If you've been following our project truck, Long Bed Mega Cab (LBMC), you've seen it go through a bit of a transformation.
To recap, we started in the October 2008, issue of Diesel Tech by taking the truck to Precision Bodyline, North Salt Lake, UT, for its complete long bed conversion. After the frame was stretched and factory long box was added, the company installed a PopUp Industries gooseneck hitch, AirLift 5000-lb. load capacity airbags and a WirelessAir compressor system.
We then added a Hellbent Steel 2-inch leveling kit to accommodate 22.5-inch Alcoa 10-lug rims on commercial tires. Next, we added a 4-inch diameter BD stainless dual exhaust kit, a BD Steering Box Stabilizer and a BD 4-inch in-line exhaust brake. We've decided to continue this build with more parts from BD. As we perused BD's website, we kept finding item after item that we think could work well on this truck. So, we'll use and abuse this stuff in our quest to build a truck that combines reliable and dependable use, comfort and convenience and enough power to really have fun with.
We'll tell you how it all shakes out in the end. Project LBMC looks good, sounds good, drives well and tows a load even better. We've built a great truck. It's time for some power upgrades. But before we do that, we need to address this truck's weakest link-the transmission.
We'll go through and beef up some of the main components in the transmission that commonly fail after significant power modifications are made. We'll be upgrading the transmission valve body, pan, torque converter and flex plate.