Update on my new truck:
I've learned so much over the past two weeks. It has definitely been a wild ride!
I put some info on the Military Vehicle Collector Club thread that I'm a member of but I thought I'd share some of it here.
I was very lucky to win the truck I did, for the price I did. When I went to recover the truck, Gov Liquidation had moved the lot of trucks from the Saginaw base to the TruckCenter.com lot, which is just down the street from the base in Saginaw. Jerry, the head boss at the TruckCenter.com location assisted me with attempting to jump the truck. It didn't work, so he sold me 4 truck batteries at his cost ($45 a piece). I put the batteries in and the truck fired right up. I am totally amazed, as this truck has sat in a lot for 6 years rusting away.
A fellow MVCC club member (Hawkeye) brought his deuce to pull my new baby home. I had no illusions about driving this beast, as I am not licensed yet to drive it, and I do not have it registered yet (I do have insurance). I've read the manuals, and operating guides but though it would be easy enough to just pull it home. It would have been, but Ol' Man Murphey reared his ugly head and the truck would not build up pressure to release the brakes. It was getting late in the day, so we decided to leave and return the next day. I arrived early in the morning and caged the brakes so they would unlock. After I caged the brakes, I turned on the truck, and noticed the pressure started to build. I think a spring valve or something along that line was struck, since the truck had been sitting for so long, and caging the brakes unstuck it.
Hawkeye's deuce pulled the big green beast to my house with no problems. Upon arrival at home, I noticed a puff of smoke in the cab. Then I smelled burning. I jumped from the cab and ran to the passenger side and opened the door. I then lifted the seat and the batteries had shorted on the bottom side of the seat, and caught fire. Two of the new batteries had leaks and were leaking acid into the battery well and out the drain plug to my driveway. The fire was put out and the batteries removed. I then realized there was wood mounted in the bottom of the battery box and was able to remove the wood, reinstall the pads, and then reinstall two of the batteries, instead of the four I purchased.
Next, I noticed the power steering was not working. It took all 240 lbs I had to get the beast in my driveway. I checked the powersteering fluid and it was low. I purchased a 5 gallon bucket of hydraulic oil and put some in the powersteering reservoir. I powered up the beast, and the power steering started working.
The more I mess with the beast, the more it seems to come to life. I think it was just stiff from sitting for so long. The final problem I've found is a loud hissing noise after I turn off the engine. I was able to track it to a valve between the frame rails. I removed the valve and observed the side had split. I've got a new valve on order and hope it will be the last part needed for a little while.
I've started stripping the paint and plan on repainting it in the next 2 weeks.
I'm attaching some new pics of the mishaps along the way. I put a post in classified looking for the valve and had a response in 30 minutes telling me where to find one. Again, you guys truly are amazing!
from the west, also 8 yrs in MP unit.