LDT-465 in a daily driver?

[hdmax]

At just 134 HP the truck should be an older 3/4 ton, or 1 ton crew cab long bed as the weigh much less than the newer one, so the lack of power would not be as noticeable. However if a pickup chassis is used you would probably need to go with a 4x2 or use a double stacked frame to allow room for the oil pan, even with a 4x2 there may not be enough room above the front end cross members. I would think that a 1 ton crew cab long bed pickup with 4.10:1 axle ratio, and a 5 speed overdrive manual transmission with 33" tires should get 22-26 MPG, but mileage shouldn't be an issue if running free or near free fuel.
It would be way cool to have a pickup truck that ran on used motor oil.

 

[ODw/envy]

Propane would make all the difference.

We are talking rat rod, so a custom tube frame would be perfect up front. No hood! I like the radiator in the rear and maybe an after-market turbo or none at all.

Don't forget they may only have 130 hp but 330 ft/lbs of torque will move anything.

 

[OD_Coyote]

I could visualize something similar to this beefed up to support the LDT 465.

 

[ODw/envy]

I could visualize something similar to this beefed up to support the LDT 465.

That is almost perfect. I like the orange zoomies.

Rat rods are as much/more about style as speed.

 

[rchalmers3]

I have no idea if it would work, but I can imagine one in an old 3/4T Suburban. With the long wheel base and long body, you should be able to fit the drive train to the chassis then fit the body over it.

Thinking about it, I think the MF is found where it should be: in tractors and old slow trucks with gears to make it functional.

Our personal transportation has higher speed requirements and makes the MF somewhat unsuitable. I think a future project for me is to utilize the Chevy 6.5L turbo diesel for use in a unique military vehicle, like the M715.

Rick

 

[bill2444]

That rat rod pic is making my head hurt with ideas, way cool!!!

 

[cattlerepairman]

I could visualize something similar to this beefed up to support the LDT 465.

It is actually built from a CCKW frame flipped upside down - so plenty strong!
Video: '35 Dodge/'44 Troop Carrier Rat Rod - Street Legal TV Forums

It looks....somehow way cool.

 

[nk14zp]

A vary interesting idea.... At the second I don't think I have any input though...

Woo first time back on steel soldiers in months... Using tapatalk on my phone

Crap he's back.

 

[keith2500hd]

i have seen old 70's CAT in late 70's F-350 back in 80's. should fit in any 25-3500+ make chassis that a 6BT has been put in. weight should be close.

 

[197thhhc]

We have measured out a 97 4 door 1 ton chevy pickup. The engine will fit in the engine bay but the radiator and condensor have to be relocated to the bed. We are planning on dropping the chevy truck body onto the deuce frame and going fron there. when we start we will post pics.

 

[cbvet]

I'd like to try one in my 14' Chevy Step Van!

 

[Flyingvan911]

You could beef up a Miata and put it between the seats. You'd get a very fast car with lots of weight to hold it down on the road. It would be a cool sounding car with the c turbo.

I think a step van would be a good platform.

 

[TexAndy]

We have measured out a 97 4 door 1 ton chevy pickup. The engine will fit in the engine bay but the radiator and condensor have to be relocated to the bed. We are planning on dropping the chevy truck body onto the deuce frame and going fron there. when we start we will post pics.

whoa, now that sounds interesting.

Can't wait to see it!

 

[Katahdin]

Too bad we couldn't just scale one down to the size of a 4.0 in a Jeep TJ. That would be sweet.

 

[Trango]

I don't know why you guys are so crazy about the LDT, which (before fuel screw work) makes all of 134 HP, 300-something ftlbs, all in a massive 478 cu-in package that weighs three quarters of a ton, is somewhere around 50 inches long, and despite being detuned to the point of truly being "grunt proof" is nonetheless prone to self-aeration in undesirable locations.

I am hardly the one to point fingers at irrational decisions about vehicles, but of all the things to romanticize about on the M35 platform, the engine is hardly the aspect I'd put on a pedestal.

Just my opinion. The fact that you can fairly easily tune a 4BT, an engine with half the displacement, to exceed stock LDT performance speaks volumes about the era of technology, tune, and materials on the LDT rotating assembly.

Best,
Bob

 

[TexAndy]

I'd love to get a 4BT. I doubt I could find one for free tho, like my spare LDT ended up being after I parted out and either used or sold just about everything else off that truck.

 

[XanRa]

@nk14zp- mwah ha ha
Rofl

@trango- so vary true, but you also have to remember the venerability of them- they have something to them.... Something very unique and drawing, and can beat to **** and still function

 

[jimh1985]

I have thought of this very idea many times. I always wondered if anyone else did...

 

[ODw/envy]

A 50+ year old design with that kind of track record. By modern standards weak? Perhaps. By my standards it is pretty cool.

My 03 SD 6.0L has 350hp and 525ft/lbs by comparison. While the emissions are considerably lower the MPG is not much better and at half the weight.

These trucks are like 1911's. Are there superior models out there. Sure. Lighter, stronger, more reliable, more efficient, generally more capable, Yes. There has to be something great about a piece of kit that served our country for 50+ years.

That is where the adoration comes from.

 

[kawibrute]

I will add Pictures when I get home tonight but how I found this site was because of a project I am building. I took a 1959 willy's truck, built my own 2wd frame, chopped the top 7 inches, sectioned the body 4 inches, Z'd the frame, Built all my own everything. the engine I am going to use is a LDT 465 with the spicer trans.