Okay,
I could use some advice on a new truck I recently bought. It is a 1948 4400 I believe. it has about a 12' dump bed on it. First I will lay out my goals and them hopefully someone can give me a little advice.
Currently the truck runs and drives but is a typically very low geared truck with worn out components that is not very road worthy. It has the original 216, some sort of 5 speed tranny with a pto to drive the hydraulics for the dump and a two speed rear axle.
My plans are to upgrade the motor and tranny to something more practical and modern, upgrade the dually to something with a 3.73 or maybe 4.10 range and upgrade the front axle to a shortened P30 with disc brakes. I also plan to shorten the dump bed (including the frame) to about an 8' dump so that it can be used more as a frequent driver. I won't need quite as much hauling capacity as it previously had, but I would still like to haul brush and debris to the dump etc.
My questions are:
What is a good engine/tranny combo, still retaining a pro?
What suggestions would you have on matching your recommendations with a rear axle?
In the past I have done a 5.3 LM7 conversion with a 4L80 in a half ton build that I was VERY happy with. I don't think a 5.3 will work for this truck (too small) and I have read that a 4L80 won't take a pto. So, I have read about the 4BT diesel conversions, but am not sure what would be a good tranny match with it, and I am not sure if that would be an economical choice. I have also considered the 6.0 liter and an 8.1 liter, just not sure if the 8.1 easily fits that original frame without some significant mods and not sure if the 6.0 would have enough power. Anyways, what suggestions do you all have for a motor/tranny combo that could be completed on a moderate budget, lets say under $4000?
