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For those who haven't heard I've come into possession of a Buffalo MRAP trainer built on an M925A2 chassis. I want this thread to document the unique nature of this machine and updates as I work on it (even if slowly). I felt this should go under the "Heavy Armor" category due to the extensive retrofit work by the military in modifying this vehicle to replicate the Buffalo MRAP. I believe they did a fair job at it considering they reused a lot of readily available parts I'm sure.
By quick glance anyone can see features of the M939A2 series truck including tires, wheels, frame, and air tanks. From what I could tell during the short time before dark is that everything frame and below is stock to the M925A2. I'm unable to tell if a truck was pulled from existing stock or rebuild before going through this transformation at this time. The cab/firewall was reused as part of the design when the body/v-hull was built leaving it with a very M939 feel when in the driver seat. The body/hull is thick and will require further investigation as to it's actual armor but the windows are very much real. I assume it was easier to requisition the real stuff from inventory than outsource fake glass but this is only light speculation.
https://youtu.be/QpyMeztbFIk
The power plant is a Cummins 6CTA 8.3 turbo'd engine mated to a 5 speed transmission and t-case as expected on an M939A2. The engine was refitted with a 200V dual output Neihoff HMMWV alternator (again..working with that's available) and an A/C compressor was adapted on the driver side. The mount and pulley setup looks to match the factory Red Dot parts I have from an actual A/C kit through the hoses and inside cab components are build from the Red Dot catalog. The condenser is in the rear of the vehicle and hidden from view. One coolant line stretching the length of the frame began leaking so they have some additional plumbing going on that will require "tracing and replacing".
By quick glance anyone can see features of the M939A2 series truck including tires, wheels, frame, and air tanks. From what I could tell during the short time before dark is that everything frame and below is stock to the M925A2. I'm unable to tell if a truck was pulled from existing stock or rebuild before going through this transformation at this time. The cab/firewall was reused as part of the design when the body/v-hull was built leaving it with a very M939 feel when in the driver seat. The body/hull is thick and will require further investigation as to it's actual armor but the windows are very much real. I assume it was easier to requisition the real stuff from inventory than outsource fake glass but this is only light speculation.
https://youtu.be/QpyMeztbFIk
The power plant is a Cummins 6CTA 8.3 turbo'd engine mated to a 5 speed transmission and t-case as expected on an M939A2. The engine was refitted with a 200V dual output Neihoff HMMWV alternator (again..working with that's available) and an A/C compressor was adapted on the driver side. The mount and pulley setup looks to match the factory Red Dot parts I have from an actual A/C kit through the hoses and inside cab components are build from the Red Dot catalog. The condenser is in the rear of the vehicle and hidden from view. One coolant line stretching the length of the frame began leaking so they have some additional plumbing going on that will require "tracing and replacing".