HMMWV Humvee M1123 Build Thread

[Vapor Trail]

SO I got my M1123 in. I'm mechanically inclined but I haven't done much automotive work. My plan is to do something like the Predator ATVR-6 (internal cage, not exo). I'm going to Line-X inside and paint the outside satin sheen, build a cage, new bumpers, new gauges, all new wiring, brakes, halfshafts, tires, and wheels. For the powerplant I think I'll get an aluminum 6.2 liter L86 and a 8L90 transmission. Probably put lockers on it too.

 

[osteo16]

wowser....lets see before pics...

 

[Vapor Trail]

I’m not a fan of body lifts but I see why they’re used in these vehicles so often. I’m building one now but not just cheap spacers. I’m making the four corners from scratch 1.5” taller. Not just for bigger tires but when Govplanet picked it up it squashed the body where the forks were a little bit because the body sits lower than the frame. I have a big forklift and if I want to pick it up I don’t want to worry about board spacers. More pics as I move along

 

[Vapor Trail]

I’m replacing the seats so I have cut out all the old sheet metal that was there. I’m going to have the bases open so you can slide things under them for storage and I didn’t want the seats hinged or removable.

 

[Vapor Trail]

So I got the seat bases started. I’ll add extra bracing underneath and a sloped piece where all four match that goes over to the door sill. Later on I’ll cut speaker holes in them maybe. The rear seats have an opening on the front. I’ll put a removable door there for storage underneath

 

[BananaRay]

Nice metal working skills. I am sure you will get plenty of requests to make them for sale.

 

[Vapor Trail]

Thank you, I thought I might so I have it all on computer

 

[Vapor Trail]

So for the lift I put spacers in the middle but on the ends I built new body mounts which are much lighter but just as strong and they incorporate the holes for mounting the bumpers. I took off the existing ones and measured them and made my changes but I didn’t build them square in the shop. I built them in place on the machine so that the important surfaces would be straight and even. This made for ugly and misfitting joints because the frame rails are so cambered and castered out but now the hood mounting surfaces are perfect and the cracking fiberglass is no longer in a bind.

 

[Vapor Trail]

Also, I realized the way it originally sat the rear top fender surface wasn’t parallel with the other straight surface which is the door sill area. I used the rear mounts to straighten that up so that gap between the two looks correct now

 

[Vapor Trail]

I built this winch mount from 5/16” steel. It replaces those twisted bars that ties the frame to the crossmember. You have to relocate the solenoid from the winch to get the winch in this high and tight so it’s not shown.

 

[Vapor Trail]

I found some pictures on the net of some bumpers that looked pretty good so yesterday I changed some things to fit my needs and built this one. I found another one I like better but I already had this done so I might do something different later in.

 

[Vapor Trail]

So I built his cage out of 2.125 DOM .120 wall tubing. It think it turned out pretty well. I still have to figure out which seat belts to use.

 

[lpcoating]

Looks great! Did you tie the rear section into the frame somehow?

 

[Vapor Trail]

Looks great! Did you tie the rear section into the frame somehow?

I thought about tying it in to the bumper but it’s mostly just for aesthetics. I don’t want to get rear ended or back into a rock and it tear up the cage too. All the cage points are around the edge and the frame is way inboard so it’s just not worth the effort if you aren’t into heavy off-road stuff

 

[Vapor Trail]

Power plant is here! 6.2 liter L86 aluminum block with 8 speed transmission

 

[Vapor Trail]

So I’ve been working on some more stuff. Added grab handles to the cage, started the roof, started the rock doors. Front bumper is almost done. I’ll post it later

 

[BKubu]

Your build looks amazing. Your craftsmanship is truly impressive!

 

[Vapor Trail]

Thanks!

 

[lpcoating]

What are rock doors? Is there a skin for them or as is like you see on jeeps sometimes?

 

[Vapor Trail]

Also called tube doors. I thought about some perforated inset metal or something but the idea is to keep the feeling your still open to the elements but not be able to fall out. I think they're called rock doors because the rock crawlers can see what's going on through them better. I think it will look better when they're all painted to match the body. If I change my mind i can make a set of something else that pops onto the hinges later.