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HMMV conversion/ customization cheap!

Johnpaulreading

New member
1
0
1
Location
Sturgis MI
I am looking to make my humvee as nice as possible, and have already painted/ done a bunch to my truck. I am new to being a member to a forum, but have referenced threads over the years for many of my vehicles.

Truck started as a 2 door I paid $8000 for on eBay. $150 in gas and uhaul auto transport rental. I used a cheap Baer semigloss with a harbor freight spray gun to spray the truck. Paint looked horrible when I got it, and I just wanted color on it. I didn't even sand it, just pressure washed as I figured the amount of runs the military left on it would have to have some serious sanding or sodablasting, and spending an afternoon on something that might stick for $50 was worth trying. If I was going to have an expensive paint job, an extra layer of black paint wouldn't make a difference either way.

I converted it from 2 man to 4 man, used c pillar, top and rear doors off craigslist, $300. I still need a rear curtain. The seats were a set of rear reclining actual leather rear seats from a 2017 crossover suv on eBay. They even have arm rests. $104 shipped to my door, I couldn't beat the price. 2 seatbelt a off ebay for $15. 2 30" LED light bars from China, $30ea. Jeep 7" LED headlights, $58 for the pair. I spent $120 on rear ball joints, one tie tod end, idler and pitman plus another $100 to align it. I got a set of 4 6x9" speakers for $20, and a dual head unit, 1000 watt amp and 12" Rockford fosgate sub off craigslist for $100.

Once I figure out how to post pics I'll put some up. The paint seems to be sticking just fine to the soft doors and 4 man roof.

Can anyone answer if you can cut up the giant truck canvas piece for the troop enclosure to make a 4 man rear curtain?

Has anyone found any junkyard center consoles that don't look awkward in the giant space? Maybe a van flip down one?
 
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ari

New member
233
3
0
Location
dacula Ga
I am looking to make my humvee as nice as possible, and have already painted/ done a bunch to my truck. I am new to being a member to a forum, but have referenced threads over the years for many of my vehicles.

Truck started as a 2 door I paid $8000 for on eBay. $150 in gas and uhaul auto transport rental. I used a cheap Baer semigloss with a harbor freight spray gun to spray the truck. Paint looked horrible when I got it, and I just wanted color on it. I didn't even sand it, just pressure washed as I figured the amount of runs the military left on it would have to have some serious sanding or sodablasting, and spending an afternoon on something that might stick for $50 was worth trying. If I was going to have an expensive paint job, an extra layer of black paint wouldn't make a difference either way.

I converted it from 2 man to 4 man, used c pillar, top and rear doors off craigslist, $300. I still need a rear curtain. The seats were a set of rear reclining actual leather rear seats from a 2017 crossover suv on eBay. They even have arm rests. $104 shipped to my door, I couldn't beat the price. 2 seatbelt a off ebay for $15. 2 30" LED light bars from China, $30ea. Jeep 7" LED headlights, $58 for the pair. I spent $120 on rear ball joints, one tie tod end, idler and pitman plus another $100 to align it. I got a set of 4 6x9" speakers for $20, and a dual head unit, 1000 watt amp and 12" Rockford fosgate sub off craigslist for $100.

Once I figure out how to post pics I'll put some up. The paint seems to be sticking just fine to the soft doors and 4 man roof.

Can anyone answer if you can cut up the giant truck canvas piece for the troop enclosure to make a 4 man rear curtain?

Has anyone found any junkyard center consoles that don't look awkward in the giant space? Maybe a van flip down one?
pics?
 

86humv

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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501
113
Location
Texas
" They" should add a Hmmwv hot rodding and modification post like Cucv, and Deuce have for all the
Non military things these guys are doing to these former Military trucks.
 

TOBASH

Father, Surgeon, Cantankerous Grouch
Steel Soldiers Supporter
Supporting Vendor
3,587
3,498
113
Location
Brooklyn, NY
IMHO and from my FNG observations... You will find 2 major types of people on this forum:

The restoration guys; They want to keep these vehicles as correct as possible. They know every part and every procedure and they are the go-to guys when it comes to knowledge and parts. They will be able to direct you to technical manuals (TM's) with necessary information. They are the lifeblood of this forum.

The modification guys; Not well represented on this BB. They want to modify and change things and go against the rules of what a HMMWV/M998 is/was. Those guys will be called out for making Bubba type vehicle modifications. They are here to make vehicles run and have some fun. Also a great bunch of guys, some of whom have vast experience with hot rodding and such.

Both sets of guys are cool and good people. For those owners who want to play with these vehicles as if they are Tinker Toys and Leggos, the restoration guys may take issue.


86HUMV:
I agree that we need a modifications forum, but that would mean we might lose the input of several extremely knowledgeable members and vendors who might chose to avoid such a BB.
 

DLJIII

New member
54
2
0
Location
Bemidji, Minnesota
Is there a happy mix?
Does upgrading headlights to LED cross the line or what exactly does?
I know the majority of us cant garage our trucks for three years ripping it down to the frame to do a complete restore.
Just curious as to what is the line between the two.
Personally, I put a good bit of time and money into the mechanical end of my truck and I dont want to be immediately dismissed by the seasoned experts here for putting some 12v switch panel in my truck when I should have coughed up $230 on a used original 24v NOS GI switch panel from 1986 ya know?
I did not buy my truck to rip through mud or mountains, I treat it as a 30 year vet of the armed forces.
Respect, care and pride.
 

TOBASH

Father, Surgeon, Cantankerous Grouch
Steel Soldiers Supporter
Supporting Vendor
3,587
3,498
113
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Is there a happy mix?
Does upgrading headlights to LED cross the line or what exactly does?
I know the majority of us cant garage our trucks for three years ripping it down to the frame to do a complete restore.
Just curious as to what is the line between the two.
Personally, I put a good bit of time and money into the mechanical end of my truck and I dont want to be immediately dismissed by the seasoned experts here for putting some 12v switch panel in my truck when I should have coughed up $230 on a used original 24v NOS GI switch panel from 1986 ya know?
I did not buy my truck to rip through mud or mountains, I treat it as a 30 year vet of the armed forces.
Respect, care and pride.
These are just my FNG boiled down observations. Don't take them to be more than that.

I think that there are some other modifications including swapping in Cummins engines that seem to be well liked by most. JuanPrado has electrical circuit breaker boxes he is installing that are well received. There are people building custom radio boxes and such...

I was describing an over all loose flavor, not an airtight reality.

[EDIT - I also think the mention of the word "cheap" with the concept of cutting canvas to size to make a rear curtain might have been a culprit here. In defense of the author, he did mention he has been looking but has not found one (although I have seen a few recently on Flea-bay).]

Best,

T
 
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