Unexpectedly in the market...

[johnmyster]

I shared on the other forum, but this has been the more useful forum on my LBZ technical journey. Usually life is better when you don't make the local news.

Unexpectedly, I'm in the market for a replacement truck. Doesn't look like I'll ever get the play out of that steering box. On the bright side, we all walked away, and I'm able to do my part to further inflate values on older trucks.

On a related note, I'd encourage anyone with a lift pump to consider an inertia kill switch or an oil pressure switch (engine stops, lift pump stops.) Perhaps there's an opportunity for me to assemble a kit for all the FASS and Airdog users in the crowd.

 

[N2BRK]

Holy shit! I’m so glad that you are still alive! Wow!!

 

[2004LB7]

What's the story behind that. What caused it to go up in the first place. Do you know?

 

[johnmyster]

Holy shit! I’m so glad that you are still alive! Wow!!

We fully expected George's transmission to outlast the truck. I just didn't expect it to be so soon.

What's the story behind that. What caused it to go up in the first place. Do you know?

We took a square hit to the front...then from the rear as the hitch and pinbox collapsed. There was enough damage (high and low) to the front that a fuel line, the service port, the filter, or even the CP3 was compromised. The lift pump fed the leak. Likely also a battery cable got pinched. By the time I got to my wife's door, flames were out the hood. I pulled our daughter and the dog, all the while not realizing I had not pulled the key. A bystander yelled "the fuel pump is running" and I pulled the key, but it was too late. Four fire extinguishers on scene weren't enough. I managed one more trip into the truck to get my wife's cell phone, her purse, and wallet. Everything else gone. It slowly grew until the fuel tank let loose, and 30 gallons of diesel, 60 pounds of LP, and a stack of firewood began a long burn to the end.

The adjuster found a chunk of one of my rear tires and said, "11/32, that's really good tread. That'll help the evaluation." Gee, thanks.

Take one highly experienced LBZ off of the register. A reminder that what we do can someday turn out differently than planned.

 

[2004LB7]

I wonder if RAP turns off if the airbags deploy. Like on many vehicles it cuts the fuel pump and kills the engine. I wonder if there is a similar protocol built into our trucks. If so then RAP could be used to kill the pump in the event of a crash.

 

[Bdsankey]

That is really unfortunate, it sounds like nobody got hurt which is a great thing!

You could wire the "activation" or "trigger" wire through an oil pressure switch (AKA the wire to activate the lift pump relay). That's how Beans wires their 7.3L Powerstroke kits.

It would be extremely easy to tap into the oil galley on the driver side to do so.

 

[johnmyster]

That is really unfortunate, it sounds like nobody got hurt which is a great thing!

You could wire the "activation" or "trigger" wire through an oil pressure switch (AKA the wire to activate the lift pump relay). That's how Beans wires their 7.3L Powerstroke kits.

It would be extremely easy to tap into the oil galley on the driver side to do so.

I have some time delay relays I was experimenting with for some things. You could "prime" for 10 seconds on initial ignition, and then sustain on oil pressure. Or just count on the ability of the CP3 to pull vacuum during start.

Even so, an inertia switch (for this very purpose) is a $20 item. Dumb and passive. Old Ford fuel injected cars had them on the fuel pump and you never knew they were there until you needed it. Use it to supply ground to the lift pump relay.

I'm unfamiliar with RAP. There are lots of potentially damaging and immobilizing impacts where the airbags might choose not to deploy. What you want is a system that kills the lift pump if the fuel system gets injured. Or be smarter than me and pull the key immediately after the airbag punches you in the face and your family is screaming.

Even if the fire hadn't happened, the truck and camper were total losses. Difference would be that we could've assessed for injuries prior to moving people out of the truck. Then, we could've recovered our belongings.

 

[2004LB7]

I guess you can always wire into the engine start circuit plus the oil pressure to run the LP. You'll loose the initial priming you can get with just ignition on but should still work a majority of the time. Wouldn't cut it off in an accident unless the ECM cut the engine

 

[2004LB7]

Has anyone experimented with the ECM's fuel pump control?

 

[Pure Diesel]

I remember my first LP(for my LB7 motor) from TTS. I don't know who did it first but TTS and Kennedy's dual pumps looked identical. You had a main power wire(hot all the time), another that went to the oil pressure wire and then he had a separate gray wire that I hooked to a momentary push button and then to ground. When you grounded it out you could then prime the system to the fuel filter. Once prime let go of the button. The system only worked while the key was turned over and engine running.

 

[2004LB7]

I remember my first LP(for my LB7 motor) from TTS. I don't know who did it first but TTS and Kennedy's dual pumps looked identical. You had a main power wire(hot all the time), another that went to the oil pressure wire and then he had a separate gray wire that I hooked to a momentary push button and then to ground. When you grounded it out you could then prime the system to the fuel filter. Once prime let go of the button. The system only worked while the key was turned over and engine running.

If I didn't mind putting a button on the dash this is the rout I would take

 

[johnmyster]

Has anyone experimented with the ECM's fuel pump control?

IIRC, the fuel pump circuit on our trucks is to transfer fuel on the dual tank (cab and chassis) models. It only runs when the ECM sees the front tank low and the rear tank high. It doesn't run to support engine function. Unless this is a van feature and I'm totally off base.

If I didn't mind putting a button on the dash this is the rout I would take

If you have a console, I had hidden a few switches and buttons on the top surfaces of the cubbies. Invisible from within the cab but if my sunglasses weren't in the way, easy to reach into the cubby and grab a rocker switch.

I'm with you. Can't stand trucks that look like science projects.

 

[Bdsankey]

Only downfall of an oil pressure switch is a runaway.

 

[johnmyster]

Only downfall of an oil pressure switch is a runaway.

I'd think an OP switch would be wired from an ignition source. You'd have to have key on AND oil pressure to run the LP. That plus a 10 second timer to support priming at startup and you're golden. Then again, impact switch.

Then again, I'm unsure of how a LP would support a runaway. If you pull the key on common rail, injection stops, no? An oil based runaway isn't stopped by any of the above.

 

[malibu795]

Glad y'all are safe, sucks about the truck and camper...

I know the later model 6.5TD have a OPS that controls the lift pump..

 

[PureHybrid]

Woo that sucks.... How much for the transmission... Too soon?

 

[johnmyster]

Woo that sucks.... How much for the transmission... Too soon?

I assume the truck will be going to scrap once they have title. I have no idea how that works, nor the ability to go pull the transmission myself.

 

[Bdsankey]

I assume the truck will be going to scrap once they have title. I have no idea how that works, nor the ability to go pull the transmission myself.

Did your insurance give you a "buy back" option?

 

[johnmyster]

Their third party "comp generating" service didn't give very good comps, so we are in the first round of working that out. Sounds like they are counting on me being in a hurry for the check. I imagine we are all going to have to agree on a value first before that offer gets given. The truck is in Martinsville VA if someone from forum land is seriously interested. If so, I'd like the 1/2" drive craftsman tools (old usa forged stuff) back from under the back seat ashes. All my other metric tools are in the dumpster they loaded the camper remnants into on scene.

One comp was a twice wrecked, rusty, 400k mile GMT900. The other was a LS trim dually without a bumper, that was a theft recovery 14 years ago. I responded back with actual comps. I illustrated that everything within 500 miles <$15k has obvious rust issues, that mine didn't have. Anything reasonably comparable is >$22k.

Tongue in cheek…Will goerend warranty the converter? FASS lifetime warranty?

 

[PureHybrid]

I doubt Goerend would do anything beyond maybe a cut / inspect for damage. If you just had a major repair (transmission etc) definitely bring that invoice to the table during compensation agreements