ToddJK
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Well I have always been a mega supporter of our military and veterans, who are ALL heroes in my book!
For a long time I have always been interested in getting a military truck. Mainly I wanted one to honor our veterans, and secondly was considering to make it into an RV at some point but keep the authentic look of a military vehicle.
I found GovPlanet auctions and watched the auctions until I found a truck that was near me that I liked and placed a bid and won the auction.
The truck of course is a, 2002 Stewart & Stevenson, MTV, M1083A1 6x6 Cargo/Troop Truck, in camo colors. The truck was a non-runner, cranks but no start with numerous other issues
I've had the truck about 14 months now and have been working on her ever since. While working on trying to get the engine to run, I also worked on other issues the truck has.
First, I did a thorough cleaning of the truck inside and out which took two days. Cleaned the battery compartment and added four new batteries, rebuilt the battery disconnect, cleaned the LBCD and contacts, removed and rebuilt the air dryer and painted it, removed and checked and cleaned the PDP and replaced all circuit breakers and relays, added a cargo bed kit, rebuilt and painted the troop seats, replaced all four mud flaps, replaced or rebuilt all three cab seats, blasted and powder coated the wheels and added Goodyear tires, rebuilt the CTIS valves, replaced the rear sway bar bushings, replaced the tie rod and drag link grease cups and zerks, greased all zerks, rebuilt and balanced all 3 drive shafts, cleaned the fuel tank, replaced the fuel pickup tube with a stainless steel tube and added new fuel, rebuilt the cab lock, rebuilt the AHU, fixed the door and window closing issues, replaced the front and rear glad hands and air tubing, drained and replaced the fluids in all three axles and hubs, replaced the wiper arms and blades, keyed the door locks, changed all the lights to LED, replaced all reflectors, found as many electrical connection as I could and cleaned and used dielectric grease, found and cleaned ground straps, and repaired other electrical issues, and much more.
After trying everything I could find on SS and Youtube I could not get the engine to start. I called a local a mechanic that had a computer to talk with the ECU. ECU was fine, HEUI was fine, however it turns out the injectors were frozen. After some time we got the engine started but it smoked a lot. Replaced all six injector, changed the oil and filter, replaced the fuel filter and replaced the water separator/prime pump...damn I'm tired.
Am looking for a name for her. I was thinking of, Myrtle, as in Myrtle The Turtle. A hard shell, slow but consistent and gets your there in style...take that you rabbit.
Here are a few photographs. The first four are at pick up at the Chambersburg, PA. yard, in route to my house, and at my house when I received it last year. The other photographs are more recent.
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Future plans are to, change the engine coolant, replace the transmission fluid, remove brake drums and clean and rebuild if necessary. Install drivers side antenna mount and antenna as soon as I repair the sheet metal damage from the prior antenna mount by the previous owner.
Also will be looking for a shelter for the bed to convert into a RV box. Repaint truck and shelter in the three color camo.
Also will be adding flag mounts to the rear to attach the American flag and Military or POW flag. Also with have magnetic door signs/decal to honor all branches of the military.
Besides using it for cargo pick up and RVing (when shelter is installed) I will use for parades, display, education, and again to honor our military and veterans.
You know, I wasn't sure if I was going to like doing this project, being a little OCD and not very patient, but it has been a big surprise for me. I found that this has made me more patient and I really like working on her even through there are times she is a PITA. As for being a little OCD, I am still somewhat of a perfectionist, and I guess I got that from my father and mother when I was young. My father would say, "boy if your not going to do it right, don't do it at all" and my mother was a very neat and clean person and I guess that rubbed off on me.
Thanks for reading, take care and be safe!
Tom.
Myrtle? That's a good name, I like it!
