February 24th, 2013.
Nick02:
And add convert the plugs and electricals from the distibuter body up to civillian plugs, leads, distributor cap and possible a Pertronix ignition unit, as the S404.114's don't really like to go above 35 MPH for long with with the stock ignition. If you are in an area with Ethanol added to the gas, you will also want to convert the fuel pump to an electric one. I may have just come up with a system that works for the conversion, as before hand I blew three new mechanical pumps in 3 months, and then one electrical pump and one regulator for each of the last three years. I believe I have finally come up with a system that will let her run comparable to the mechanical fuel pump system at road speed and under water in fording.
You may also want to use a small amount of top cylinder oil in your gas, as these were meant to be run on either Benzine or leaded gasoline, none of which exists in the US anymore....
Most of your other work will just be replacing age deteriorated rubber compnents, and from my own experience, try to keep her at 70 to 80 KMPH for ling trips or lower, as the bearings in the gearboxes and portals really do not like high speed running for extended periods. Most European militaries limited them to 60KPH on the road. Other then that, you will appreciate your Unimog if you take care of it, it should do very well for you. Scott Ingram at Expedition Imports, and Micahel Smith at Unipaser in California are two good companies to know, as they generally will have the parts you need (just don't bang the cab or koffer box up), as will Willie Brandt at Swiss Army vehicles.
Before you try to lock the truck up on the fly, remember that she will shift into and out of FWD without the clutch if she's NOT slipping, if she is slipping you will need to use the clutch, and I'm not sure if I would attempt a full "Lock Up" of the differentials when moving. She can probably do it, but you might do better to lock up at a stand still before you need the locks, and you will find she doesn't like sharp turns in Lock....
Most of this is based on experience, as I use my Swiss S404.114 Cargo daily, and brough her to Illinois from Texas under her own power. Once you've had an Unimog, you will never go back to plain old FWD anymore!
RE tubes, I would have gone with 10.5X20 MPTs, or get grooves cut in the lugs and center ridges to get water out from under the tires on those 9:00X20's, otherwise you will have a real experience of just what NDCC's do on wet roads. You will need new tubes with offset stems, as there are closer to AG tires then truck tires, and try to find the kind with the brass nut on the stems, as when you get a flat with regular tubes, the stem will disappear into the wheels.... I might also suggest using new flaps to protect the tubes from chafing against the tires. Usually old line truck tire (not Pick Up Truck) tire places will have or can get what you need. (Based on experience of owning mine for 6 years)
Oh, the military plugs used to be $17.00 each, and the shielded leads are very hard to find and very expensive. Unless you plain on going in water deeper then 2-1/2 or 3 feet (the operators manuals will give you the maximum safe depth), you probably don't need the military ignition components other then the distributor base and the generator/alternator unit. There is a fording kit for the S404.114 for deeper fording, good luck at finding one in the states for reasonable, and do keep spare fuses on hand, as your truck is probably German, so it won't have the breaker system the Swiss used. Also, check and caulk the fender joints under your cab floorboards, because when those joints open up, you will get rust throughs on the cab door sill frame rails, and they can be a bear cutting out & rewelding to correct the resultant rust.
OH, Welcome Aboard! Unimogs, the few, the proud, the unstoppable!
