Dr Frankenstien gets his hands on a transit bus.

Thanks, stay tuned for the next stage.

Nate, It was good to see your rig close up, that thing is sweet! Sorry I missed you for a cold one, and an inside tour, next time.

Here is a couple shots of the red neck toy hauler:

We saw that, quite innovative.

We had a bit of trouble on the way home, that vibratin bitch rattled a bolt out of the side of the fuel pump and emptied the tank on 287 right where you don't want to have to get fuel.
Luckily some other inmates were near enough to bring us some fuel and KTM bolts fit the pump and away we went.

Trying not to think about how much fuel we dumped on the ground.

We had a great time though, remembered that friggen monster dog of yours from last year.

Ever do the Quarry Run in Hancock NY? That's a good one too.

Wingfixer,

That's an innovative approach to being able to bring one's toys.. But getting the camp trailer off the trailer must present some challenges.

Timmer

:huh Why wouldn't you just leave it on the trailer? -David

I'll bet it comes of easily, but getting it back up there would be the challenge. Maybe a come-a-long or several friends.

jdg

We had thought of leaving it on the big trailer but if we left it aligned, as in the picture, that first step was a bit tall, and the awning was un-usable. Turned side ways, the leveling jacks where swinging in the breeze. We did decide to roll it off, easy as gravity does most of the work. Getting it back on was an easy three man job but I do have a winch I will use in the future.

This is still a work in progress and ultimately we want to just extend the frame on the pop up to load the bikes on.

Thread jack off.

He loves to camp, might have something to do with all the food he gets...

I have thought about that ride, several guys from the group I ride with have done it. I might have to make a trip north next year!

It's a nice thread, but not enough to get me to do that.

It's funny how big an impact a little information can have.

I finally pulled the rear diff cover off to figure out for sure what ratio was in there.
The original ratio was 4.68, I figured the current gearset couldn't be lower than 4.10 given the tire size and the current top speed.

I was wrong.

3.73 is what's in it now, this led to the calculator coming out.

Supposedly there is a 3.23 ratio available but the lowest I've seen listed is 3.31.
Things being as they are now this would increase the top speed by 8mph to 75 mph.
But when factoring in the 600 rpm I'd give up with the 8.3 i'm back down into the 60's.
This is unacceptable and based on my calculations, without an overdrive transmission I'm fucked.

Allison doesn't make an overdrive transmission that isn't electronicly controlled to my knowledge.
As of right now the engine swap is on hold while I brainstorm a solution.

If nothing else happens I will install a 3.54 gearset and run it with the 5.9
this will lower my rpm at 65 by 5 or 6% and shouldn't negatively effect towing.
I don't think she could pull 3.31 gears with the camper in tow.

On a positive note she gets 13.5 mpg when not towing, not bad for a 12,000+ lb vehicle.

That's it for now.

Huh. Well, damn.

Have you considered installing a Brownie box?

I did, and I may look into it a little further. Do you know offhand how much torque one can handle

WOW....no kidding!! :eek1

x 2 with the Brownie.

Not sure of the specs, but they sure ran alot of 'em in the old log trucks around here if that's any help! 4x4, and 5x4 were very common, and can still be found out working today...albiet rare.

It should be even better with 3.54 gears too.

From this web page: http://www.6066gmcguy.org/spicer-5831-b.htm
The 5831 three speed's were rated for 275 ft. lbs and 150 HP.
These were used in Chevy 5500 series trucks in the '60's.
I don't know what type of payload they were rated for, I'm thinking it would be hard to overload one in a typical pick-up.

I know heavier duty four speed's were built as well.
Try a search on Spicer auxiliary transmission.

That's what I thought about the torque.

I did a search last week and have been mulling things over since.

A solution will present itself.

Gearvendors overdrive?
They might have something to hang off the back of an Allison.


http://www.gearvendors.com/

They don't, would be nice if they did though.

Here's the figures.

With the 8.3 and 3.31 ratio my top speed would be 59 mph.

Brownie box .82 overdrive raises speed to 70.

Not too bad but not worth the effort IMO.

I don't need to do 80 mph but that's the top speed I'm shooting for making cruising at 65 possible without the engine being wound out.

An Allison 3000 series transmission has 6 speeds with both 5th and 6th being OD. The problem is controlling it and $$$$$ to buy one.

I do recall looking at a truck once that had a mechanicaly controlled DT466 and I believe an Allison 3000. I may look into this.