lizzyfur
Member
- 13
- 30
- 13
- Location
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Hey guys! First time posting here but I’ve been reading the forums for a while now, and I’m excited that I can finally be a part of the community now that I got my M1009. This is my first diesel, first 4x4 and first time owning a vehicle older than I am so I know there’s going to be a bit of a learning curve. I drove the truck almost 2 hrs home without any issues, so it runs and drives pretty good despite the fact it sat unused for a while. The previous owner put new tires on it and replaced the water pump, starter and glow plug relay and I had to put a new battery in to get it home, but everything else is of unknown age.
So far this is my plan for the immediate future:
Also any recommendations on tools/spare parts to carry with me? I’ve always driven sh*tbox cars so I usually have a jumpstarter and additional jumper cables, WD-40, zipties, fuses, jack & stands, whatever fluids it leaks and various wrenches and sockets. I plan on having spare belts as well. Is there anything in the TM's about what they carried with them in the field? I'm only about halfway through reading them.
Any other general advice or tips for a 4x4/diesel newbie?
Thanks in advance!
So far this is my plan for the immediate future:
- Do the Doghead relay mod
- Clean up electrical connections and wiring
- Replace all rubber bushings
- Change filters and fluids
- Track down the source of a few leaks. The worst seems to be oil leaking out of the drain plug. The plastic washer that’s on it is in rough condition so gonna try replacing that when I change the oil and hopefully that’ll fix it. There’s another leak around the steering box that’s been leaving a small puddle on the ground. The whole front drive area is also pretty oily/wet looking. I know old trucks are always going to be leaky in places but how much is normal and how much is cause for concern?
- The previous owner took out the glow plug controller and installed a manual pushbutton. The wiring is pretty sketchy so I’m planning on redoing it, and installing a LED after the relay to help with any future troubleshooting. I am on the fence about trying to fix the original controller and reinstall it, because I like the idea of having the timing being controlled by an actual measurement. On the other hand, I haven’t had starting issues yet with the manual button (*knock on wood…*) and adding the controller back might add more chance for problems to arise. Any thoughts on this?
- Replace the really worn out shocks. Is there much difference in feel between something like Rancho’s or Skyjackers vs Monroe? The truck is stock height with 31" tires and will be mainly driven on pavement but will see some offroad use.
Also any recommendations on tools/spare parts to carry with me? I’ve always driven sh*tbox cars so I usually have a jumpstarter and additional jumper cables, WD-40, zipties, fuses, jack & stands, whatever fluids it leaks and various wrenches and sockets. I plan on having spare belts as well. Is there anything in the TM's about what they carried with them in the field? I'm only about halfway through reading them.
Any other general advice or tips for a 4x4/diesel newbie?
Thanks in advance!
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