1950 Chevy 6400

[mr.mindless]

Every time I look at the Ram it has more issues. Not unexpected to see it turn strictly into drivetrain donor.

[TrailTamer]

Leaf spring beam axle, reportedly.
 
I wonder if spring dims match the 95-97 Dana 60 housings I have on the shelf. And if knuckles could just swap like on my Ram between beam and 4x4 axles? Bolt patterns could get complicated to maintain. Rear is clearly 8 lug but i expect bigger than standard 250/350 metric Ford. Along with gear ratio fun.

Knuckles will swap, but it’ll be a downgrade in brake and F450/550 have wider wms-wms, so it’ll be noticeably narrower if you use 95-97 Ford D60 housing as-is. Although that may work in your favor if that will help line up with 1950 chevy 6400’s fenders. Also, 99-04 f450/550’s knuckles will bolt on 92-97 Ford D60.

I’d keep the metric bolt pattern & either find 99-04 F450/550 D60 or cut up the beam & turn it into D60. But that’s me. Lol

The plow truck I got my donor engine from, was a disaster also. I don’t think I’ll ever consider an ex-plow truck to use it’s chassis.

[mr.mindless]

Don’t know what knuckle swap you’re thinking that would downgrade anything?

Beam axle knuckles on 97 d60 housing is what I’m wondering about.

Any idea what the bolt pattern will be?

[TrailTamer]

Don’t know what knuckle swap you’re thinking that would downgrade anything?

Beam axle knuckles on 97 d60 housing is what I’m wondering about.

Any idea what the bolt pattern will be?

F450/550 run big brakes (require 19.5” wheels to clear!). 95-97 Ford brakes sucked for me. I was eating rotors like crazy until I upgraded, fwiw.

F250/350/450/550 use “same” 8x170 wheel bolt pattern unit bearings. Only main differences are in lug studs (srw vs drw) and/or mounting bolt threads (fine vs coarse).

Yes, 450/550 knuckles should bolt right on to 97 D60s housing.

[M4wdFab]

i just quoted a project out very simlar to this- 70's dodge on a 94 cummins-   so looks like you get a head start.  picking up 1st half Thursday.

[mr.mindless]

You’ll finish sooner, job is taking all my brain again!

Hope your 94 is cleaner than this 2k. Should have more pictures of the f550 frame soon

[TrailTamer]

i just quoted a project out very simlar to this- 70's dodge on a 94 cummins-   so looks like you get a head start.  picking up 1st half Thursday.

thats awesome. i'll like to follow this, as I want to fix up my truck somehow... I just don't know yet on what body to replace the shitty 2nd gen ram body with.

[M4wdFab]

im sure its a pile, was put into a ditch.  motor already pulled.  its a 4x4 with a trans and case thats getting pulled.  he has a different 12v with built trans that was put into the 70 chassis but builder bailed on him. 


changing directions and im cleaning up the mess with time and materials. 

[mr.mindless]

Got spring measurement on the f550 to compare.

Thing is 24’ overall with 200” wheelbase. That might end up getting shortened a bit, idk yet. Loooong truck.

Will get the body off the ram and make the call based on frame condition once I can see it all I think. But I already know of one pin hole so I think I know the call.

[mr.mindless]

Ram frame looks usable. Lots of cleanup needed. So much cleanup.

2002 F550 spring widths are wider than the 95-97 f350 axles by about 4”

I think I’m gonna run the Ram frame and keep simple and save money even if it’s not quite a 16k gvw buggy hauler, as long as engine lays out okay. If I’m making motor mounts anyway it may change my attitude.

Engine lengths are a good match between chev and cummins but radiator to front axle is different by 12-13” so that’ll be something. That’s probably where the vans win out with the engine pushed further forward than a modern truck.

[mr.mindless]

Key won’t crank.
No start when manually triggering starter. Tightened loose starter bolts

Codes for “CAN bus failure to VP44” and “companion module failure”. I’m thinking I managed to disturb power to the cummins ECU somehow.

Key off isn’t killing dash power either, it behaves like there’s a latching relay that isn’t unlatched. Key on powers up but only pulling a particular fuse powers off. ASD is triggering properly. Did ground the ECU, chassis probably not well grounded.

Want to check myself as I go and see this thing run again.

I do have docs on 24v standalone, may start from there instead of paring this down if I can’t find that fault. Should at least give me which pins to chase if nothing else.

[mr.mindless]

No crank was neutral safety. Case was in N but trans in 1 instead of P. Dummy.

The power back feed is coming through the fuel system relay. And the no CAN persists.

[mr.mindless]

Fuel pump relay is not being grounded by pcm. Cause unidentified. Packbrobe at pdc and apply ground: instant start and run.

[mr.mindless]

this is a sweet well thought out detailed pre-planned project. engine is too far forward in the chassis vs the chevy. I don't think there's any way around moving the engine back about a foot, or moving the axle forward just as much.

now I know why VANS.



back to thinking about that other frame if there's drivetrain moves needed anyway. Zero other advantages to it: the lug pattern on there is useless, it's specific to just f450/f550 of a pretty narrow range of years (99 to 03/04?) so no wheel other than stock 19.5, and unlikely to find used adaptors to anything else. 8x225, rather than the 10x225 of everything else heavy+modern. There are some 22.5 tires that are a very good size match (235/80r22.5 is almost the same as the 8r20 on it now), but 22.5 HD stuff is 10x285. no cheap steel take-offs sitting around from anything.


It would take as much work on the '50 frame to beef it up enough for modern power and brakes as it would to move the engine.

Shame steel is so expensive now. starting from scratch has sudden appeal.

[M4wdFab]

bummer.  that extra 2 cylinders and the intercooler just doesnt help you.