M816 Wrecker - General Questions

[Flyboy207]

Don't oil it, the oil will stay in the paint and make it a mess to deal with if you decide to repaint/touch up. Light wet sand it in a not very visible spot to see what colors it truly is. The wet sand can be used on the rear bumperettes and front bumper to get unit numbers. Those can tell you where it was last in service.

Some advice, IF you choose to keep it MERDC, Aervo paint is a bit sub par. The sand turns pink. Try and find Gillespie paint. The Federal paint numbers match almost perfectly. I did my MERDC deuce in Aervo, it was Grey Desert, the sand turned pink fast. I just kept a couple of cans under the seat. At car shows, when people were waxing their cars, I rattle canned mine!

I THINK the TM for MERDC paint patterns is here in the TM section, TB 43-0147 . If it isn't, I might have the copy here, Maybe I can scan to PDF and post it up

Alright, I'll give that a shot. The "comet wash" might work too, not sure if you're familiar with the Motor Trend show "Roadkill", but one of the guys uses a scrubbing sponge and comet cleaner to get oxidation and rust stains out of (marginal) old car paint. I've had luck with it before. Won't work for unit numbers though, I'll definitely wet sand and look for them.

Regarding the paint, I painted my Deuce with Rapco/Gillespie 24087 from a spray gun, it took a while to dry but looked pretty good. I will definitley use them again. I do enjoy painting MV's that aren't show quality, don't have to cover the shop in plastic or worry about dust in the paint.

I just spent about an hour searching for the MERDC manual that would have the M816... No luck. Some other people here have looked for it too, its TB 43-0209, the 1976 version not the 1990 supercede version. I've found a few places selling them, I might have to buy and sacrifice one to a Xerox machine for a PDF for everyone.

 

[WillWagner]

I still have digital stuff here, I'm pretty sure it is in that collection. I'll look.

 

[WillWagner]

I looked, even pulled out 4 old laptops, not in/on anything here. I know I had a copy, that's how I found what the pattern was as well as colors, on my junk. I'll keep looking, maybe see if there is a hard copy in the library at the Museum. Who knows, I might have taken it there.

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

Beautiful rig!!! Pretty sure when an "X" is used as a prefix to model number it represents a prototype or experiment.

Was there a pic of the data tag from the auction?

 

[Flyboy207]

Beautiful rig!!! Pretty sure when an "X" is used as a prefix to model number it represents a prototype or experiment.

Was there a pic of the data tag from the auction?

There was, but it’s hard to read in the picture. I’m looking forward to trying to figure out its history, but having read CARNAC’s recent posts it sounds like things have gotten more complicated…? Here’s the only picture I have of the tag right now:

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

Mfd 10/85. It is a bit harder but not impossible, might be easier for you because your truck is a bit newer. Weight data looks identical but the XM816 and M816 do have different stock numbers, it will be fun discovering what the differences are. Congrats on the win

 

[Flyboy207]

Mfd 10/85. It is a bit harder but not impossible, might be easier for you because your truck is a bit newer. Weight data looks identical but the XM816 and M816 do have different stock numbers, it will be fun discovering what the differences are. Congrats on the win

Well then… I’ve got to laugh at myself a little, I didn’t even consider that that was a manufactured date at the bottom. Thanks!

 

[NDT]

By the USA number embedded in the VIN, it’s a 1971. AMGeneral was busy building 936s in the 80s.

 

[Flyboy207]

By the USA number embedded in the VIN, it’s a 1971. AMGeneral was busy building 936s in the 80s.

Thanks NDT, I assume there’s a thread I can chase down regarding VIN changes? I’ve been looking for M- vs XM- differences and I keep hitting the “page not found” error because the links are old.

 

[NDT]

The David Doyle article in Military Vehicle Magazine that explains decoding the VIN is copyrighted and not available on the internet.

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

I thought date of inspection and date of manufacture were the same date, guess I get a lesson too .

 

[Flyboy207]

I thought date of inspection and date of manufacture were the same date, guess I get a lesson too .

Well you know what they say… you learn something new every day!

 

[Flyboy207]

I looked, even pulled out 4 old laptops, not in/on anything here. I know I had a copy, that's how I found what the pattern was as well as colors, on my junk. I'll keep looking, maybe see if there is a hard copy in the library at the Museum. Who knows, I might have taken it there.

Just purchased a copy of the 1976 MERDC vehicle markings manual, TB-43-0209. I'll work on uploading it for everyone when I get it.

 

[Guyfang]

I just uploaded a 1976 version, from M813rc. Its in the Misc TM forum.

 

[Flyboy207]

I just uploaded a 1976 version, from M813rc. Its in the Misc TM forum.

Well, crumb.
I guess I don’t get to be the one to upload it… but that also means I don’t have to pay the UPS store to scan it! My hard copy is getting here today, maybe the restoration crew at my museum wants it.