Trading up, nervous though. Stewart Stevenson M1078 LMTV Camper Build....

[PacificNorthWestLMTV]

So---still no LMTV, BUT that doesn't mean I can't start buying parts... Yes tired of watching our favorite auction site and waiting for Mrs. perfect. So I purchased these early 2000's Suburban seats, all power and heated. I checked the motors and heater this evening and everything fires up.. I am getting a couple of the leather panels replaced due to wear/cracks and replacing some of the foam support. I am also gettinging both armrests recovered in the black leather as well. Dropping them off tomorrow to get them back to newness.... Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I paid $100.00 for the pair so having them fixed up for a few hundred more is no big deal. I chose these because I have an older Suburban and my wife and I love these seats versus the newer Suburban seats that have no arm rest. Also having the seatbelts plumbed in is very convenient...
Once I pull the trigger on the LMTV I will bend up & weld up some brackets.... Now off to find a new steering wheel, Freightliner 18" of course...
Sure would be nice to have an LMTV.....
Dreamer out.......

 

[ramdough]

So---still no LMTV, BUT that doesn't mean I can't start buying parts... Yes tired of watching our favorite auction site and waiting for Mrs. perfect. So I purchased these early 2000's Suburban seats, all power and heated. I checked the motors and heater this evening and everything fires up.. I am getting a couple of the leather panels replaced due to wear/cracks and replacing some of the foam support. I am also gettinging both armrests recovered in the black leather as well. Dropping them off tomorrow to get them back to newness.... Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I paid $100.00 for the pair so having them fixed up for a few hundred more is no big deal. I chose these because I have an older Suburban and my wife and I love these seats versus the newer Suburban seats that have no arm rest. Also having the seatbelts plumbed in is very convenient...
Once I pull the trigger on the LMTV I will bend up & weld up some brackets.... Now off to find a new steering wheel, Freightliner 18" of course...
Sure would be nice to have an LMTV.....
Dreamer out.......

View attachment 798924
View attachment 798925

Do you know if they will fit? There is not much width for seats.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PacificNorthWestLMTV]

Do you know if they will fit? There is not much width for seats.

I am assuming it will be tight and if they do not work out I should be able to offload them for enough to recover what I am putting into them.

 

[PacificNorthWestLMTV]

You got me thinking. I went out and measured them from a width perspective.
The sliding frame rails, from outside to outside measure up at 19 ¼ wide and the seat cushion at the furthest outer most point is about 23 ¾ wide.
Can someone do a quick measure on your LMTV and tell me what you think?
What I think is the cushion will rest up against the door...
Before I put more money into these feedback would be appreciated..
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[19Detail]

The width is as it lays across the top of the seat while touching the hump. The hump is angled down, so it is a little narrower at the bottom. The seat is tan because there is a crappy, thin seat cover over the original seat.

The second image is using the bolt head to hold the tape

The third image is from the outside of the seat bracket

One thing I worry about with integrated seatbelts is that any crash stress is now on the four bolts holding the seat on the bracket. I don't know how reinforced those brackets are.

 

[PacificNorthWestLMTV]

That is awesome, thank you 19Detail. It should fit, will be a little tight but looks okay. thank you for the pics.... I am thinking my bottom seat cushion will ride up onto the tunnel a bit but should be okay. I may be able to even notch the tunnel if there is 2 inches to spare underneath it... Ill figure that out as I go along.
As for the stress of the seatbelts on the floor mounted brackets, my plan will be to reinforce them if need be through the bottom of the cab with grade 8 bolts an 1/4 plates if needed. Won't know for sure till I get it in my driveway.... Neighbors are going to love me...

 

[rockDAWG]

So---still no LMTV, BUT that doesn't mean I can't start buying parts... Yes tired of watching our favorite auction site and waiting for Mrs. perfect. So I purchased these early 2000's Suburban seats, all power and heated. I checked the motors and heater this evening and everything fires up.. I am getting a couple of the leather panels replaced due to wear/cracks and replacing some of the foam support. I am also gettinging both armrests recovered in the black leather as well. Dropping them off tomorrow to get them back to newness.... Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I paid $100.00 for the pair so having them fixed up for a few hundred more is no big deal. I chose these because I have an older Suburban and my wife and I love these seats versus the newer Suburban seats that have no arm rest. Also having the seatbelts plumbed in is very convenient...
Once I pull the trigger on the LMTV I will bend up & weld up some brackets.... Now off to find a new steering wheel, Freightliner 18" of course...
Sure would be nice to have an LMTV.....
Dreamer out.......

I DO really appreciate your commitment to an LMTV. It seems to me that you are putting the cart before the horse. Like you, I am in the market of getting either M1078 or 1079. I don't mind to purchase some hard to get replacement parts NOW that is specific to M1078. I understand that you have a good experience with the Subaru seat. There are so many out there and many are later model year. Why buying old worn seats. Besides, there are so many other options if you are handy with welding to make the mounting frame. I would rather keep my option open. I doubt this will shorten your built-time.

Besides waiting for a decent one comes along on the market, my focus is on the design of the torsion-free subframe and sourcing out the composite panels. I also thinking to make a trip to Springfield M, Global Expedition Vehicles to check their cargo box. I spoke to them, they have a DIY kit fr those willing to assemble it themselves.

Good luck with your quest.

 

[PacificNorthWestLMTV]

I DO really appreciate your commitment to an LMTV. It seems to me that you are putting the cart before the horse. Like you, I am in the market of getting either M1078 or 1079. I don't mind to purcahse some hard to get replacement parts NOW that is specific to M1078. I understand that you have good experience with the Subrau seat. There are so many out there and many are later model year. Why buying an old worn seats. Besides, there are so many other options if you are handy with welding to make the mounting frame. I would rather keep my option open. I doubt this will shorten your built-time.

Besides waiting for a decent one comes along on the market, my focus is on the design of the torsion free subframe and sourcing out the composite panals. I also thingking to make a trip to Springfield M, Global Expedition Vehicles to check their cargo box. I spoke to them, they have a DIY kit fr those willin to assemble it themselves.

Good luck with your quest.

Good points, thank you....

 

[Nomadic]

Besides waiting for a decent one comes along on the market, my focus is on the design of the torsion-free subframe and sourcing out the composite panels. I also thinking to make a trip to Springfield M, Global Expedition Vehicles to check their cargo box. I spoke to them, they have a DIY kit fr those willing to assemble it themselves.

How much do they want for their DIY cargo box kit?

 

[Third From Texas]

I know the ones out of Canada from Total Composites start around $10K for an empty shell (well, a set of panels that arrive in a conex container).

 

[rockDAWG]

How much do they want for their DIY cargo box kit?

In their web site, they list a 16' box is $15K. Unfortunately, the price or the actual cost is hard to pin down and compare among the vendors. It is almost impossible to get the details. That is why I will need to visit their physical site in person if they have a model and example to show.

 

[19Detail]

That is awesome, thank you 19Detail. It should fit, will be a little tight but looks okay. thank you for the pics.... I am thinking my bottom seat cushion will ride up onto the tunnel a bit but should be okay. I may be able to even notch the tunnel if there is 2 inches to spare underneath it... Ill figure that out as I go along.
As for the stress of the seatbelts on the floor mounted brackets, my plan will be to reinforce them if need be through the bottom of the cab with grade 8 bolts an 1/4 plates if needed. Won't know for sure till I get it in my driveway.... Neighbors are going to love me...

No problem. I kept bothering my friend for dimensions before I got mine. Notching the tunnel might be a bigger project then you would like but you might be able to squeeze the seats in. The handrail isnt structural and if you are spry, you can get in and out without it. I know this because I gutted my cab and had to get in and out without them while I did. That being said, I was pretty happy to get them back.

 

[PacificNorthWestLMTV]

No problem. I kept bothering my friend for dimensions before I got mine. Notching the tunnel might be a bigger project then you would like but you might be able to squeeze the seats in. The handrail isnt structural and if you are spry, you can get in and out without it. I know this because I gutted my cab and had to get in and out without them while I did. That being said, I was pretty happy to get them back.

I hear you, might even trade off or sell them once I get the LMTV if they don't work out... Thank you again...

Made another purchase that just came in, new pressure regulator for the CTIS system. This will pump up the air pressure in the tires but affect the 'sand' mode which if I ever make it into sand I will manually air down that far..
Big thank you to Broke Overland for the idea:

Here's mine:

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[Gongho]

- Has anyone on here ever won the bid on GovPlanet for an LMTV from Hawaii?

[/QUOTE]

yes I have.

 

[Gongho]

Several with no doors

No doors because GovPlanet took them off and load it in a 20' container so they can sell it to a 3rd party.

 

[PacificNorthWestLMTV]

No doors because GovPlanet took them off and load it in a 20' container so they can sell it to a 3rd party.

I haven't seen much good feedback on the ones purchased from Hawaii, like stated above. Tempting though since there are only about 6 in the continental US up for auction right now.... I am hoping that when the 'stay at home order' eases we will see a big influx at auction, just hoping...

 

[In2Fords]

I bought mine from Hawaii for $1225, the latch part is missing from the doors, missing the turret cover, i had to replace the starter, the front drive shaft is dented and the trans fluid is milky. I did drive it the 37 miles home.
I'm buying another truck, non runner for parts, trans cooler, door parts, turret cover, drive shafts, tires, spare alternator, starter, pdp, gauge panel, what ever else i can squirrel away. Hopefully under $800.

With everything that brings me to $2500'ish, another $1k for fluids, $3500 plus $4k for shipping, $7500.
That's with me doing all the work and having a place to store it while I work on it..........
In Oregon I've seen them go from$10k+
Then I'd still have to do all the fluid and pmcs anyways........

 

[PacificNorthWestLMTV]

So if you have looked lately there is next to nothing on auction these days as compared to prior Covid....
Doesn't stop me from putting the horse in the cart, or the cart ran over the horse or horses like carts or something like that.
Picked up a brand new, still in the crate, LMTV fuel tank. Left the crate at the auction yard. The tank is now sitting outside waiting for paint and an LMTV to show up... Anyone have a line on the mounting brackets for this tank? Need the full meal deal. Will be placing it right next to the existing gas tank and notching the back of it to clear the spring mount....
Im still searching for other parts/upgrades and will have more coming along the way.... Wish I had an LMTV, I have the dogs watching for one. if I keep buying parts I could build one from scratch.....hmmmmm
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[coachgeo]

Standard Generic commercial truck parts mount that. quick net search to start you.

https://www.southtownsllc.com/steel-rectangular-brackets.html

 

[rockDAWG]

So if you have looked lately there is next to nothing on auction these days as compared to prior Covid....
Doesn't stop me from putting the horse in the cart, or the cart ran over the horse or horses like carts or something like that.
Picked up a brand new, still in the crate, LMTV fuel tank. Left the crate at the auction yard. The tank is now sitting outside waiting for paint and an LMTV to show up... Anyone have a line on the mounting brackets for this tank? Need the full meal deal. Will be placing it right next to the existing gas tank and notching the back of it to clear the spring mount....
Im still searching for other parts/upgrades and will have more coming along the way.... Wish I had an LMTV, I have the dogs watching for one. if I keep buying parts I could build one from scratch.....hmmmmm
.
.
.
View attachment 801340

Great find!!!
I wonder if there is enough room for mounting on the driver side. I was thinking to balance the wt distribution.