Keith's M1078A1 Project Overland

[Keith Knight]

My M1078A1 built in 2003 History, Purchased from GovPlanet September 2015 as a non runner all fluids drained, no batteries and a huge hole in the front left tire.
Picked it up from Hurlburt AFB, Florida.


I've been working on it ever since.
I'm late at starting this project thread but I wanted to have a single place to post the different things I've done to it, so I'll start posting current progress and past progress here and post links to my other threads.

To begin they through all the drain plugs away when they drained the fluids. Which is crazy because it leaked fluids everywhere hauling it home so it had to have been leaking fluids in the motor pool. So whats the reasoning for draining the fluids? Any way after purchasing new plugs, batteries and a used tire then filling it back up with fluids.
About 30 seconds of cranking it STARTED!!!! Surprisingly ran and drove great. Despite a few idiot lights on in the dash.

I'm along ways into the build now so things won't be in chronological but I will go back when I have time and edit the first post when necessary.
Here is my latest project.

 

[Landbarger]

Surprised at how little sag there is on your tow vehicle. Looks like a good truck. Awesome that it started right up for you!

 

[Keith Knight]

CRUISE CONTROL and FOG LIGHT SWITCH install.
I started off by wanting to install 3 new switches in the dash For Cruise control and fog lights and ended with removing all the dash components, steering column and side steps for painting while I had it apart.

Here is the gage panel with 3 new holes machined into it.

Refurbished the light switch after finding some evidence of arcing on one of the terminals. Also found some corrosion on the circuit board.
Painted everything and reassembled everything.

Cruise switches.

Fog light switch.

Removed entire side step assembly painted and reinstalled. With the addition of rhino lining on the step/lid.

Next I need to take it to the Caterpillar shop for them to program the ECM and enable the Cruise control.
While I'm there I'm also going to have them reflash the ECM with the 330 HP program.

 

[mkcoen]

Looks great Keith! I'm not nearly that ambitious. I think I'm done with mine, other than finalizing where to mount the back up cam, for the foreseeable future. I'm going to spend between now and next spring enjoying the fun of driving it. I may break down and repaint next year but haven't decided yet.

 

[Castle Bravo]

That turned out very nice! Where did you source the new rocker switches from?

 

[acropilot]

Well Done. Looks great.

 

[Keith Knight]

The rocker switches are SWF switches / Britax I collected them from different places. They are used take offs from RV's.

 

[Bobcat701]

Excellent job, you have great skill. I have been learning a lot about mechanics ever since I got mine. I find it relaxing. Thanks' for sharing. \

Joe

 

[Keith Knight]

I found the tab broken off of the drivers side air bag lock down the other day. Just one more repair LOL!!!

The broken piece is to the left in my hand, I made a new one and welded it on then primed it.

 

[Suprman]

If your airbag is still good I probably have an extra housing somewhere

 

[Keith Knight]

Thanks suprman, but I didn't do a good job explaining the picture. The broken piece is in my hand and the primed area is the part I made and welded on.

 

[coachgeo]

How does the other cab shock housing look? Only mention cause if it has some tweak too; then consider with both being tweaked as a possible symptom of side to side motion of the cab your not suppose to be getting.

 

[SteelWarrior]

More pics More Pics!!

 

[Keith Knight]

The M1078 Air Horn upgrade 8/15/2016 link.
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?157058-FMTV-Air-Horn-Install

 

[tterbo]

Great looking dash!

 

[Keith Knight]

Along with all the fluids being drained it was also missing the batteries and the battery cover. Keeping with the thought of easy servicing I wanted to use a common battery. After doing the research and some measurements I decided to go with the more common battery and used 4 of the Group 31C batteries. Here is the result. In addition the original cables wouldn't work so I made the connections using silver plated copper buss bars from McMaster.

 

[Keith Knight]

Finally had a chance to engineer and build a set of aluminum ramps for loading my jeeps into the back of my M1078A1. Here some pictures.
Its a 1995 jeep YJ on 37" tires. The total height is 11' 8". When loaded it lowered the M1078 by 1 7/8". The Jeep weighs close to 5,000lbs.

The Ramps are 12' long and roll into the bed.

 

[Keith Knight]

Some more pictures with my 1951 M38 loaded.

Polaris side by side.

 

[DiverDarrell]

Awesome!!!! From the looks of that I don't think my LJ will fit .

 

[TNriverjet]

Wow! Great use for the truck. I like the civy receiver hitch too.