Building A Truck

Planning on next winter, building a truck up from salvage parts, new frame, etc. This truck's bread and butter is going to be working construction, dump, belly end or side, and possibly lowboy spring summer and fall. I'd also like for in the winters when construction stops and the ground is frozen, to be able to hook onto a flatbed or van and go over the road, Western US (No California). Here's what i'm thinkin about:

New Frame for sure, Unsure of wheelbase, Suggestions?
80's or earlly 90's Kenworth W900 Cab
Planning on one of those Jones hoods that has the W900A Headlights, I know this will cost alot but I love that look.
Mechanical Cat B or A likely turned up a little. Were the older 1693?'s any good?
18 Speed for sure, wondering about an aux box, 3 or 4 speed?
At Least a 14,600 front axle with floaters
More than likely a drop axle, 12k or higher?
Chalmers or maybe Hendrickson Haulmax, At Least 46,000 reas with 4.10 or 3.90's
Pondering a winch
I'll be building my own headache rack out of steel or possibly aluminum
As for the interior, I know this is likely my only chance at building a truck, for a long time at least, so I want to re-do the Dash, all ISSPRO gauges, and normal metal toggles, none of the plastics.
Probably have a upholstrey shop do a tuck and roll job to match the paint
Undecided on a sleeper... If I do end up with one I'm thinkin a smaller flat top though.
As for paint I will probably get help from a guy I know who does alot of painting, I'm definatley want a Seminole paint job, metallic, Thinking white main, inside of the design a metallic brown and the outline to be a metallic highway yellow / old Cat yellow.

That's about my 'christmas list' of stuff. Anyone got opinions, suggestions etc?

My old man and My's truck now is a 07 T800 Dump truck, pre emissions C-15 475 with a 18 speed, 14,600 FA, 46k Chalmers rears. I'm looking to build up a truck similar to this, only a little more old school. Wanted a mechanical Cat so I could 'play' with it a little, Yes I know that 'playing' with your work truck's motor is kinda stupid, But I am young and dumb. I like the stiff suspension and know that over the road a truck with Chalmers or Hendrickson is going to be rough, but I've drove air bag trucks on job sites and hate the feeling like 'I'm sailing a #### ship!'

I know that this is not going to be cheap, But I plan to do as much of the labor as I can, knowing that'll include the cost of a Mag Drill.


Thanks for your input,

307KW

 

I'm planning on buying a mag drill, We've got a shop big enough. I definatley want to do this right so that I get a truck that drives straight. On an older truck the holes for a chalmers suspension wouldn't line up and I want a clean truck, not one that's frame looks like swiss cheese or has nothing but bolts just filling up a hole.

 

I kinda don't mind the fact it'll take a long time. I'm planning on not quitting college after this spring, so winters will be pretty slow work wise, other than sporatic snow hauling. It'll give me somethin kinda productive to do in the winter, working in a nice warm shop. I don't really like the idea of spending all that money when so little money is coming in, but you've got to spend money to make money I guess, and the spring after I hope to have that truck built, My CDL will go up from Intrastate to Interstate and I'll be able to haul outside of Wyoming, Then come the joys of Apportionment and IFTA paperwork!

 

As far as motor choices, should I be looking at a 3406 A or B then? I remember back when I was a real little kid my old man's transport had a old white colored Cat motor, I always remembered that beign a good truck. When my dad was running a Cat or a Hoe I can remember at least 3 times when another driver twisted the driveshaft.