Tow Pig / Daily Driver Build

[mjonesjr]

I grew a set of big cahona's today and drilled 15 holes in my roof to mount a set of cab lights.

I found them in a local junk yard and got them and the factory wiring harness for $15.

I had a tough time deciding how I was going to get to the center of the truck without standing on the cowl. I rigged up a little walk board between 2 work benches (yes the ladder is designed to work like this as well).

Cab lights mocked in position. I used the masking tape to mark the roof and to keep from chipping the paint when I drilled. I got lucky that my brothers '89 F-350 with factory cab lights was parked next to mine in the garage so I could use his a measuring truck.

I decided it was better to create my own wiring harness because drilling the roof to a size large enough to fit the factory wiring end through was something I didn't want to do; not to mention that snaking the wiring harness through the roof.

Here is a finished product. Looks a ton better with the cab lights.

I also got some more parts for my electric fuel conversion. Now just waiting on my pump and filters to get here. Both should be delivered on Thursday. I plan on doing the install next week.

 

[mjonesjr]

I shot a couple pictures in my front yard after mowing today. It is nice to be able to look out the front window and see corn field and not city buildings. Yea, I'm pic-whoring a little.

 

[Maverick]

I see the diesel mod bug has bit you lol. You have more mods done in four months than I've done in three years. It's a slippery slope my friend, be careful.

 

[86 slo-vo]

It is nice to be able to look out the front window and see corn field and not city buildings.

which is why i want to get the hell out of the city. im just one of those people who wasnt meant to be here lol

truck looks good man.

 

[wahlstrom1]

I see the diesel mod bug has bit you lol. You have more mods done in four months than I've done in three years. It's a slippery slope my friend, be careful.

^^^^ TRUTH!!!!!^^^^

I'm on the same slope... barely hangin on, hahaha

 

[mjonesjr]

I see the diesel mod bug has bit you lol. You have more mods done in four months than I've done in three years. It's a slippery slope my friend, be careful.

Unfortonately, my fuel system upgrade is because of a leaky stock fuel pump. I can't afford to have my drive way resealed every month because of the diesel fuel eating it.

The diesel mod bug does suck though. I am going to have to slow down a bit if I want to buy another Jeep or finish finishing my basement this winter.


I got the rest of my fuel system parts today. Now I just have to get misc. parts and fittings to finish. I should be able to start making a mount for the filters Sunday. Hopefully I will be able to start on the fuel and 1.0 housing install on Wednesday morning when I get home from work. I am looking at about 8 hours of work to do the fuel system install by myself.

The block of aluminum is the banjo block that I got to reuse the stock steel fuel feed lines going to the heads. I didn't want to have to fab my own up. Fuel pump is from a 7.3 with 35,000 miles. Hopefully it last a while.

I also picked up a wiring harness so I can add the relay and the fuse to the factory fuse box so the install and wiring looks a little more factory.

My FleetFilter.com order also came today. I got all the filters for my fuel setup, an oil filter for my truck, a coolant filter setup for my truck, an oil filter for my wife's Jeep, and a stock fuel filter for a 7.3 (I thought it would be longer before I did the electric fuel swap, dang stock leaky fuel pump) for $150 shipped. Every filter was more than half what the local parts store was on the exact same filter.

 

[mjonesjr]

I got my pump and filters mounted today with what plumbing I could get done and still be able to drive the truck using the mechanical pump.

I am going to build a skid plate for them when I get done so they don't get hit by anything.

I also got my oil pressure switch mounted. I had to use a close nipple and a coupling to space it out far enough away from the oil cooler.

More to come tomorrow as I am going to be doing the wiring for the system then.

 

[mjonesjr]

The more I thought about it tonight, I didn't like the inlet of the fuel/water separator pointed straight at the drive shaft so I made a slight modification.

Before:

After: Aimed more toward where it goes.

 

[mjonesjr]

I got my regulator mounted. It was quite easy. It is all tucked up nice and neatly under the engine cover.

After getting it mounted, I decided I needed to turn the gauge out so it could be read without taking the engine cover off and using a mirror. The change isn't pictured.

I also got my banjo block all ready to go in when the mechanical fuel pump comes out. I put a tee in it so I could mount a gauge on there to check the fuel pressure and eventually mount an in cab fuel pressure gauge sending unit.

While messing around I decided to check my glow plugs to see if they needed to be changed because I was getting a small amount of smoke on a cool summer morning when the truck was first started. While pulling 1 plug for them out I noticed the front passenger plug was burnt on one end.

I got it swapped out and it even starts easier now.



More to come tomorrow when I start removing the stock mechanical fuel pump.

 

[mjonesjr]

Well I took the plunge today and ripped out the fuel bowl and stock fuel pump.

Everyone says this wire is a pain in the but to get out with the fuel bowl and they wind up cutting part of it. If you unplug the 2 connectors on it that doesn't go to the fuel bowl, it will come out with the fuel bowl and you can feed it back through the bowl with no cutting necessary.

I had a good scare when removing the fuel pump. I guess this is where it was leaking from as it finished breaking off. Luckily the cam shaft lobe was in the up position to hold the plunger in place. Once I got the o-ring out, this pulled out with a pair of needle nose pliers.

There was a lot of crap and debris under the fuel bowl and the pump. I had to use a shop vac to get it all out and not drop it into the hole in the top of the block.

Everything is mounted and ready for wiring now. I am going to do the wiring tomorrow after church so hopefully she is back on the road again tomorrow. There is no turning back now.

 

[mjonesjr]

I got her on the road. I have a small leak in the banjo block so this week I am going to get rid of it.

The truck is completely different now with the e-fuel setup. It has better throttle response, builds boost faster, and less throttle to get the same result as before.

 

[mjonesjr]

Here is a picture of my PSI gauge on the regulator.

This thing is running like a beast. I love it more now than I did before with the mechanical fuel pump.

 

[wahlstrom1]

Hopefully the e-pump does the same for my cummins, it seems to run outta fuel in the upper RPM's with the pump turned up now. Time for guages!

Looks like your makin good progress, whats next on the list?

 

[mjonesjr]

Hopefully the e-pump does the same for my cummins, it seems to run outta fuel in the upper RPM's with the pump turned up now. Time for guages!

Looks like your makin good progress, whats next on the list?

I don't know much about the Cummins engines, but an electric fuel system swap couldn't hurt!

I have everything but pipes to get my intercooler installed. Hopefully I get those sourced soon so I can get it installed. I think it will help a bunch with performance.

My next big upgrade to the engine will be injectors and high pressure oil pump to run them. It will be a while though as I'm going to wait till I start having injector issues with the stockers. Injectors and HPOP will run about $1,200.

Realistically my next thing is a sprayed in bed liner.

 

[mjonesjr]

I had to change out my GPR last weekend.

New and old together.

Old

My factory starter decided it was about time to die. I guess after 14 years and 116,000 miles that is ok.

I got a new DB Electrical high torque starter delivered yesterday. That thing is a beast.

Here is the old one and the new DB Starter.

Here is the DB installed.

The way the DB starts the truck is a COMPLETE different. It turns the truck over a lot faster than the factory starter ever thought about turning it over.


Here is a short video on how it starts now.