this site to ask questions? I want to do a I-beam type set up, but don't know who to ask for advice?
Welcome from texas... You deff need to build 1 hell of a frame and suspension you need to use all 8 lug stuff from 50s 1 ton trucks for front suspension and rear end you can use a later dana 60 out of a 3/4 or 1 ton...
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