M715 Crew cab project.

[FSJeeper]

After a lot of consideration and mind changing, I have finally made up my mind on the details of the M715 crewcab project. I am picking up the cab in a couple of weeks and I'll start putting it all together.

The body is a mint M715 front clip and military bed attached to the FSJ browed 4 door FSJ crewcab Goldhammer built. The bed will most likely have to be cut down to fit the wheelbase.

Chassis is a rustfree Chevy 3500 1 ton crewcab chassis. I chose this because Chevy parts are plentiful and cheap. The crossover steering, suspension and a number of other issues are a simple bolt on affair.

Axles are early Dodge Cummins version Dana 61 front and Dana 70 U rear. These are unique in that they are designed to run 3.07 gears which is perfect for this application. They will be completely gone through and all of the usual mods made to them. Not sure what lockers are available for these axles but hopefully I will be able to run selectable lockers. If not it will be good posi's. This truck will be used on the road mostly. Tires will be new 38" Michilin XML's on Hummer H1 12 bolt beadlock rims which should put me right at 1900 rpms at 70 mph.

Engine is a HD 12 valve, mechanical rotary injection pump model Cummins 6BT with 60,000 miles on it. The reasons I chose this particular model are many and I'll do a separate post on it cause it would be too long here. Lets just say this model develops gobs of torque instantly and in a very useful manner. A modified injection pump, intercooler, new custom turbo and and injectors will bring me to about 500 HP and 900 ft lbs of torque. I have Freightliner big rig motor mounts on it which are going to make swapping this in a breeze. I bought a twin piston big rig air compressor for air brakes that bolts to the engine and a beefy Hyd pump for it. I'll be able to run ANY air tools I want to and power winches with the Hyd pump as well as the steering and anything else I can think of. I should get 20 MPG easily. The only downside to this engine is that it will be a lot noisier than a later 600 series Cummins but the advantages of it outweigh the noise factor.

Transmission is a big rig Allison that has been totally gone through, the usual mods made including the full manual valve body. It has a full lockup torque convertor. This model Allison is basically a clutchless HD manual transmission which includes compression braking. Transmission Fluid capacity is 16 gallons which I am sure thrills Janie. Gear ratios are 4 to 1 1st, 3 to 1 second, 2 to 1 3rd, and 1 to 1 4th. Thus the need for the 3.07's in the axles.

Tcase is going to be a HD divorced mount Rockwell with 1450 joints front and rear and positioned so both shafts are the same length and swapable.

I have always thought a crewcab M715 running a souped up Cummins is the ultimate truck. I can not imagine anything better looking than this. I can't wait to get it done and on the road!

[Fiodh. Argus]

wow! that's going to be something, can't wait to see it.

[Lindel]

You should name it Torque-Monster or something like that!

[AlsChopShop]

that thing is going to be sweet! :thumbsup:

Al

[jaber]

OK, I'll be the first......

:worthless:


:D:D:D

[FSJeeper]

OK, I'll be the first......

:worthless:


:D:D:D

LOL, as soon as I get the cab back from Northern Colorado I'll take some picks of all of the parts that are going into the project.

It is definitely is going to be a torque monster. I am a bit worried about the axles being strong enough with the tire size and the power it is going to have, but there is nothing bigger out there with the 3.07 gear ratio which is perfect for this truck. I thought about running a brownlipe OD in it so I could run bigger axles but I think I'll be fine if I don't do anything stupid in it.

[Mikel]

Very cool... I can't wait to see it come together. Now, you have to promise us you are going to finish it! :thumbsup:

I'm doing something somewhat similar. My J300 now has the same D61/D70U w/ 3.07's, with a 4BT and NV4500. The transfer case is a divorced NP200. This puts RPMs at 1650 at 65MPH. Given that this will be used mostly on the road and will do little towing, I think it will work fine. 4th gear puts me at about 2050 RPM's, which should do OK for the rare tows it will have to do.

[janie]

Now, you have to promise us you are going to finish it! :thumbsup:




He will. :thumbsup: FSJeeper has alot of support here and this girl will be happy to help turn some wrenches.

[Stuka]

Does anybody else have a sence of deja vu here? ;)

[FSJeeper]

Does anybody else have a sence of deja vu here? ;)

LOL, I guess you are reminding me of my old Choptop days. I am definitely going to finish this one.

Here is a pic of the cab:

http://froadin.com/pascal/crewcab1.bmp

[FSJeeper]

And this is a photoshop version of my next project that the crewcab is going to tow:

http://froadin.com/pascal/short_m715.jpg

[FSJeeper]

OK, here is a photoshop version of the project. The bed will be cut down to 6' though and it will not be that long.

http://froadin.com/pascal/m7crewcab.JPG

[jepj2000]

That cab is so clean. I can't wait to see this thing under way. It is going to be a real bad son of a gun.

Rankin

[Stuka]

wow, thats going to be one of those mile long trucks :P Should look pretty good. Nice job on the cab.

[mcinfantry]

i cant wait to see your progress. you have ALWAYS had great ideas!

i like your tire choice too. how did you solve the tire issue? the xml's are 16" and h1 12bolt rims are 16.5".

[BRUTUS]

LOL, as soon as I get the cab back from Northern Colorado I'll take some picks of all of the parts that are going into the project.

When and where in NorCol?

[FSJeeper]

When and where in NorCol?

Sorry, I meant Northern Califonia, Fort Hood. I will be coming through Wyoming and Colorado to pick up a FSJ truck bed in Littleton for Elliot hopefully before the 15th of August.

[Hammer]

I better step in and get it right.
Far Northern California, Fort Jones ;)

[Hammer]

There is the cab btw.

[Lindel]

The cab by itself is a work of art. Excellent job on the fab work!

[Elliott]

Sure makes me want to break out a torch!

[FSJeeper]

Sure makes me want to break out a torch!

Well, if you are seriously interested and tempted, I have an extra Chevy 3500 Chassis, nice Wagoneer Body, and some Jcabs/beds laying around with nothing to do.

I couldn't get past the bodywork involved in the project but Goldhammer saved the day when he sold me his cab.

[Hammer]

Or you could just take this choptop off my hands ;)

And yeah, you scored a great deal on that body. Perfect for what you have always wanted.

[Elliott]

Well, if you are seriously interested and tempted, I have an extra Chevy 3500 Chassis, nice Wagoneer Body, and some Jcabs/beds laying around with nothing to do.

I couldn't get past the bodywork involved in the project but Goldhammer saved the day when he sold me his cab.

I am seriously interested but between finishing grad school and this job full time I barely have time to get to anything on the current trucks... much less work our horses or even ride. I do have a good wag body, a set of dually pickup tons I could pull from the '80 truck and TH400/205, but my first intention is to get my '65 moving along and it's going to be December before I have a chunk of time again.:rolleyes: One of these days though, and your rig will definately be an inspiration.:thumbsup: I was thinking to stretch a JTruck frame to kinda keep it all in the family sorta thing... I'd be needing at least a couple cabs unless my '80 truck morphs into this.

[mcinfantry]

are you re shelling the hummer h1 rims? im interested in how you are getting those to work, i like the h1 rims.

[FSJeeper]

are you re shelling the hummer h1 rims? im interested in how you are getting those to work, i like the h1 rims.

I like the H1 rims very much but I like the performance and the durability of the XML's better. I had a brain fart when I said I was running the XML's on the H1's. Won't work. I could go up to 20" XML's and run military beadlocks that are very similar to the H1's but I'll probably just buy some 16" rims and be done with it. I really don't need beadlocks for what this truck is going to be used for anyway.

[mcinfantry]

****!

oh well.

im running chevy aluminums on mine. i had them blasted and then just sprayed them

[Hammer]

I really don't need beadlocks for what this truck is going to be used for anyway.

What he means to say is.
"I don't run less pressure in the tires, I put more foot on the gas pedal":omfg:

[Phillips889]

What ever happened with this?

[FSJeeper]

This project has moved off dead center and I am back on it. I have most of the parts I need and am working on the cab now.

[Elliott]

Yeah... and I'm still moving off center too... ;) :thumbsup:

[Diesel YJ]

The cab by itself is a work of art. Excellent job on the fab work!

X2 :)

[Brizio]

Good job!!!

[Lindel]

Good to see you "back in the saddle" Pascal! So to speak, that is.

[FSJeeper]

I have spent the last couple of months getting organized and focused on this. It is sad this stuff sat so long and some of it is going to need some TLC to get it where it needs to be. Luckily the cab has been stored well and in excellent condition. The previous owner and builder of the cab did a great job on it.

You know you have been out of touch too long when you loose a mint M715 cab on your property in overgrown brush. I could not remember where I put it. Finally found it. I have a tree with a 6" trunk growing right through the tranny tunnel and was not looking for it with a tree growing through it. I have sprayed the brush around it and will take pics of it before I cut the tree down to get the cab out. It is hilarious!

[chr1s]

You know you have been out of touch too long when you loose a mint M715 cab on your property in overgrown brush. I could not remember where I put it.

lmao

You gotta post pictures of that!

[bigun]

This project has moved off dead center and I am back on it. I have most of the parts I need and am working on the cab now.
Holy snot look who the cat dug up!!!

[76FSChief]

Looking forward to seeing this project done. Lots of interesting aspects to watch so how can ya not be intrigued. :thumbsup:

[krek]

Oh Noes! :eek:

I have to get to work and finish a project before you finish this one.

Good luck, can't wait to see the progress!

[bigun]

Oh Noes! :eek:

I have to get to work and finish a project before you finish this one.

Good luck, can't wait to see the progress!
You better get to hopping!! I really wouldn't worry to much though Pascal hasn't finished one yet

[FSJeeper]

You better get to hopping!! I really wouldn't worry to much though Pascal hasn't finished one yet

Hey, thats not quite true Bigun! In 1997 I finished a total restore of a J-20
which turned out really nice and served me well for years until it got wrecked. The circumstances of the wreck were very embarrasing to me and the board members had a lot of fun with it. The oldtimers here should remember that one.

[bigun]

Hey, thats not quite true Bigun! In 1997 I finished a total restore of a J-20
which turned out really nice and served me well for years until it got wrecked. The circumstances of the wreck were very embarrasing to me and the board members had a lot of fun with it. The oldtimers here should remember that one.
Before my time LOL

[Lindel]

That was around the time I joined the mailing list IIRC.

[Phillips889]

Glad to know your back at it but if you decide to sell that cab.... :D

[Stuka]

I'll believe when I see it :P

[Hammer]

Oh Noes! :eek:

I have to get to work and finish a project before you finish this one.

Good luck, can't wait to see the progress!
I would put money on you being able to take your sweet time and still finish before Pascal does ;)

I can at least say I drove the heck out of my cherokee with M715 fenders for a while. Of course that project got stuck in mid upgrade.

It seems like a VERY contagious disease that we have both caught from Pascal

Yeah, that's it, I blame it all on him!

[amcpsycho2]

Looks like a great project!I've often wished I had a crew cab J truck,I'm getting too many grandkids to ride in the truck!As Larry the cable guy says...GIT ER DUN!

[FSJeeper]

Progress Report on the Crewcab project. It has been sold to another member of this board who I am confident will actually finish it. With work being what it is, I would never have time to finish it. I already have two Crewcab Dodge Cummins trucks anyway.

I am glad someone here got it that appreciates it and is committed to finishing it. He already has a daily driver Cummins J20 to use as the basis for the Crewcab.

This Crewcab has been around. Started out in Oregon with the guy that did a fine fine job on the build, it moved to Texas, and now it is going to the East coast.

My total focus is on the Wagoneer Cummins project. I already have the body off the chassis ready for the new Dodge Cummins chassis.

[bigun]

Progress Report on the Crewcab project. It has been sold to another member of this board who I am confident will actually finish it. With work being what it is, I would never have time to finish it. I already have two Crewcab Dodge Cummins trucks anyway.

I am glad someone here got it that appreciates it and is committed to finishing it. He already has a daily driver Cummins J20 to use as the basis for the Crewcab.

This Crewcab has been around. Started out in Oregon with the guy that did a fine fine job on the build, it moved to Texas, and now it is going to the East coast.

My total focus is on the Wagoneer Cummins project. I already have the body off the chassis ready for the new Dodge Cummins chassis.

You better get to hopping!! I really wouldn't worry to much though Pascal hasn't finished one yet

Hey, thats not quite true Bigun! In 1997 I finished a total restore of a J-20
which turned out really nice and served me well for years until it got wrecked. The circumstances of the wreck were very embarrasing to me and the board members had a lot of fun with it. The oldtimers here should remember that one.

ROFLMFAO Oh my that is just to funny

[grand_wag_85]

That Jeep has gone further than any of mine do that run:thumbsup:

EDIT:
How did you extend that roof and make it look so good?

[bigun]

That Jeep has gone further than any of mine do that run:thumbsup:

EDIT:
How did you extend that roof and make it look so good?
Work was done by goldhammer who unfortunately because of a heart condition can no longer work his magic. Also unfortunately the pics have been lost

[grand_wag_85]

Work was done by goldhammer who unfortunately because of a heart condition can no longer work his magic. Also unfortunately the pics have been lost

Gotcha. A real work of art:thumbsup:

[JerseyJeeps]

Any further updates on this? I hear it is on the east coast now, so if the project is ever for sale again, please let me know. I am looking to build a crew cab as well. This thread came up when I was googling "Jeep Crew Cab" ;)

[JerseyJeeps]

Any updates on this? See my post above ... Thanks :thumbsup:

[maximum destruction]

i was curious about u're axle decision. who made a dana 61, & where did u find tons with a 3.08 gear? i thought ford had the highest ratio at 3.54 & dodge had a 3.55. chevy only offered 3.73, 4.10 ,& 4.56. a buddy has an m715 with a 4bt, nv4500, & chevy tons with 4.56. he is running 11.00x16 michelins & gets over 20mpg.

[brushawg]

I was looking for updates as well. Now that I'm close to the east coast.

[jeepmj_tj]

I bought the cab from fsjeeper. I had hope to have the swap under way by now, but financially I cannot. I am slowly trying to finish some body work to the cab that needs a little attention from sitting outside all those years in tx even though it was covered. where the brow welds to the upper windshield frame and rain gutter wasn't fully attached or has come loose needs to also be cleaned up and rewelded and where all the body work was done the inside of those panels needs to be stripped and clean to get rid corrosion.

arriving at its new home almost a year ago.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/jeepmj_tj/IMAG0141.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx200/jeepmj_tj/IMAG0144.jpg