MudBus

[TEXAS MUDBUS]

This sucker has been ongoing for years and I only occasionally get it dirty just because it's so impractical. It started as an '89 1/2 ton all stock but with a 6" Skyjacker lift on 35 BFG ATs I bought as was back in '07. Old Red went everywhere with me (because it was my only truck but shhh, don't tell him) on roadtrips, beach cruises, and thru the nightlife. Then one fateful trip to Spring Creek the motor went swimming with me in a chest deep hole, and took in enough water to spin a crank bearing and gave it a knock so nasty, it sounded like someone threw a pare of boots in the dryer. So I curbed it while I brought parts together and I thought, "why not do it all in one fell swoop?" And that was the beginning of the end right there. After a tour in Iraq I came home, dusted it off, and a knocking motor turned into a curbside motor swap into a carbed conversion, 1 ton axle swaps, beefier transmission and transfer case, new seats, exhaust work, everything under the sun. But it all took so long and I never got the dang motor to work right so it sat in the driveway again for another year. Then my old wheelin buddy told me he was selling his that had a 454 and it was all running and good to go. I was just excited to have another running 'burban so I couldn't pass it up. I bought his, got all my good parts, and sold off the shell to Old Red and now I'm here with this big black ugly son of a beastie.

As it sits now it's got a completely different powertrain from stock, and most of the interior has been removed.

The Good:
RUNNING turnkey 454, mostly stock but with Edelbrock cam and intake, Jegs longtube headers, KN air filter, and FOUR E fans
TH350 shifts great
NP208
D70HD rear 4.10 welded with DIY4X disc brake conversion
D60 front 4.10 open, Warn hubs, ORD crossover steering kit
6"lift
Hummer 8 bolt beadlocks with TWO full sets of 37 Goodyear MTs

The BAD:
The 454 wiring looks like a rat's nest. The headers are cracked, there's muck all over the valves, and the flywheel doesn't quite match up to the starter. (although since this THIRD starter has been installed, it cranks a lot quieter and sounds more normal. I'll have to check the gap.)
The 350 leaks where the original builder cut the steel lines and spliced them together with some kind of nut coupler.
The 208 has a cracked housing that the original builder covered with plumbers putty. (don't waste your time, folks, that crap doesn't work for long.)
The D70HD pinion angle is pointing toward the sky giving an almost scary driveshaft to pinion yoke angle. Also, the dang breather tube got knocked off from the seller.
The D60 used to have bad deathwobble but since the new tires I haven't seen much. I just haven't had a reason to bring it over 40mph to test it out yet tho. I suspect caster. Also, the stabilizer is kaputski.
The lift kit is a set of 6" blocks in the rear and 6" Pro Comp arced 48" springs up front. It's bouncy as all get out.
2 of the beadlocks leak about 30psi a week, and one of my sets of 37s is on it's last leg. 2 of them have severe sidewall damage, probably a hazard, but I'd rather run em till they explode. Maybe a few burnouts after the new drivetrain and power mods are finished.

The PLANS:
454: I want to rewire the underhood area, and group it up all nice and neat, take off the heads and clean out the whole motor, install a new FAT, lopey cam, and maybe some better pistons if the originals are all burnt up. Someday I'll mock up a snorkel to the thing and waterproof the motor as good as a gas motor will get. I don't need to go swimming again but I'd like the security of knowing I can dive the hood under water and not worry about anything. I've ordered new headers, mufflers, and an H pipe to replace the ridiculously loud old setup. After I get in with a good muffler shop I'll have it all put together.

I have a TH400 and NP205 bolted together that's been sitting in my garage for over a year, ready to replace the current bits. Hopefully that goes smoothly and finishes up without leaks.

I've slowly been piecing together a proper new lift kit with 6" shackles, new ORD shackle hangers and 56" springs for the front setup, and ORD 4" shackle flips and 6" shackles with a 2" drop hanger for the rear lift. All that's missing is a set of 63" springs and that'll all be ready to go. I'm hoping that'll fix my rear's pinion angle, and adjust the caster on my front as well. If I still get deathwobble I have some 3* shims I'll shove under there to try it all out.

The crossover steering setup is noticably stronger than the original but with the blown dampener, it's definitely in need of some reinforcement. I have the mounting tabs coming but I'm in need of a 2" ram to make it a hydraulic assist setup. My box is already drilled and tapped for it, and I have an auxillary cooler with a fan on it.

Somewhere around there I'll take some time to repaint and reseal the beadlocks to fix the leaks.

As for aesthetic mods, the previous owner did a rather sloppy roll-on black bedliner. While it works, it doesn't win anything for good looks. I'd like to go over the whole dang thing, underbelly and all, with bright red bedliner for the body, and black for the undercoat and interior. The dashboard is completely trashed, but I've had my eye on DIY4X's dash kits. That'll fix a lot of the gauge issues as well, and pretty up the thing. Currently it has ratty bucket seats with a wobbly center console but I recently traded some other bits for a bench which I prefer. That'll get swapped in.

Anyways, I figured I'd start this thread up just in case anybody wants some good reading in building history, ideas, or even a good laugh. I'll post pics of some of the dumb stuff I've put on and taken off soon. I'll welcome any questions, comments, concerns, and criticisms. I'm usually stubborn with my brilliantly dumb ideas but if something makes more sense, I'll heed the wisdom and adapt.