Cummins Built Not Bought/The Life of Frankie.

[Irish-Mike]

I've been following this thread from the beginning. At my age, I'm not easily impressed, but I am seriously impressed by this build. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to see it finished.

 

[Admin]

 

[Coeus]

I've been following this thread from the beginning. At my age, I'm not easily impressed, but I am seriously impressed by this build. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to see it finished.

Yea, we all can’t wait to see the finished product! Love the daily updates and seeing everything coming together!!

 

[CumminsPusher]

I've been following this thread from the beginning. At my age, I'm not easily impressed, but I am seriously impressed by this build. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to see it finished.

Well thank you. It’s kinda fun documenting projects, actually helps me at times if need to go back to something. There’s things that would cross over to someone else’s project and maybe they can learn what not to do lol. Try to be somewhat detailed both good and bad, I do tend to show my mistakes and what learned.
This is the largest scale project since my bus and since I’m not made of money sometimes things are slow and painful, I’ll go the hard way instead of the easy way but it’ll get finished soon.

 

[Coeus]

Well thank you. It’s kinda fun documenting projects, actually helps me at times if need to go back to something. There’s things that would cross over to someone else’s project and maybe they can learn what not to do lol. Try to be somewhat detailed both good and bad, I do tend to show my mistakes and what learned.
This is the largest scale project since my bus and since I’m not made of money sometimes things are slow and painful, I’ll go the hard way instead of the easy way but it’ll get finished soon.

Yea I need to get me a project like that so I can keep learning new things!

 

[CumminsPusher]

Yea I need to get me a project like that so I can keep learning new things!

One suggestion. Don’t be a cheap ass if you do. It causes a lot of blood sweat and tears. Lol

 

[CumminsPusher]

Cab lights in. Not the factory ones, I like these a lot better. Went clear so they aren’t quite as obvious. Wife and I decided awhile back since she’s going to have big hips in back, might as well look the part. I do believe it’s safer too, you tend to make room for a semi coming at you. Won’t miss this one.

 

[CumminsPusher]

New glass will be here tomorrow so trying to button up the headliner crap today, at least good enough it can stay in. Pulled it out and ran wires for the new dome light, while it was out threw in some sound deadening.
Non headliner trucks had insulation in between the two metal panels, which this truck was. So it’ll have that then new headliner and now sound deadener as well. Should be pretty well insulated up. Another 30lbs lol.
Left the edges alone otherwise the new headliner would struggle with fitment, it’s close.

 

[Russ989]

Looking good CP.

 

[trigger]

Cab lights in. Not the factory ones, I like these a lot better. Went clear so they aren’t quite as obvious. Wife and I decided awhile back since she’s going to have big hips in back, might as well look the part. I do believe it’s safer too, you tend to make room for a semi coming at you. Won’t miss this one.
View attachment 259177View attachment 259176

Put a set on mine too a couple months ago. A $67 option when they made the truck cost me $600, factory lights, harness and install. Considered doing it myself but you don't just drill a hole anymore, the lights are square cut through the roof.
Just a fun fact...did some research before buying them as to what they're actually for other than looking BA. Read where it's required whenever something 8' wide or more is being towed.

 

[CumminsPusher]

Figured this noteworthy. Even though I repaired the broken up donor dash (rough life) I added an extra screw all along everything where it mounts up. Being on dirt roads as much as we are I didn’t want it breaking up again. Also added double back tape along the mounting points where screws are to really hold it in and not allow vibrations. Like everything else it got all new screws, used newer trim style for these. This was last step to the dash.

 

[CumminsPusher]

Put a set on mine too a couple months ago. A $67 option when they made the truck cost me $600, factory lights, harness and install. Considered doing it myself but you don't just drill a hole anymore, the lights are square cut through the roof.
Just a fun fact...did some research before buying them as to what they're actually for other than looking BA. Read where it's required whenever something 8' wide or more is being towed.

Apparently here they are required if the vehicle is a dually, not that I believe they’d bust you for it.

 

[Russ989]

Figured this noteworthy. Even though I repaired the broken up donor dash (rough life) I added an extra screw all along everything where it mounts up. Being on dirt roads as much as we are I didn’t want it breaking up again. Also added double back tape along the mounting points where screws are to really hold it in and not allow vibrations. Like everything else it got all new screws, used newer trim style for these. This was last step to the dash.
View attachment 259412

Neoprene washers can do wonders as well. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

 

[CumminsPusher]

Neoprene washers can do wonders as well. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

Ya I hadn’t thought of that. Feel dumb, would be simple and cheap too. Good call!

 

[Russ989]

Ya I hadn’t thought of that. Feel dumb, would be simple and cheap too. Good call!

I help where I can, I used them in an old F150 I had to settle the door rattle that wouldn’t go away. I don’t remember who told me about them though, been a few moons ago.

 

[CumminsPusher]

I help where I can, I used them in an old F150 I had to settle the door rattle that wouldn’t go away. I don’t remember who told me about them though, been a few moons ago.

Wish you’d brought that little gem up a month ago lol.

 

[Russ989]

Wish you’d brought that little gem up a month ago lol.

You can’t rush perfection. 😆

 

[Boundertom]

Cab lights in. Not the factory ones, I like these a lot better. Went clear so they aren’t quite as obvious. Wife and I decided awhile back since she’s going to have big hips in back, might as well look the part. I do believe it’s safer too, you tend to make room for a semi coming at you. Won’t miss this one.
View attachment 259177View attachment 259176

When I first read this I thought, Wow, he's making cracks about his wife's weight? It took a few seconds for the light bulb in my head to come on! Good job!

 

[CumminsPusher]

When I first read this I thought, Wow, he's making cracks about his wife's weight? It took a few seconds for the light bulb in my head to come on! Good job!

Lmao! Yes referring to the dually hips.

 

[CumminsPusher]

Been dreading this but wasn’t bad. Needed to add the transfer case shifter and linkage. Some adjustments had to be made because this transfer was never paired with the 4500 5-speed.

here’s the new mount to the trans that was installed awhile back. Looking down through shifter hole in floor.

And an original first gen gated shifter. Notice the far out shift gate was used.

had to grind off the stud that the handle pivots on, cut 7/8” off then grind down the end till it fit in the hole and weld up.

here’s piece I cut off the stud and had to match to fit back in.

Had to then cut down the nylon spacer between mount and handle as well.
Added a bushing that keeps spring centered and a nylon washer (should’ve been like that at factory) to help from binding then cleaned up and a little paint.

this all will allow shifter to be centered in the factory hole The lower nylon guide was moved to other side, I screwed up in hurry leaving my work.

tightened everything up and made a little clearance, there won’t be that shifter rattle that’s common.

 

[CumminsPusher]

Busy night. new window rubbers

New windshield

and very good slider installed