Operation AWOL

[Joe_Black]

God I hate that pic! I was so nervous when the truck was on the way to Utah from Wyoming on a trailer just like yours! My donor truck is setup like yours too with power everything, A/C/ cruise, dual tanks, insulation... and everything that is NOT Army issue! Now I'm not so sure I want to use a donor truck! I was thinking about swapping an NV4500, 6.5 TD, and NP241... so I have been searching for a '94 3/4 ton as a donor...but like I said...

I tow now with a load-equalizing hitch and it takes any sway right out. Our new 20' 14K lb. trailer is a bit tongue-heavy unloaded and the new hitch makes all the difference. No more towing with my Dad's F-150 though, I'll be using an '86 Mack Ms-250P Midliner that gets over 20MPG and can pull whatever I can load. If it's bigger than that I finally got a 50-ton lowboy for our vintage '70 IHC Transtar!

So what did you find about the 6.2 that's giving you second thoughts? The only significant issue I've found thus far is that you need to keep an eye on the harmonic balancer, but other than that it's got a fantastic track record.

[pbkid]

ya, my dads diesel took a crap..otherwise he would have kept it...IIRC the gas motor actually gets better mileage and has more power...

[ZEUS]

Well, wouldn't upgrading the rear still help a lot?

The SAS crossed my mind, but this truck is not intended for a serious rock crawling. My Trooper will be my daily driver and expedition rig. With the 33s I am pushing it, but I don't think a SAS is really necessary until I get over 35s. I am thinking about Joe Darlington's diff drop and some upgraded (beefier) components for the front end.

So much to do, such little time and money.

Bart

NEVER EVER change the gear ratio one axle at a time! As soon as you put it in 4wd the front and rear axles will turn at different rpms and will break something. But with the extra weight and diameter of those tires you really do need gears. The 2.8 is such a weak motor... as you know. The 3.4 will still be under powered for those meats.

[ZEUS]

Man, that looks just like the one I used to drive around Ft. A.P. Hill alla time. It was even in similar condition. IIRC mine was gas tho - they had prolly already run outta spare diesel engines.

Don't know if the story is true but I'd heard that GM took such a bath on the diesel engines that the Gov't bought the CUCV to bail them out & the engines were so bad that part of the contract was for a spare engine with every unit produced.

Really? That's odd. I don't believe it because like Joe says the motors had a great track record. Now the 5.7 gas converted to diesel was a pile of turds!

[Joe_Black]

ya, my dads diesel took a crap..otherwise he would have kept it...IIRC the gas motor actually gets better mileage and has more power...

A gasser V8 that gets 25+ MPG in a 1 1/4 ton 4x4 truck? What's he got in it?

[ZEUS]

So what did you find about the 6.2 that's giving you second thoughts? The only significant issue I've found thus far is that you need to keep an eye on the harmonic balancer, but other than that it's got a fantastic track record.

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.

[tom4bren]

It's prolly the 5.7 I was thinking of.

[pbkid]

A gasser V8 that gets 25+ MPG in a 1 1/4 ton 4x4 truck? What's he got in it?

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...

[Triathlete]

Justin, over on Pirate " 100dollarman" does a lot of military surplus vehicle sales HERE. Might be an option for parts or donor vehicles. He is in north central Arizona (just north of Show Low).

Off topic...what was the brand of bed liner you used on your cladding and who sales it?
Back on topic...that stuff might be a good option IF you decide to repaint the AWOL and if it comes in the right color!

[ZEUS]

Justin, over on Pirate " 100dollarman" does a lot of military surplus vehicle sales HERE. Might be an option for parts or donor vehicles. He is in north central Arizona (just north of Show Low).

Off topic...what was the brand of bed liner you used on your cladding and who sales it?
Back on topic...that stuff might be a good option IF you decide to repaint the AWOL and if it comes in the right color!

Hey, I've seen that guy! He is selling an awesome bobbed Deuce! Check this thing out: http://www.100dollarman.com/trucks.html His web site says he is in Lucerne Valley, Cali tho.

I used Dupli-Color bed liner - and I plan on using it on the axles when I rebuild them. I have only seen it in black, but have found it at Walmart and Auto Zone.

I'm going camping over the weekend so tomorrow I am going to fumigate the garage - a spider or a family of them hatched eggs the day after I took the truck off the trailer - thousands of little red buggers!

[Triathlete]

His web site says he is in Lucerne Valley, Cali tho.

Yep, looks like he has moved. His user info used to say Snowflake, Az.

[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