Rebuilding FAV #91

[signalcorps]

A little more done this week. I removed the radio basket and fuel tank to get access to the rear frame. If anyone needs photos of anything on the frame now would be the time. Just let me know what you need.

Spent a couple hours this week sanding and primering. Working my way to the back.

 

[signalcorps]

Worked on it for a couple hours in the last week. REMOVED THE SEATS, RADIO BASKET AND FUEL TANK TO GET ACCESS TO THE FULL FRAME. Sanded and primed some too. Even a little time is good for the soul!

 

[signalcorps]

Another friday update. This is what I did this week...

Finished sanding and primering the frame. Next step is 1st shade of CAMO!!!!

 

[signalcorps]

After sanding and primering the entire frame I have just finished applying the first coat of Deep Forest Green Camo paint.

 

[signalcorps]

Last week I cleaned, sanded and painted the front backing plates and bolted them up, Then added the wheel cylinder and adjusters. I hope to get the new shoes and spring kit installed soon. I will try to press the new TIMKEN bearings in the drums this week and finish up the brakes.

I actually had 2 whole hours of real work on the FAV this week. I managed to get the front suspension back together including the steering shaft, bearings and wheel. Also installed the new rubber dust shields on the original WRIGHT rack and pinion box. I guess that is something.

 

[signalcorps]

When you get to it, can you identify this Mystery Automotive Electronics Box in your front/dash wire harness? 12v flasher ?
View attachment 907048

That is the power box for the HID lights the previous owner installed. There are 2 of them.

 

[signalcorps]

I actually got a full day to work on my FAV and it was a good one. The rear suspension is done except for the shocks. The trans axle is in and shifter working. I cleaned and mounted the fuel tank and installed a new sending unit. The engine I have is a 1835cc with lightened flywheel and deep oil sump. Heads have 40mm SS valves. I installed the new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing. Waiting on new engine studs to come. Dont know what I did with the original set. Should get them Monday and the engine can be mounted. Next I sanded and painted the radio basket and installed it and the dual air filter assembly. I received the new front 5 inch wide wheels and ordered tires. They will be in on wednesday. It is getting there slowly.

 

[signalcorps]

I also installed the mounts for the radios. 1 for my prc-77 and the other for a r-442 radio.

 

[signalcorps]

I also installed the mounts for the radios. 1 for my prc-77 and the other for a r-442 radio.

 

[signalcorps]

Installed the engine and cut off the strange square tube brackets that were next to the seats. Not sure what they were for. Perhaps side seats that sat in the basket. Ground down the welds and it looks ok. Also bought new wheels and tires for the front. FV came with spindle-type 4 inch wide wheels and sand tires. I put General Grabber All Terrain tires on 5 inch wheels similar to what originally came on the FAV. I went to Metal Supermarket in Orlando and got the 2x2 and 4x2 steel tubing to build the top weapon mount.

 

[signalcorps]

This is the bracket that I cut off on each side. It was welded really well to the frame. Took a lot of work to cut and grind these off. Anyone have an ideas what they were for?

 

[Mogman]

Installed the engine and cut off the strange square tube brackets that were next to the seats. Not sure what they were for. Perhaps side seats that sat in the basket. Ground down the welds and it looks ok. Also bought new wheels and tires for the front. FV came with spindle-type 4 inch wide wheels and sand tires. I put General Grabber All Terrain tires on 5 inch wheels similar to what originally came on the FAV. I went to Metal Supermarket in Orlando and got the 2x2 and 4x2 steel tubing to build the top weapon mount.

PLEASE plug those holes in the engine, a nut/washer or any other foreign material gets in there the engine could be toast!!

 

[Crapgame]

This is the bracket that I cut off on each side. It was welded really well to the frame. Took a lot of work to cut and grind these off. Anyone have an ideas what they were for?

Do I see a horizontal hole through the center? Somebody used it for some kind of quick release type accessory. There is a similar box hitch type accessory bracket bolt to the rear bumpers of some SF Ground Mobility Vehicle GMV HMMWV, used mostly for a spare tire carrier:


There is also an accessory kit of a similar construction used on the Maintenance and EOD Shelter Carrier heavy variant HMMWV.

 

[signalcorps]

PLEASE plug those holes in the engine, a nut/washer or any other foreign material gets in there the engine could be toast!!

They were. I just took everything off for the photos. I have been guilty of dropping a washer or bolt down a intake port. Learned that lesson the hard way! Thanks.

 

[signalcorps]

This is the bracket that I cut off on each side. It was welded really well to the frame. Took a lot of work to cut and grind these off. Anyone have an ideas what they were for?

 

[signalcorps]

Do I see a horizontal hole through the center? Somebody used it for some kind of quick release type accessory. There is a similar box hitch type accessory bracket bolt to the rear bumpers of some SF Ground Mobility Vehicle GMV HMMWV, used mostly for a spare tire carrier:
View attachment 915420View attachment 915421

There is also an accessory kit of a similar construction used on the Maintenance and EOD Shelter Carrier heavy variant HMMWV.

That makes sense. Also has the small hook eyebolt for a safety chain or to attach a cable to the pin for the hole? Could be it.

 

[Crapgame]

That makes sense. Also has the small hook eyebolt for a safety chain or to attach a cable to the pin for the hole? Could be it.

Was this another former Wackenhut Security/Nevada Test Site Security Car? With the rear wheels mounted on the car, would there be space on each side for a spare centered where each of the receiver mounts were?

And in the movie "(The) Delta Force" were there spare tires or something else mounted in that B Pillar area on the FAV they used?

One of the Nevada, AZ or NM area FAV has racing seats mounted in that B Pillar area.

The 9th ID Korea "Team Spirit" deployment XM1041 TOW FAV have a 5gal military fuel can mounted in that area. Or it is that NBC Decontaimination device that looks like a 5 gallon MFC, and I see an NBC M-11 Decontamination Device hanging off the strap holding the MFC/Decon Device :


This device, I can't remember when this was adopted, I was trained on the smaller nitrogen cartridge powered M-11 fire extinguisher looking device you see on the above FAV.

9th ID was the high tech test bed unit, they could have been field testing the M13 during the Team Spirit deployment

Plus the XM1041 TOW FAV has that unique almost U shaped cargo bin around the engine bay so the Gunner can sit in the center.

 

[Crapgame]

FAV call sign "Rat Patrol"

 

[Crapgame]

The 9th ID Team Spirit Korea deployment photo of the XM1041 TOW FAV performing overwatch of the tank bridge crossing has the best visible detail of the TOW-unique rear cargo bin, but not clear enough:

 

[signalcorps]

I started working on the dash. The center pod where the light switch and engine protection system go was cut and replaced with the boat switch plate. I am going to build a new plate and put a new original light switch in. Did anyone reproduce the engine protection plate or have a spare they would part with?

After sanding some the paint off the dash, the OD Green paint came thru and some of the letters of the name of the crew for FAV #91 came thru too. So far it looks like SFC PAL.