Every Kid's Dream

[Flipper_1938]

"I wanna drive the firetruck"

Finally getting around to building a hotrod firetruck. Plans are to combine a 1950 Searave with a cheap class A motorhome. The drivetrain will be a Cummins 8.3, Allison 6 speed automatic and Rockwell rear axle from the RV...and the disc brake front axle.

It is going to take a lot of cutting to get the bottom of the grill close to the ground.

Basic plan is a land yacht. A big roadster that seats 10. ...a pontoon boat for the highway.

 

[dutch]

wicked! I`m glad I got the front row seat... [P[P[P

 

[Flipper_1938]

The RV front axle has quite a bit of drop to it. It looks to be about 9 inches from mounting plate. It is way more than the stock firetruck. My guess is that I will need to z the frame and do 4 links with airbags to sit right. The motorhome will provide the frame material.

 

[DozerII]

Kool , I'm in [P[P

 

[Old Iron]

Me too [P[P[P

 

[Torchie]

Me three.
Torchie

 

[Burgerman]

Me three.
Torchie

4X. Looking forward to this [cl

 

[lowbudget50]

Very cool!!

 

[smallfoot]

This oughta be fun...[cl

 

[Couper]

Cool Beans....I'll be following the build. [P

 

[soltz]

Almost makes me want to come out of retirement
???[P???

 

[MercuryMac]

I'm watching. [cl[[

 

[Old Stuff]

Cool Beans....I'll be following the build. [P

Yeah no kidding. This is going to be epic [cl[cl[cl

[P

 

[BillM]

I just pulled up my comfy chair.....

 

[kenny c]

Watching [P[P[P[P[P[P

 

[Flipper_1938]

To get it low, I think I am going to have to raise the fenders and running boards (and section the panel above the running boards). ...and probably require building a new frame.

If I keep the body mostly stock and build a tall-ish front bumper, the lowering won't be as severe and the build should be able to be done in a fraction of the time.

Thoughts? Is having a running, driving, Cummins powered, mildly lowered, roadster firetruck enough?

 

[Flipper_1938]

This big Rockwell rear axle has 5.13 gears! That tall gear combined with the low rpm range of the diesel means that I need to run huge back tires to cruise at 80 on the highway. A 11R24.5 is 43.8" tall. That tire and 6th gear in the Allison should put me at around 2,000 rpm.

Back when I was messing with the purple and yellow firetruck, I had 255/70r22.5 front tires. Those are around 36" tall.

That should give me a cool rake if I can get it sitting right.

 

[Flipper_1938]

I talked to dad some last night and I think we are going to go the mildly lowered route.

These trucks are pretty stylish from the factory and Dad isn't sure I can improve it by sectioning the truck. I think he may be right.

We are still going to go with big and littles for the wheels and tires. ...and removing some leaves from the spring packs.

Not 100% sure if I am going to shave off the fire fighting bits and just smooth everything over. Restoring those bits could probably get expensive.

 

[05snopro440]

4" of rubber rake, wow, that will be a lot. With all that rake, the new front axle, and a bunch of springs removed for ride and height, I think you'll end up with a nice mildly lowered stance.

 

[bob w]

Unrestored fire fighting bits wouldn't too bad either. A very cool project.