Just got my first MV!

[Blaines2399]

So after initially driving to Indiana to look at a M923A2 and figuring out the guy pretty much led me on about the condition of the original truck I wanted, I found a M813A1 in Iowa. I drove her home the 350 miles and she did great! Different model than I wanted but the winch was super enticing.

Planning on doing some touch up work on the paint and convert it over to super singles. Anything else I should do? Thanks

 

[Superthermal]

Looks killer! Nice find for sure! I also own a M813. Unfortunatly even after having it for two years almost I am still short a working winch and lockers.
Best wishes on your rig. Here is a link to my build thread if your interested.

Superthermal's M813 Build, THE BOT

Had been looking for some time for an M813 with winch. Not much luck and was always behind another buyer it seemed. Finally found one in decent shape and an excellent price but on the other side of the US from me. The rig was located near Detroit. I know that is a long ways away but I bought...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[Mullaney]

So after initially driving to Indiana to look at a M923A2 and figuring out the guy pretty much led me on about the condition of the original truck I wanted, I found a M813A1 in Iowa. I drove her home the 350 miles and she did great! Different model than I wanted but the winch was super enticing.

Planning on doing some touch up work on the paint and convert it over to super singles. Anything else I should do? Thanks

View attachment 917318View attachment 917319

.
Happy that you found a nice looking truck! Making it 350 miles without problems gives it a pretty good "bill of health". Looking at the tires, I don't really see the need to go to Super Singles. That rubber looks pretty good... I think I would start with the LO (Lube Order). Get yourself a TM (Technical Manual) or two and change the oil, grease every fitting you can find, change the anti-freeze and filters for that too.

Yeah, those things don't really make the truck look different but making it last longer would be pretty good...

.

 

[Wreckclues]

Ditto on the M813 here too, 1976 Air Force.
If you ever develop a fuel delivery problem, check the pickup tube in the tank first. Some of us have steel tubes that rotted out over time. So far I've replaced the fuel gauge, fuel sender, blinka module, taillight assembly, tailgate pins, exhaust pipe, front windshields, ammeter, power steering tube, fuel filter and o-rings, fuel line to engine, one wiper motor (cleaned one of the originals) and rebuilt rotted out sections with expanding body filler foam. All the repairs have been straightforward, parts are available and not outrageously expensive. Also installed a 12V circuit off a 30Amp inverter, dual battery bank switch, 4 new...ish batteries, seat belts and an 8 kw diesel parking heater.
To pass state tech I'll need to rebuild the parking brake, patch a muffler leak, replace a rear view mirror ( hit a tree...oops), rebuild another rear view mirror mount (same tree coming back...dang it!) and replace the wheels and tires. I'm going with the 46 inch Goodyear 395 11R 20's. Concerned about changing the rigs center of gravity. Good luck on your project.

 

[M813rc]

What Mullaney said....

And that is one mighty fine looking 813!
Of all my trucks, the M813 is the one I enjoy driving the most.

Cheers

 

[Jbulach]

Brakes, don’t forget the brakes! Got through them end to end.

 

[98G]

Did you get a cargo cover with it?

That looks like a fantastic truck. The winch really adds to it.

I prefer the manual transmission in the 809 series to the 939's automatic. And that NH250 sounds a lot better than the 8.3 liter school bus engine in the M923A2...

If you go to sell those 11.00's let me know. I'd like to put my wrecker on duals ...

 

[williamh]

Congratulations on ur new truck and welcome to the forum. Looks like a great truck

 

[SCM35A2]

Congrats, good looking truck!

 

[Blaines2399]

Brakes, don’t forget the brakes! Got through them end to end.

What would you recommend doing? Replacing the brake lines and rebuilding the master cylinder?

 

[98G]

What would you recommend doing? Replacing the brake lines and rebuilding the master cylinder?

Bleed and inspect. Replace anything questionable.

These trucks have a single circuit system. Any leak or failure loses all your brakes. I've done it at highway speed. Once. It was more fun than anyone should be allowed to have....

Which fluid is in them currently?

 

[US6x4]

What would you recommend doing? Replacing the brake lines and rebuilding the master cylinder?

Look for wetness on the brake backing plate and at the bottom of the drum that would indicate a leaking wheel cylinder. On mine, it needed 5 of the 6 wheel cylinders rebuilt and it needed its hardened rubber brake hoses replaced.

I would drain the radiator to check and get rid of any nasty gunk that might be in there.

For other modifications I would add a pyrometer, jake brakes, coolant filter, and down the line maybe even a turbo

 

[Blaines2399]

Just finished putting on super singles on my truck with hemtt wheels! She's real big now. Next the hard top which is coming at the end of next week.

 

[Blaines2399]

Also does anyone know what thread pitch the studs are so I can buy a die to run over them? Thanks

 

[US6x4]

Also does anyone know what thread pitch the studs are so I can buy a die to run over them? Thanks

For the lug nuts or for the studs that hold the two wheel halves together?

 

[Blaines2399]

For the lug nuts or for the studs that hold the two wheel halves together?

Studs on the truck for the lug nuts

 

[US6x4]

Here's how you find the answer:

1. Download both halves of the M809 Technical Manual for parts that covers your M813A1 (TM 9-2320-260-24P-1 & -2)
2. The index of the first half will direct you to the rear brakes & hubs section with an exploded view of the parts and a Bill Of Material. Copy the NSN number of the part you want.
   

Go to www.parttarget.com and paste the NSN number into the search bar to find as many details as the system has available.

Here's another useful chart for the 5-ton combat wheels and then the HEMTT wheels:

 

[Blaines2399]

Here's how you find the answer:

1. Download both halves of the M809 Technical Manual for parts that covers your M813A1 (TM 9-2320-260-24P-1 & -2)
2. The index of the first half will direct you to the rear brakes & hubs section with an exploded view of the parts and a Bill Of Material. Copy the NSN number of the part you want.View attachment 920142

Go to www.parttarget.com and paste the NSN number into the search bar to find as many details as the system has available. View attachment 920143 View attachment 920144


Here's another useful chart for the 5-ton combat wheels and then the HEMTT wheels:
View attachment 920145
View attachment 920146

Awesome, thanks for the help

 

[US6x4]

You bet and remember that approach because it can work on a lot of other parts

 

[Blaines2399]

Got the roof put on last night. They're not exactly bolt on kits, definitely had to fight it a little bit.