Operation AWOL

[Joe_Black]

no no...the diesel he had was only getting 4 or 5 mpg when he got it (hence the reason for the replacement)

his is strickly a farm vehicle...almost never driven on the roads, so he doesnt really measure mileage...but a tank of gas lasts WAY longer now...

Crikey! Yeah, I'd fix that too. Pity he didn't know much about diesels, they're way simpler than gassers and it likely just needed the pump adjusted. Before it was "squished" our M1028 made it from Kansas City to St. Louis running about 70MPH and averaged 24MPG. And that was with the stock 3-speed TH400 automatic.

Well, I started looking into rebuilding mine just to be on the safe side and found this buildup article: http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/c...dup/index.html

It is what kinda scared me off and into thinking the 6.5 would be a better candidate for me to build up. And since '94 was it's 1st year of production as well as the 1st year of production for the NV4500 (with the 6.34 1st gear) I figured I could have one donor truck with everything hooked up together without needing gueeswork and adapters. I can buy a complete '94 for around $2500 whereas fitting just the Banks turbo on the 6.2 would run me $2000+. I still think the 6.2 is a fine motor but without an OD the CUCV is not going to work for a loooong road trip so I am trying to kill 3 birds with one stone.

Gotcha. I'm going to hold off on the turbo for a while as I was duly impressed with the M1028's get-up-and-go abilities. Definitely will be on the hunt for the 5-speed manual so we'll have to compare notes whenever I get to that point. Right now my focus is putting a flatbed on the Mack and overhauling the brake lines on the M35A2 since it likes to blow a line every time I want to stop on asphalt.

[ZEUS]

I started working on this cusser again but it looks like I will run out of time to take it to Moab this May. I pulled the trans enough to replace the flex plate and then installed a new gear reduction starter - that was fun - no, seriously, IT WAS FUN! Then I pulled the bed off with my own two hands and my Jeep a week ago to pull the fuel tank and get it cleaned out - it actually looked pretty good... except for the gunk that fell in the tank... because of me taking it out to check it. Plus I had to ruin the straps that hold the tank in place... Grr. Oh well, I have ordered new straps. I have also ordered a new rear end wiring harness and glove box door. After I put the bed back on I think I am going to bob it to the length of a short box!

I also ordered the PVC inserts from Stazworks and I just purchased DynaBeads to self balance the abundant rolling mass so at least all that will be ready to bolt together when I get the axle work done.

I found a pretty version of what I am going for on eBay today. I am glad I got to see what it looks like without a lift and hack job because I couldn't decide if I should lift it and how much. I think 3" will be ideal.

More to come...

[nfpgasmask]

I think I am going to bob it to the length of a short box!

Definitely. That would look cool. Don't forget to mount the M60 in the bed.

I found a pretty version of what I am going for on eBay today.

Yup, I feel it. Definitely will be cool as hell when you get it done!

Bart

[nfpgasmask]

Just lookin at the eBay truck, I love the way the rims look and that they are painted to match the body. I VERY SERIOUSLY contemplated painting the Trooper rims to match the body. I wish I could do it and then if I didn't like it, wash it off!!

I need to do a photochop of it at least. Its like the Camel Trophy Rover with the matching colored rims. Looks soooo cool!

Bart