UPDATE:
Wow rizzo, that idea never entered the brain. Hmmm. Interesting concept. However that would require a rise of 4-5" affecting all sorts of things.....
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QDR update:
With the engine still laying on its pallet in the barn we lifted the bottom end with the JD crawler and blocked it with care.
To put this issue to rest we removed: The oil pan, cam follower covers, and rocker covers for an internal inspection. The oil still inside is still amber in color with no debris, shavings, etc. None of the nuts & bolts on the engine have been touched and nothing seems out of place or is observed to be cracked or broken. Everything looks brand new.
It does not appear to ever have been installed in a truck as the places were the engine would rest on its mounts show no signs of doing so.
With the oil pan and rocker covers off the engine was turned with a breaker bar as the internals were observed. It has great compression and no interference was felt.
Conclusion:
The engine appears to only to have been run at the factory. As previously stated in this thread the QDR is most likely due to exterior damage from truck shipment:
-Broken dipstick tube
-dented & scratched valve cover
-broken plumbing pipe that exits a cast coolant passage
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My brother and I have heavily discussed the subject of the transmission issue. It has been decided that an RTO 13spd. Eaton RoadRanger is to be used. This decision will create an interesting problem with the stock location of the Transfer Case. Its not the length that is the main concern (although it would barely fit lengthwise.) More so its a problem of "girth"
. The driveshaft that comes from the front axle to the T-case has an almost horizontal path and would interfere.
It has been determined that the T-case will have to be "re-clocked" by a few degrees (rotated about its input-output axis) As well as moved rearward 4-6". This is gonna be fun
And the icing on the cake about this whole project is that the truck will be converted to straight air brakes just like the 900 series. No more stupid airpack and master cyl.
Boy, so far this thread is pretty worthless with no pics
I'll have to work on that.
Next post will include tranny specs & dimensions.... Thanks for your patience.