Peterbilt 379 Flat Top lowboy project

Now that the turbos are on it creates another project of getting the intake tubes from the turbo to the air cleaners. The stock pipes will definitely not work. I will have to fabricate the 6" pipes somehow. Also need to coat the hot side of the turbos. I didn't think the ceramic coating I had done on the turbo pipes would hold up. I am inquiring other hi temp "turbo" coatings.





A picture of one done already.


Got the pipes set.


Also started on the interior. Finished putting the sound/thermal mat in the entire truck. I've had to cut all three sleeper windows out of the new interior panels.

I removed the vent windows and went with one piece powered windows. That creates a problem for the wiring coming from the mirrors. Just another surprise to deal with.

Lot's of scoring here. Tough job but no other that I know of to do it. Got all three windows cut out without a problem thankfully. Now I'm screwing it all in. I'll come back for lights and stereo once I get it all in.

Truck is looking good! It's going to be a relief when you've got it on the road and can use it.


$900 to polish the step box?! I'd have let him keep the box for that, I was quoted $500ish to do the whole flatbed of my truck to bring it to a higher quality shine then I have it at already. If you don't mind shipping things it seems Evan from Evan's Detailing and Polishing in Chilton, Wi is one of the best in the country. He's who I got the quote from to do my bed, I plan to have him do my bed, underbody boxes, and L tank come spring.

So glad you updated this thread. I was beginning to wonder if we would see it again

I'm glad to see this update. I'm not sure if you're tired of hearing it, but the truck looks great.

For the intake pipe, Summitracing.com has 6" aluminized steel bends and pipe. They have stainless steel up to 5" in diameter. Another option is to find a truck exhaust shop that can mandrel bend 6" pipe.

was getting worried about you with no updates

Impressive

Fastdirt your work and patience is impressive. Enjoy the post and keep pushing through. Your flawless vision and work WILL indeed pay off. Good luck. #thestruggleisreal

Thanks for the motivation!!!. I really need it at this point. Biggest craziest project I've ever taken on..... and I've done quite a few in my life.

Yeah the polishing on that box was definitely overpriced. It's too bad because they do awesome work and have all the means.

50HP floor mounted polishers. They charge $50 an hour




Spent a lot of time fitting the interior. I'm really happy with the way it looks and fit so that's a nice change. My garage has some strong fluorescent lights that really mess with the camera so some pics are not so good.





Another goal is to go with full gauge cut outs on the dash panels. I have been searching for the panels with all the cutouts. It will amount to 26 gauges when done. That will allow me to put boost gauges on both turbos and the inlet. Would like to get two pyros. Got to add psi and load gauges for the air ride. All the 379's came with different variations of panels but no 379 I've seen will have three full rows. Problem is the panels I bought from Vanderhaggs are in horrible shape. I've been trying to get with Rockwood and can't get good service from them. They can make these panels with any cutouts and color. They were supposed to send me an email over a week ago with a proof view before making the order. They left me hanging. ...So screwed by Vander and Rockwood. Unbelievable how the nightmare continues.



So I broke out the old bender. This 379 came with radiator supports that go from the top of the radiator to a mount bracket above the valve covers. I'm mounting to the frame.

The mount bar will be level and parallel when mounted. I just set it up there for a picture. Had to get some help lifting the radiator in. Can't believe I removed it solo with the hood on. Determination I guess. Once it's mounted then the cooler will go on and I think it will start going faster.




Still need the driveshaft shortened and figure out how to make an intake pipe like the one below.



I won't lie I have been looking at other ladies....

The only other truck I'm into currently is the W900L.

550 18 speed. It's in MS so I haven't seen it in person but it's what I look for. Problem is they are just too small for three guys and that's exactly why I'm going with 222" WB with a sleeper. Been looking for a used Pete like I'm building but they don't exist.


This one I actually drove. 2011 550 Cat 18 speed. Seemed weak to me and the cab was super small.


This one I would've bought for sure but it sold. Had a 6NZ 18sp on a 222" WB with flat top cab and 36" flat top sleeper.

I'm surprised and disappointed to hear that about Rockwood. I would've expected much better from a company like that. I like your thinking on the W9 though. I've always been a Peterbilt guy but seems the KWs have more room and nicer interiors. I don't know if you've seen them but if you get a non aero W9 with the straight cow Jones makes an A model hood for them. Talk about cool!!!!! I attached a link w/pic. I'm not necessarily crazy about the overall look of that truck, I just like the look of the A model hood on the W9L.

http://www.bigrigchromeshop.com/images/jpRAW/JP-K26K-2.jpg

Rockytop, I'm not sure if the W900 is any nicer inside compared to an equal 379/389. It is a bit more classy maybe. The cabs are the same too. Very small in that KW. I always assumed they were bigger but I've measured glass to glass and they are within an inch. That's a cool cab and hood combo on that KW but I'm not too crazy about the rest either. I do kind of like the W900 cowl hood but only if it's making room for some big turbos and intake. I could actually use a cowl hood to make room for the intake pipes.


Rockwood came through solid as rock after I gave them a call. They already had the proofs drawn and were just so busy they got behind. He said they worked all through Thanksgiving and all weekend taking care of business. The cool thing is the panels can be painted any color and they can match the glove box and window sills. They make them at of thick aluminum. My original panels were thick aluminum about 1/8" thick but the used ones I bought were two thin layers glued together with rolled edges on the somewhat façade. Rockwood will also polish the aluminum. I'm between gloss black and polished.

The proofs are not all scaled the same here but obviously will be and all the gauge cutouts will be 2" and in line with one another. They also offer a panel to replace the ashtray panel. You can do anything you choose like 12v outlets, switches, gauges, etc.

Fastdirt said:

This one I would've bought for sure but it sold. Had a 6NZ 18sp on a 222" WB with flat top cab and 36" flat top sleeper.

View attachment 146111

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I'd been watching that truck on truck paper for quite a while. Looked like a pretty nice truck from the pictures.






As far as the dash goes, what if you paint most of it gloss black (easier to keep clean with finger prints) but have some polished aluminum in it as well. Weather it has a polished stripe through the middle or some design in it that's polished and the rest is paint? A friends truck had a painted dash to match the outside, looked good and just wiping it down kept it shining. No need to polish it or worry about finger prints or smudges in the shine.

Inside.




Outside.

Well we can keep looking at that KW on Truckpaper because MNL will not remove it even though they sold it two months ago and it went for $74,000 not the $55k that they advertise. That place is a mess they have several ads of great trucks but they are sold or never were available. The ole hat trick! They blame it on Truckpaper which we know that's not true.

Man that dash looks slick. Thanks for all the feedback. I thought about pinstripes. I've sent the proofs back and only changed one thing. I need a hole for the Motomirror joystick which will control left and right with one joystick by pushing it in for one side and pulling the joystick out to operate the other side. I did decide on gloss black for the exact reason you mentioned. I did send them this pinstripe scheme to see if possible.

Hey fastdirt Carl should get your dash out within a few weeks. They have been insanely busy but they're running dash panels this week. I'm getting mine made almost identical to yours but I'm moving the parking brakes to the ashtray panel.

Fastdirt said:

Well we can keep looking at that KW on Truckpaper because MNL will not remove it even though they sold it two months ago and it went for $74,000 not the $55k that they advertise. That place is a mess they have several ads of great trucks but they are sold or never were available. The ole hat trick! They blame it on Truckpaper which we know that's not true.

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Glad I was only looking at it then! I was thinking $55k was a little out of my price range, let alone $20k more. I'm sure they think they're fooling everyone by blaming TruckPaper but TP seems to have their act together at least in the dealings I had with them and their good customer service when I was trying to sell my old pickup.

Thank you for taking the time to share your build. I wish that I where closer so I would come over and help. Very nice truck.

wisfilrui379 said:

Hey fastdirt Carl should get your dash out within a few weeks. They have been insanely busy but they're running dash panels this week. I'm getting mine made almost identical to yours but I'm moving the parking brakes to the ashtray panel.

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I missed your post wisi. Rockwood sent out the panels today. They had a hold up on the glove box door but it's supposed to be shipped out. Can't wait. I'm either going to have Vance who painted the truck paint them all black or polish them. Probably go with the black paint on the panels and match the glove box door along with the window sills. I've been held up a bit on this but should be good on the interior once I get the panels. I'll then wire in a stereo and interior lights. Pretty cool we are both doing this through Rockwood I definitely want to see yours!

ak2co said:

Thank you for taking the time to share your build. I wish that I where closer so I would come over and help. Very nice truck.

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Absolutely, I wish there were more threads like this. I really wish I had some help but I'm about to suck it up and give it my all. I just keep getting beat down everywhere I turn. The jerk who sold me the last two visors will not return them so I'm stuck with two visors I don't want. They are for sale I guess unless I...well I just don't know what to do. They came from The Weld Shop LLC also known as Built By Bub. What a complete jerk. He was so nice to me when taking my hard earned money and sent me the wrong visor twice. I know, stupid me for giving the money for the second one. That kind of stuff has just burned me out and beat me down. I just don't understand how people can do people wrong so easily. Got a Reverse Bowtie coming.

So here is what's on the hot list:
Get driveshaft shortened to fit the swapped in 18 speed
Get transmission cooler lines made
Get bigger fuel lines from tanks to block and get rid of the 90 degree fittings
Run air lines to trans. Going from a 10 to an 18 I'll need to run air for both selector and splitter now. Install shifter. Clutch is all done and feels pretty good even w the heavy Lipe clutch. Feels about like my old L9000.
Need to put Mojo Mat on the floor and install shifter plate and carpet.
Re polish the fuel tanks. Remove glue from the new tank straps and use the correct protector straps to go between the tanks and tank straps. Last shop glued in dirty yellow cargo straps instead.
Install tanks, fuel lines, cooler lines, and such so I can be done underneath the truck which allow me to install the tanks.
Finish radiator mounts and install air cooler.

That's enough for now. I give my self 2 to 3 weeks.

Yep, I got slap burned out on it. It's hard work and a lot of the people in the industry are so busy and wait times for stuff is a big factor. It also seems like a good percentage of parts are damaged in shipping or wrong like Bub's visors :beatsme Heck one guy sent me a KW visor. I also have a new Midwest visor for sale.

U mean this visor?

...wondering are u refferring to this the one from 5 - 6 months ago

[/QUOTE]. Post #124: Got visor number four and...So I'm sending it back and getting the Modified BVD visor....
View attachment 139244[/QUOTE].

LilPete said:

...wondering are u refferring to this the one from 5 - 6 months ago

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. Post #124: Got visor number four and...So I'm sending it back and getting the Modified BVD visor....
View attachment 139244[/QUOTE].[/QUOTE]


Built by BUB. The Weld Shop LLC. Yer boy...lol