after a long time of research and playing with different ideas we finaly started our Pete "379" conversion
here is what we started with;
we call her O`Malley (pre owner was O`Malley Trucking in MI) , she is a "class of `95" regular hood "379" with a cummins N14, super 10 trans, 250" WB, 2x 100 gallon tanks, 12k front axle and 2x19k rears.


as soon as we got her home we started with removing of the Holland 5th wheel and the front of the tandem axles.



next was cutting off the sleeper...


we moved the front tandem axle to the rear location and also removed everything in the cab (she will get new air seats, electric windows/ door locks and a all new upholstered interior)


we cleaned/ painted the frame and started to build the sub structure for the 7' bed (bolted to the frame with 24 5/8" bolts) the bed will be removable so we can powdercoat it. build into the bed will be a 30klbs gooseneck, a 40klbs pintle, a standard 2" hitch, a 100 gallon fresh water tank and the generator.



...more later

.......what's with the "we" stuff....you seem to be the only one working on it....;>.....geofkaye

quote:

Originally posted by KAYE RIVERCITY:
.......what's with the "we" stuff....you seem to be the only one working on it....;>.....geofkaye

Geof ....its clear that I didnt make the pics


"we" are two brothers and "we" normaly build sand/ desert buggies together

......CGI will now allow one to do almost anything.....good thing you got a brother to take pix of you working or we would suspect CGI again...........geofkaye

....I just looked at your site V8rail.com.....you guys have a lot of time to [play]work on your[toys] vehicles. No wonder you started off on a project of that size!....Most buy their first RV-trash it- and then build their second RV to their own specs.[hardened] .....you have a lot of experience with building sand cars and I'm sure other vehicles.......send pix as you have time.....geofkaye

here is more (Warpath, i hope its ok that i post so many pics ):

after drawing the whole rig on AutoCAD the buildup of the sleeper starts;


finish welding the underside and adding the side boxes;


the big moment: will it fit?


the extended sleeper takes shape now. notice the cross-bracing of the side walls: the sleeper will be "floating" on 4 air bag body mounts, held in place by the stock front cab mounts and a huge panhard bar in the rear


the new sleeper gets welded to the stock "sleeper to cab" mounts. we dont like the look of the "over the cab" bunk beds, thats why we reuse the sleek factory roof cap

more later ....

Just one question, if you don't mind? Why did you use the forward axle with its power divider instead of the rear axle? To me the rearmost axle would have been the logical choice. If indeed you do use the forward axle you would have to keep the inter-axle diff lock in the locked position in order to keep going, which seems like one extra thing to go wrong. Maybe I'm missing something here?
Gary

Gary,

problem is that the input yoke is smaller for the rear axle, but not only that, also the input shaft is a smaller diameter. Also the driveshaft angles are much easier to work with

the lock mechanism is simple and it is locked for good

Thomas

.....V8Rail:....most excellent air ride box. You all and Butler are the only ones I know of that produce a floating box. It was one of the turnoffs when I looked at Showhauler-that and all the varnished wood....Other than those issues Lonnie had a sale...untill the DIY bug bit me......keep up with the pix.....geofkaye

Thomas -

Love the pic's! That's no problem with me.

Air-ride toterhome very cool! Man you guys are doing it right. Can't wait to see more!

Bill