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I think we may have finally cracked the case on the Blood Sweat and Tears V100. I have been in contact with a couple 504th C Company vets and they've been contacting old army buddies they've not talked to in nearly 55 years. As a result, nobody so far can place the BS&T V100 in their memories...

We found a picture of Don Tillman (red shirt) from around the time he lost his engraved Zippo. That lighter would remain lost for 52 years.

No I haven't, are these images available online or only in books?

Patrick Spinks (aka "Spunky") in the turret and Charles Hannigan in the driver's seat. 504th C aboard "The Texan" This was one of four V100s in the C company and I am told there were four V100s in their company, each had nose art. I have spoke with two veterans of the 504th C company and they...

If you ever come across one with 1304269 registration number, please advise!

Clicking through the slides that were sent to me from USMC Major Harold Itchkawich's estate in California, I came across this photo taken sometime in the late '60s. In a earlier phone conversation with the gentleman that was a friend of Harold's, I'm told he was 5'-7" and a man that made things...

Just received a collection of slides from late '60s to early '70s from the Major Harold Itchkawich, USMC estate in response to posts I have made looking for Vietnam era war photos that may have captured an image of the V100 we are restoring. Of course this V100 was not assigned to the USMC but...

Was able to make contact with a veteran named Patrick that arrived in country the same year at the BS&T V100 arrived, and was assigned to the same 504th Company C. There were four V100s there and all had nose art. He remembered Don Tillman and the Blood Sweat and Tears V100. Patrick (from west...

Just received this one. Not Blood Sweat and Tears but it probably did share the same mud.

Yes unfortunately their numbers are dwindling and it appears the few that are still among us either don't know or doesn't want to remember...which isn't a good thing to build a history lesson from. The one promising lead we had ended at an obituary. Jack Hamilton was a Vietnam vet with the...

It was really an honor to be able to put this Zippo into the hand of the young soldier who dropped it 52 years earlier while in Vietnam. What was even more special was the fact that he was sitting in the same vehicle that he lost it in when he got it back. Could you imagine how many photos that...

Rory I understand completely and we're holding out to see if anything turns up with regards to photos or first hand knowledge of this vehicle. Even Don Tillman didn't remember the nose art or much else specifically concerning Blood Sweat and Tears V100. We also have a 1911A1 that we will custom...

Still searching for a photo of this V100 while in Vietnam. Reg#1304269 hull number #10602 So far we have been unable to find a single photo and as time slips away, hope for finding any relevant photos or information fades as well. We've ran down every lead that has been offered and...

You are correct S. Very small adjustments (probably less than 1/16”) can be made by either reducing or shimming the thickness of the two large thrust washers along with adjusting the length of the outer tube spacer between the hinge arms. Anything more than that you’ll probably have to adjust...

Here are all the newly manufactured parts along side the samples used to make them. Sometimes when an old, obsolete piece is brought back to life, there are going to be broken or missing parts that simply wont be available over the counter. Since a measure of corrosion protection would be...

Like the main bearing, the hinge on this hatch had been torch cut. The replacement was made based on dimensions from another vehicle with this type turret. We will cut the old part off at the existing weld and attach the new one after some prep and fixturing.

Although expensive (as compared to a patch job) buying a new bearing is sometimes cheaper than trying to bring back a demilled one back to life.

Spring stock for the torsion springs in the hatch hinge. These work the same as the spring pack in a VW beetle front end (seems everyone is familiar with that) and the material is .094" x 1 x 14-1/8 and .062" x 1 x 14-1/8, four each. I got ours from McMaster Carr (9074K184 and 9075K367) The two...

There are 4 bushings that go in the hinge assembly of these turrets and McMaster Carr has a bushing (PN# 1281N32) that is dimensionally the same with exception of the length, which has to be shortened to around 11/16" below the flange or 3/4" overall. Original pictured on left, modified McMaster...

I am in the process of making them Rory. Thanks for looking.