My ambo...

[Ballenxj]

So the transmission hunt is slow going, there are so many variables to take into account when selecting the right one! Gear ratios, maximum torque rating, bell housing size! Not to mention the number of speeds and if it had a hi and lo range... I thought I had found the perfect one, but it was only rated for 420 torques, and my engine is rated at 485 torques prior to any modification. If anyone knows of the perfect SAE#2 manual tranny with an overdrive let me know! I will keep hunting...

Sorry, I don't know enough about diesel transmissions to be of any help there, but I do understand needing the proper gear ratios for your engines HP & torque.
Keep researching until you find it as I'm sure it will make a difference. 
Good luck.

 

[masterplumber]

I just was doing a little looking and it looks like a Spicer ES066-7B would be a good one. ES stands for easy shift which I take to mean it's synchronized. It's rated at 660 ft lbs of torque, and it has a .74 overdrive with a 7.48 granny low. Looks like good spacing between the other gears also. Specs show 32.87'' overall length and SAE#2 bell housing. Now where to find one is another story. They were offered with International V8 diesels like yours so maybe a heavy equipment wrecking yard?

 

[Baloo]

I just was doing a little looking and it looks like a Spicer ES066-7B would be a good one. ES stands for easy shift which I take to mean it's synchronized. It's rated at 660 ft lbs of torque, and it has a .74 overdrive with a 7.48 granny low. Looks like good spacing between the other gears also. Specs show 32.87'' overall length and SAE#2 bell housing. Now where to find one is another story. They were offered with International V8 diesels like yours so maybe a heavy equipment wrecking yard?

That would be the perfect tranny, two things though, first is they are impossible to find for less than new cost, second I bought one this morning! Also mine is not the V8 it is an inline 6. I was at a buddies salvage yard talking about stuff when I noticed he had a few big manual transmissions laying around. After a quick look, two of them were es420-5d's which are not strong enough. I need at least a 485 torque rating. Then he remembered he had a six speed somewhere, and after some searching we found it, a FS5306A. It is good for 530 pounds of torque and a six speed too! After some haggling, we drained it and loaded it up!
time to get cleaning and source a few other parts...

 

[Baloo]

Finally got another bumper so I can make the rear one as wide as the box. Still have to trim the corners, but I think it looks much better now. I will weld it this up coming week, bolted on for now.

 

[highdesertranger]

waaaay cool on the tranny. can't wait for this build thread. give us some spec's to wet our appetite. highdesertranger

 

[Ballenxj]

 Then he remembered he had a six speed somewhere, and after some searching we found it, a FS5306A. It is good for 530 pounds of torque and a six speed too! After some haggling, we drained it and loaded it up!

Good for YOU!  :-D
 That ought to help out in the mpg department.

 

[masterplumber]

Awesome news on the tranny, my bad as I knew you had a DT360, or at least I think that's what you said, but I'm not as familiar with that so I thought it was just a smaller V8.

 

[Baloo]

Awesome news on the tranny, my bad as I knew you had a DT360, or at least I think that's what you said, but I'm not as familiar with that so I thought it was just a smaller V8.

No worries, it is a rare engine as far as diesels go these days.

 

[ZoNiE]

Not sure if it was mentioned in the LAST 37 PAGES!!! but how about an Allison Motorhome Automatic? They can handle 1,000+ ft lbs of torque... Chevy duramax diesel trucks have them. You may be able to adapt one.

 

[Baloo]

Not sure if it was mentioned in the LAST 37 PAGES!!! but how about an Allison Motorhome Automatic? They can handle 1,000+ ft lbs of torque... Chevy duramax diesel trucks have them. You may be able to adapt one.

I am not a fan of the automatic transmission, also the newer ones need a computer controlled engine to work with. My engine is 100% mechanical, and my "new to me" Eaton manual transmission doesn't like computers.

Cleaned up the bell housing a bit, and man was it dirty!



Have to call the big truck salvage yard I think the morning to get a few odds and ends like the clutch pedal and linkage. Hopefully I will be able to get it installed within the next few weeks!

 

[Baloo]

Got a few more parts today, now I have a clutch pedal installed. God I love salvage yards!






The last picture is of the engine that gave up its flywheel for my engine.

 

[Ballenxj]

Got a few more parts today, now I have a clutch pedal installed. God I love salvage yards!

Sounds like things are still moving ahead. Keep us posted.

 

[bpeck]

This is one of the best threads on this forum for sure, and hands down one of the best homebrew builds I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing all your hard work with us!

 

[Baloo]

This is one of the best threads on this forum for sure, and hands down one of the best homebrew builds I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing all your hard work with us!

Thanks, and you are most welcome! Here is some more progress...






I saved the old bell housing from the scrap heap and got it installed, now if the seals would hurry up and get here! After the new seals are installed, I will just need to source a clutch and then it is install time.

 

[Ballenxj]

I saved the old bell housing from the scrap heap and got it installed, now if the seals would hurry up and get here! After the new seals are installed, I will just need to source a clutch and then it is install time.

Can't wait to see how this works out. A truly custom build. 

 

[highdesertranger]

very cool. got to love them reverse drill bits. highdesertranger

 

[Baloo]

Got some work to do today!

Thank you mail man...

 

[Baloo]

Well that was not fun! The seals are installed and I am greasy, I really need to clean this thing up more...

 

[highdesertranger]

it's amazing how you can clean something x number of times and still get greasy, isn't it? highdesertranger

 

[Baloo]

Tell me about it, I feel like it will never clean up, or maybe that is where grease comes from?