Come along for the ride as I share my hobbies and adventures. Lots of custom truck/car content, DIY home projects, and a variety of entertaining videography.
Clearly you deserve High Praise ....You set the level of energy on a project that is a guide for every builder. I have seen many projects in my life, some better than others, but your project, the attention to detail, simply is outstanding.....In my mind you have achieved the highest rating to a project like this one and will remain the perfect example of engineering and design....God Bless you Fella,and thank you...
WOW ! Absolutely love this build ! I am 75 years old. I grew up around early hot rod cars and trucks. Big conventional cab trucks always caught my fancy. I have my own hot rod truck in the shop being built. thank you for showing off the fine work you have done on your truck.
Beautiful truck and amazing work. Your attention to detail and holding on to what you wanted, regardless of the challenges is just first class. You are a clever engineer and tenacious builder with great skills. Just brilliant
I would love to know what HP your DD is putting out. Also your rpm vs. speed and lastly your mpg. As a retired "old school mechanic", I absolutely love what you did. Congratulations on a job well done! BTW. I am on the hunt for a 4-54 or parts. The only real DD 2 stroke (no exhaust valves). Thanks for posting your creation!
I'd like to know how much HP as well. I don't plan to do any dyno work, but I've been impressed with the power so far. With the 7A77 injectors and the upgraded turbo, I'd guess this engine has somewhere around 225 HP. I've had a lot of people ask about RPM vs. speed. Sounds like I need to do another video! Honestly, I've been thinking about how to do a good video that is focused on how to drive this transmission, and how the math works out for final ratios. The transmission has a 0.8 overdrive for 10th gear, and the rear end has 3.55 gearing. It'll cruise at 75 mph at about 2000 rpm. I'll have to report MPG later, as I haven't gotten to drive it enough to calculate it.
@@hanscustomshop Thank you very much for the feed back. Surprised at the 3:55's but a guy can easily drop down a gear or two if needed. Bet you are hovering at around 15mpg. empty and 65mph. Can't wait to find out.
Thanks! I plan to drive it every chance I get. Grocery store, etc. In the next few months I will be mounting an old big rig 5th wheel hitch. Eventually I'd like to build a mini low-boy trailer to haul cars. 👍
I appreciate what you have done with your Diamond T and glad that you kept the original frame. I currently have a '47 Diamond T 404 project that I hope turns out as nice as your '49.
Thanks for your comment. I put a lot of thought into keeping the Diamond T frame or not, and I do think keeping it was the right decision. It's plenty strong. You've got a few more inches of room under the hood with your 404. What are you planning to use for the drivetrain?
@@hanscustomshop I actually have 1 1/2 1947 Diamond T 404s. I want to keep it as original as possible with the original drivetrain even though that means that top speed will be about 40 MPH. I plan to use the second cab, fenders, hood, etc. on a RAM 3500 dually with the Cummins engine. Yes, I know that it is common to use the Cummins but I don't want to over complicate it. With the RAM chassis and drivetrain I will be able to enjoy it at today's highway speeds. Sorry for such a long answer to a simple question.
You have one very nice Diamond 'T' Truck, my friend. If you get a need to sell it you won't have any problem doing that, I'm one of the potential buyers, lol. Everything you told us about the build is locked away right up here between my ears, such a wonderful job. Thank you so much for sharing this video with all of us. BTW, I am now a new subber, left a thumbs up, and a tap on the bell. Thank you again for sharing.
A fabulous build Hans. A real credit to yourself and your talent. The DNA of the truck brining in you experience’s and memories of the past driving trucks blend perfectly. I have just imported a fully restored 1949 Diamond T 306 from Florida down here to home in New Zealand. The truck arrives at our door this coming week. My intention is to customise the Diamond T in the same theme. However we have a Cummins 5.9 turbo going in. We do not have the earlier Detroit engines available here. Impossible to access for us. Again a fantastic build and look forward to seeing more RU-vid content on Diamond T. All the best Hans
Thanks for your kind comment! Sure is exciting to imagine your 306 arriving after such a long journey. Good luck with your modifications and I sure would like to hear more about it. I visited New Zealand in 2013 and had a lot of fun. 👍
Thank you for the reply Hans. I would like to send you a pic of the truck if possible. I am pleased you enjoyed your trip to NZ and had a great time. Regards Darren Buckley
What you might consider is mounting the Jake switch on the upper side of your gear stick so with your hand 🤚 on the stick you can just drop your finger down and flick the switch 😉
Just awesome, I love these old Diamond T's. For some reason I thought that all the Detroit's had to use a rootes type of supercharger. Great job, if I get to Colorado some day I hope to see it person, maybe let us know if you are going to a car show.
You're right... all 2 cycle Detroit Diesel engines use a "blower" to blow fresh air into the cylinders and scavenge exhaust gas out. The blower doesn't increase the pressure of the air, so the term supercharger really doesn't fit. Turbochargers were an option for many of the Detroit Diesel models. The turbocharger feeds high pressure air into the intake of the blower. 👍
In a sea of Cummins projects, I'm glad that it's different... 😂 you absolutely couldn't have said it better! I've enjoyed my 453T Suburban for 23 years now. Now I'm in a 6V project. Thank you so much for sharing all this!!
You’ll really like the V6…..I’d put a “natural” 6V53 with a set of 60’s up against any turbo 453 build out there. A turbo’d 6V53 with a set of 60’s @1.460 should met you in the 275 range @2800 and if you’re willing to spin it to 3,200 could have you at 300hp. From a 318 cubic inch diesel that’s pretty damn impressive. Of course if you can piece together enough 53a Jake masters, drones, bolts and bridges to add those to it you’ll have something even cooler. I had a chance to buy a C70 flat bed with a 6V53 that had a complete working set of Jakes on it for $3,500 a few years back…i passed because the truck was rough and I couldn’t see getting my money back for the motor, a clark 5 speed and an old Eaton 2 speed 21k rear end. Of course a few years later I saw a complete 6V-53A Jake “kit” that were functional but probably needed kits put in them and some wiring replaced end up selling for almost $5k on EBay…..FIVE GRAND. If you’d asked me a decade ago what 5 grand would buy, I’d have said you could get a really nice running silver 6V53TA for that kind of money….or even one of the aluminum 6V’s from the military boats if you could find one. It seems like prices on 2 stroke parts are really skyrocketing these last few years….which is great if you’re somebody that’s been hoarding them for decades, but not so great of you’re one of the dummies who sold most of your hoard before the market went nuts.
Nice truck, looks like you didn;t compromise on any components or the cab and chassis....glad for the detroit instead of cummins 53 jakes another great find..
This is my new favorite custom truck. I have a 35' Sundowner horse trailer with living quarters that I would love to have something just like this truck to tow it with. Man what a fantastic build.
Very nicely done!!! I get it, hard to find the correct front axle but worried that it may be compromised to possible point of failure in the future as the donor axle has cut and weld and pretty sure its a forged piece. I sincerely hope it wont. I wish you would continue to locate a more suitable replacement or at the very least, please consider modifying the original 49 front axle and upgrade with all the modern wheel ends, brakes, and of course use the current leaf/air suspension that you assembled. Just worried about the axle integrity and overall strength. Other than that, one hell of a gorgeous truck!!
The modern axle was professionally Z cut, pre-heated, and welded. Wasn't like I went out in the garage one day with a saw and a mig welder. I have far more confidence in the modern axle. 👍
@@hanscustomshop Awesome to hear, I have seen a few guys do the later that you mentioned, just cut and MIG with no regard to conditioning before and after the repair etc.
I love what you did with the truck.I get so sick of seeing people take a heavy duty truck and put it on a 1 ton Dodge chasis.Thank you for leaving it full size.
Excellent Truck & craftsmenship you have some amazing skills choosing an Diamond T as your chosen subject I think is supreme and I admire attention to detail and happy to see you chose an old school 13spd Road Ranger instead of 20:58 takeing the easy way out like a lot of people would have by dropping in a 5 spd manual or just doing a Allison Automatic
Could you give some more info about the steering gearbox? Im working on a 1933 Dodge 1.5 ton truck and looking for options to replace the original frame mounted push pull style box.
Great question. I believe the part number for my particular steering box is D6HZ-3504-C and is listed as OEM for 1980 Ford C600, C700, C800, and C900 trucks. It is a HFB52 series gear manufactured by TRW. I used the OEM Ford steering arm, and had a custom drag link machined.
Man.... that turbo doin some screaming!! That ol girl wasn't even buzzin as high as she could but that turbo was singing the song of the people. Sounds amazing! What a build!
You're absolutely right... this engine is governed at 2800 rpm and I wasn't even close to that in this video. I'll be making some more videos with a variety of driving conditions... going to be a lot of fun. The Pulsar turbo has been impressive. I've seen over 20 psi of boost at full power and RPM. And plenty of turbo whine!
@@hanscustomshop very much looking forward to it! It seemed so effortless to spin the turbo up. A 4 banger Detroit normally really has to be going to get one moving.
My dad and a friend flew down to Chicago in the early 1950s and picked up a brand new Diamond T from the factory and drove it back to northern Canada. They didn’t stop except for fuel and essentials, drove 24 hours a day, each taking turns while the other slept. From his stories it was a gruelling trip but what an adventure! He said it was a nice truck. They used it for hauling lumber from their mill. Beautiful build. You built a fine machine there!
What a cool story! I wish I knew more about the particular history of my truck. I know it hauled pinto beans in the Dove Creek area of CO, and was last licensed in 1981 before I bought it.
Thanks for sharing such a great project. Who doesn't LOVE the old Diamond Ts. I've always wondered why custom builders don't build a modern version. Again thanks for sharing Job WELL DONE !
Thanks Peter! This Roadranger transmission has a 0.8 overdrive for the 10th gear. The rear end has a 3.55 diff. It will cruise at about 2000 rpm at 75 mph.
Nicely built Hans! I have a 1990 Chevrolet K1500 Fleetside 'Heavy Half' ton pickup that was struck just behind the cab by a motorist who was traveling close to 90 MPH! The truck bed and the left rear axle are needing work. I will email pictures to your dad's email that your RU-vid link was sent
D*mn Hans you did a fantastic job. I have an old International Loadstar I am doing something similar with and most of the solutions you used are what I am figuring to do to - right down to the same air bag and rear end setup. That Detroit sounds so nice I am half thinking of canning the Cummins I already bought haha Again really nice work.
@@MrMattsAdventures Thanks! Your Loadstar looks cool... I've always liked that body style. The Detroit is typically a "love it or hate it" kind of thing. They are cool and unique... but heavy, loud, and parts can be hard to find. Personally, I wouldn't do it any other way. 👍
You bet. I changed to a Masco gear reduction starter (MA-10882 I believe). It's much, much smaller and lighter than the original starter, and was the only way I could get this engine to fit inside the frame rails of the Diamond T. My flywheel housing and bell housing are SAE #2. Clutch is Eaton part number 107683-5. I don't have the part number for the flywheel. If you need help with these items I highly recommend Leid Diesel.
Thanks buddy. My original Diamond T steering wheel was cracked, so I ended up trying to find something close. I ended up with a new wheel that's designed for a 67-68 Chevy Pickup. The 3 spoke geometry isn't identical to the original, but it's a really nice wheel and works nicely with the column. The 2" diameter column is a 28" universal unit from Jegs. I welded a 2" shaft collar to the original steering column mount (attaches to the bottom of the dash)... worked really nicely. What are you doing for the steering gear? I bent my brain figuring that part out.
@@hanscustomshop Thanks, planning on using the stock Diamond T steering, connected to the ford steering box. I’m using a 2008 Ford F550 chassis and running gear. After seeing your steering column and wheel, I might do something similar. Someone used a cutting torch on the Diamond T steering column and shaft, so a far amount of work will be required to repair it. Then the next challenge is find a horn ring and button for it. Might be easier to replace it, but will have a good think on that.
Does that F550 chassis have the S110 rear axle? I really like that axle. Would have gone that route if I could have found a good donor with the right suspension setup.
@@hanscustomshop Yes, has the S110 with 4.88 gears. Will be running a ZF6 and Spicer 7041 behind that so I can have double overdrive. Plan on 22.5 rubber as well.:)