Our NEWEST project: M1010 Ambulance

[Madmedic]

We've been putting this off as long as we could. But now begins our fast track to bankruptcy. Our M1010 Ambulance.

It's got a little over 15,000mi on it. When we got it, All the Red Cross Placards including the Roof Placard and 1 Caducceous were in the patient compartment. But all will need to be repainted. Also came with the original Jump seat. Have replaced all belts and hoses in engine. Flushed Fuel system including tank. Replaced fuel filter and sleeve on fuel line in the tank. 2 New Batteries. Flushed and replaced all other fluids.

BAD NEWS: "People, we have a BUG in the electrical system" Actually several. Dome light in patient compartment works. All others are No-Go. Same Same for Spot lights and head lights. A.C. is also Non-Op. Needs new brakes, possibly new brake cylinder, new shocks, alignment, Rubber matting in driver's compartment S.H.O.T. Found remains of a Federal Siren Speaker in Engine compartment. Wiring harness in Driver's Compartment. Also wiring harnesses for both Commerical and Military Commo. Found remains of mounting for a beacon light mounted to side of AC system. And lastly, she goes to the paint barn for a complete exterior repaint, in 2 weeks.

 

[forest522]

That will be an awesome project! Keep us posted!!!

 

[Madmedic]

More picts of Front Cab area. Got the rubber matting ripped out (mostly). Good news is no cancer (rust spots) found. Am debating whether to put rubber matting back in, or going with the spray in bed liner. Since I'm trying to restore this one to the same condition as it would have been when I worked in one as a 91B Medic in the 80's, am leaning towards the rubber.

Next set of picts will be the patient compartment with supplies. Probably get those posted tonite.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Cool machine. I have one, love it!

 

[dmetalmiki]

There, is a a worth while project to keep you interested and occupied for a long time. I wish I had some medic experience as you have, so as to use and or demonstrate the medical kit I have managed to obtain over a long period. My ambulance is the F350 and much used in all sectors apparantly. Civilian and military. It only has 7,000 K.M.s on it, hardly run in. I have managed to install all the radios sirens lights and beacons etc. It even has the original marked stretcher sheets from the U.S. Airforce base, as well as some airbase documents, accident forms runway warnings and codes etc, and everything is working. It makes a real impression at shows. As well as on the road getting there. I am really pleased, proud (and privaliged) to own and show it off.

 

[Madmedic]

Nice Box Unit, I'm guessing that the original Manufacturer for that unit was Frazier, located here in Houston.

The "BASIC" packing lists for field ambulances are available in .pdf format. As you'll see from my next posts and pictures, the equipment (and packing lists) we used in the 1980's, is still valid today. There have been changes/modernization of the equipment, such as going from canvas litters to the nylon covered ones etc. But the basic medical care protocols and thus the supplies have remained the same. So finding the supplies and equipment to properly stock a military ambulance is not too difficult.

I was an active U.S. Military Medic from 1982 to 1989. So I was there when we 1st got the M1010 Ambulances, and the Humvee Version. (not a fan). So the equipment and supplies I'm stocking mine with, will represent that entire time frame, and beyond, such as the TALON folding stretcher system, which was an experimental item when I got out, but is standard issue now.

 

[mkcoen]

One of the 1st mechanical (electrical) issues you might want to do is rip out the DUVAC. I farted around with mine for months trying to get it to work and had the same success as the military did (which was none) and eventually replaced it with a battery equalizer. There are several threads on here with a couple of different fixes but just about everyone is of the consensus that the DUVAC is crap.

 

[Super Warrantman]

Nice score of an M1010, Madmedic. During the course of my long Army career I was in two different Army General Hospitals in the 1980s (not as a medic however) and we had plenty of these. They did not get that much use in a general hospital setting so somebody probably got a bargain when they were finally released for sale to the general public after the 1990s.

Nice Ford 350 ambulance, dmetalmiki. I've never seen one like it in the Army during my time, (1970-1999) (we had Dodges and later Chevies) but the Air Force probably had quite a few different bits of kit that we Army dogfaces didn't see.It may have been an overseas theatre unit too. Where did you get it? RAF Mildenhall?

 

[Madmedic]

I am a man who knows his limitations, and freely admits them. When it comes to sticking my hands into someone's guts to pinch close a spurting artery, I'm your man. When it comes to sticking hands inside of an engine compartment, you want me inside the house watching television. I can screw up getting the dipstick back into the holding tube after checking my oil. So I leave that work to the experts. Fortunately, I have a shop next door to our store, with a retired U.S. Army Motor Pool Mechanic.

Having said that. I THINK someone in the TX National Guard, beat us to it. There is a battery equalizer mounted on the wall of the engine compartment in between the two batteries.

 

[mkcoen]

Having said that. I THINK someone in the TX National Guard, beat us to it. There is a battery equalizer mounted on the wall of the engine compartment in between the two batteries.

Just as long as it's not the "blue box of death" on the driver's side inner fender then they probably did get the issue resolved. You'll know for sure if you're idling for any length of time and start smelling the battery boiling over. That would be the DUVAC overcharging one of the batteries. I'll call you if I need my guts pinched although the distance from Spring to Spring Branch might make that my last call.

 

[Madmedic]

Warrantman, know what you mean. Was stationed at Ft. Stewart, Ft. Lewis, Ft. Bragg and Ft. Benning State side. And at all those posts except for Madigan at Ft. Lewis, the "primary" ambulances stationed at the Hospitals or Fire Stations were civilian like dmetalmiki's.

When I first arrived at Ft. Lewis (1984) they were using the M1010's as primary response units, while waiting for the Army to replace them with Civilian Style Ambulances. Standard practice for the units I was in, was to rotate our combat medics to the field ambulances like the M1010 or Humvee Ambulances (again NOT a fan) during FTX's, as well as shifts in the base ER's to keep our skills current.

 

[Madmedic]

I'll call you if I need my guts pinched although the distance from Spring to Spring Branch might make that my last call.[/QUOTE]

Not a problem, but I can make some referrals to someone at Spring Branch Memorial, or Memorial City Herman, to speed things up if necessary.

 

[mkcoen]

I'll call you if I need my guts pinched although the distance from Spring to Spring Branch might make that my last call.

Not a problem, but I can make some referrals to someone at Spring Branch Memorial, or Memorial City Herman, to speed things up if necessary.

Different Spring Branch. I'm just north of San Antonio.

 

[Madmedic]

Noooooo problem. Got a nephew at UTMB SA..... Medicine sorta runs in the family. But he is the "black sheep" of the family. Wants to be a Cutter (surgeon) instead of Internal Medicine like his brothers.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Thanks for the complement. The body is by Coachworks I think. I fitted the running boards and fender arches as I like the chevy style all in line look. The F350 canme from U.S.A.F.E. Lakenheath. My other one from Mildenhall, and yet another from an unkown base over here. Made two good ones out of the three, sold one. Kept the best one. Broke the unkown one for spares, I have everything electical, sirens, lights, all the inverters air "things" suckers? (nose / throat pump?) spare strecther,and strobe actuators etc. Full set of brand new wheels and tires. Manuals handbooks,Tools, jack loads more. Oh and another little item...A spare 7.2 V8 deisel, auto gearbox , transfer case and props etc. (duly bent in the middle!) I have 4 spare canvas stretchers in a long locker which I think hang from some roof supports inside the body. You might like the heavy duty tow detatchable tow hitch for pulling my jeep to shows. at the show a step slides in to the same location.

 

[Badojeep]

Nice looking truck, good luck with your project.

 

[Madmedic]

dmetalmike.... Coachworks or Wheeled Coach? Wheeled Coach and Frazier the two "primary" manufacturers of Box Units like that. Wheeled Coach also did/does High Top vans along with Braun. However, there are/have been many others, then and now. "Air Things" and suckers should be 2 different things.

The large-tall compartment on the passenger's side next to the side entrance door, is the storage location for an "M" Cylinder of oxygen. This would supply oxygen throughout the box to various points on the walls where the Oxygen Regulators were plugged in. Opening that side entrance door, there should be storage compartments on the right hand side as you step in. This is typically where the smaller portable oxygen system and the portable suction were stored. The sucker, should be a onboard suction system, using a cannister which will be mounted on or above a shelf on the driver's side of the compartment, next to the attendant's chair.

The large compartment at the rear of the unit on the driver's side, by the back doors, was intended for spine boards and K.E.D. (kendrick extrication device). The long splints, traction splints, and mast trousers were usually stored underneath the bench seat on the passenger's side. The compartments on the driver's side interior were stocked with BLS (Basic Life Support) items. Such as Rolled Gauze, cold packs, 4x4 Gauze, etc etc etc. Also I.V. Fluids, tubing, catheters, Air Way Supplies. The exact items and their locations would have been up to the crew manning the unit. ALS (advanced life support items) such as medications, would usually be kept in a seperate "Jump" boxes, both for security and easy access.

The other outside storage compartments were for tools, or whatever else the crews wanted to put in there. Some Ambulances have a back up generator to power the electircal needs of the ambulance if it is going to be on scene for a long period of time, so that they would not over heat the engine.

Field Ambulances like the Humvee Ambulance or like my M1010 did not have many of these niceties.

 

[Madmedic]

And VERY nice work on the driver's compartment. Looks complete and ready to go into service.

 

[Madmedic]

Here's some picts of the med kits and supplies going in. 1st on the left side of the ambulance: Primary Airway supplies bag, 1 litter hanging, 1 litter open with Portable Oxygen system and 2 blankets. We generally used one blanket to pad the litter or cover the patient. The 2nd blanket would be used as a pillow or additional padding as needed. Unless we had multiple patients, this litter would stay in place. The "MANUAL" said to use patient restraint straps or GP straps to hold the litters to the bench seats. We generally used Bungi Cords.

"C" Collars were hung on both sides within easy reach. Spine Boards sat along the back of the bench seat, in between the 2nd litter and the bench seat, OR were held in place with the straps like the 2nd litter. (Just washed ours, they're still drying. Will take picts later.

 

[Madmedic]

Left Side, lower compartment, was primary storage for Immediate Trauma/Splinting Needs. Here we stored our Traction Splints, Spare Cervical Collars, our K.E.D. (kendrick Extrication Device, spinal immobilizer) and M-5 Medical Bags with our smaller splints, plus Ace Bandages, Roller Gauze, Ice Packs, etc. Long Board splints were also stored here.