Todd Build Thread

[ggdad1951]

Dash mods for the Dakota Digitals.

[John-T-53]

I forget, were you going to use the right side dash opening as well?

[ggdad1951]

14 hours ago, John-T-53 said:

I forget, were you going to use the right side dash opening as well?

 

For SOMETHING...I just don't think gauges over there make any sense...too far away and bad angle.

 

Maybe a clock or charging ports...I'm sure I'll think of something.

[Radarsonwheels]

Gauges are looking cool GGdad! 
 

Fwiw I put fuel and volts on the passenger side- I mostly glance at the fuel once or twice a ride and glance at the volts after firing up. The speedo and more importantly tach live front & center. 

[ggdad1951]

Cowl vent in....under 12V power!

[Lingle]

did you custom build the linkage for that vent?  I cant recall but I was thinking you made the actuator and linkage, unless there happens to be a off the shelf kit for it.  keep up the good work!

[ggdad1951]

41 minutes ago, Lingle said:

did you custom build the linkage for that vent?  I cant recall but I was thinking you made the actuator and linkage, unless there happens to be a off the shelf kit for it.  keep up the good work!

 

Off the shelf actuator from Millstone (https://millstoneautomotive.com/pcavgmc.html).  I had to build the mounting bits tho as they don't carry a Dodge version for a direct drop in.  I did cut appart the vent and tweek it a bit to better match the curvature of the cowl.

[ggdad1951]

Put the new wiper moptor in, complete with twisty mount bracket.

 

 

[Radarsonwheels]

That wiper motor looks nice! I gotta get a new one- mine is the (original?) dual motor setup and the passenger side is kaput. The driver’s side works ok in a pinch.

 

What motor did you go with? Did it need the linkage customized to get the throw right? 

[Steve-L]

Love the motorized cowl vent. Excellent find. 

[ggdad1951]

1 hour ago, Radarsonwheels said:

That wiper motor looks nice! I gotta get a new one- mine is the (original?) dual motor setup and the passenger side is kaput. The driver’s side works ok in a pinch.

 

What motor did you go with? Did it need the linkage customized to get the throw right? 

 

I got the kit from Newport Engineering.  Came with new linkage arms and you can get switches as well (altho the delay won't fit in stock location as you can see).  All you need from the original is the wiper pivots.

[ggdad1951]

Evaporator mounted.  Sadly with the FW change I have to shift it to the pass foot well.

 

 

[ggdad1951]

and glove box

 

 

[ggdad1951]

AC condenser "mostly" in....likley I will weld the Z brackets to the frame to avoid the bolt plates I had made to get it all mounted to the frame rail tho....might wait for that till the cab is off next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[John-T-53]

Interesting idea. Why is it going down there? And will there be any concerns about rocks hitting it? ?

 

EDIT: I see now. Looking at the pics of the radiator, you already have two radiators up front and not much room left before they hit the grill. Is the front radiator an Oil cooler? Forgive my ignorance, lol.

Edited December 7, 2022 by John-T-53

[ggdad1951]

14 hours ago, John-T-53 said:

Interesting idea. Why is it going down there? And will there be any concerns about rocks hitting it? ?

 

EDIT: I see now. Looking at the pics of the radiator, you already have two radiators up front and not much room left before they hit the grill. Is the front radiator an Oil cooler? Forgive my ignorance, lol.

 

Yah, no room up front.  I will already have to trim the grill bars to get things to fit.  The rad and CAC (intercooler) are just oo thick.  I had ZERO desire to move axels and such to get things to line up right (4 bar front on this guy) with teh wheels.  I will be putting an expanded metal gaurd over the bottom to keep crap out.

[ggdad1951]

fan shroud

 

 

[ggdad1951]

Dropped the rad/fan assy in last night.  OOOO boy is it tight!  But clearance....is clearance.  I have about 1/4" on the passenger side.  I will modify the mounts to allow me to loosen and tip the assembly forward for serpentine replacement (thank you middle of the night engineer brain).

 

 

 

 

 

[bkahler]

Wow, that is tight!

 

Out of curiosity how rigid are your motor mounts?  My only concern would be on a hard stop while driving on the fast side.  Any chance of the engine moving forward in a situation like that?

 

[ggdad1951]

46 minutes ago, bkahler said:

Wow, that is tight!

 

Out of curiosity how rigid are your motor mounts?  My only concern would be on a hard stop while driving on the fast side.  Any chance of the engine moving forward in a situation like that?

 

 It's a BIG engine and the mounts are massive, as is the trans mount...I'm not too worried about a forward shift in the engine/trans.  A valid concern, I'll try to remember to show the motor mount at some point...the thing is ~4" in diameter.  Luckily the only thing that might hit the fan(s) would be the tensioner on the passenger side, thinking the platic fan will crush/compress pretty easily, plus there is 1/4" of foam spacing the shroud from the rad itself.

[ggdad1951]

11 hours ago, bkahler said:

Wow, that is tight!

 

Out of curiosity how rigid are your motor mounts?  My only concern would be on a hard stop while driving on the fast side.  Any chance of the engine moving forward in a situation like that?

 

here is the engine mount..about 3.5 to 4" in diameter....torsional movement yes....front to back...likley not

[DJ194950]

45 minutes ago, ggdad1951 said:

here is the engine mount..about 3.5 to 4" in diameter....torsional movement yes....front to back...likley not

??

 

Good to go side to side for sure, just do not add the bigger blowers or turbos and injectors just yet.

[ggdad1951]

10 hours ago, DJ194950 said:

??

 

Good to go side to side for sure, just do not add the bigger blowers or turbos and injectors just yet.

 

nah keeping the engine pretty much stock....at $5 a gallon efficiency is more important than adding HP/torque to an already beast of an engine.

[TravisL17]

Nice job on the rad mounting. As for the clearance, it's close but I've worked on worse serp belt set up. Ever changed a serp belt on a Super Duty 6.7? Those are a fun time.

I'm enjoying seeing the progress updates on TODD.

[ggdad1951]

Last day of vacation burned, but I got the passenger side drip rail fab'd and welded in.  Being the back half fo the cab is a B1, the rail is different so I carried that thru to the front as well.  Also allows me to get some seam sealer in there when the time comes to keep the rust monsters at bay.