W400 Ambulance: aka: Dubya Four Hundred Bambulance: I GOT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!

[michigandon]

The big concern with the roll roofing is to make sure your bracing/cross members are just so. That stuff is 22 gauge, just like car parts stores sell.

Thinking about installing some additional ones. Most of the hat channel looks to be salvageable. There are also a few Z-bars that appear to be too far gone.

Contemplating using some galvanized unistrut? I cannot find hat channel quite like this to save my life. Also thinking about using a combination of self-tapping screws and 3m panel adhesive to put the roofing down.

 

[41WC18]

MMM Panel Adhesive is expensive but holds amazingly well. That and a moderate amount of s.t. screws would pretty much assure a secure roof.

 

[Another Ahab]

MMM Panel Adhesive is expensive but holds amazingly well. That and a moderate amount of s.t. screws would pretty much assure a secure roof.

 

[41WC18]

View attachment 687752

true that!!!

 

[michigandon]

MMM Panel Adhesive is expensive but holds amazingly well. That and a moderate amount of s.t. screws would pretty much assure a secure roof.

SOLD: American!

 

[Another Ahab]

SOLD: American!

LS/ MFT

 

[michigandon]

Well, the old roof has been demo'd.

 

[Another Ahab]

It was getting pretty crusty up there.

 

[michigandon]

Sure was.

I blame the spot welds that were used to tack it together.

I have come to the conclusion that Mark Body and Equipment never intended for this thing to last as log as it dd.

 

[41WC18]

Those are GREAT shots of work in progress! I was wondering just how these were set up. This gives me some inspiration to do some remedial work on mine.
Agreed on the planned longevity of these - made for the Gov't by contract - NOT gonna be engineered for 40+ years of use.

I was driving the '77 Camo today and as usual it's quite comical seeing the different reactions from folks out & about. I guess they just don't "get it"

 

[michigandon]

Took advantage of a break in the godawful heat and humidity to make a little more progress. We cut out all of the roached out Z-channel and replaced it with square tubing.

 

[41WC18]

Wow Don,
Looking like great progress!

 

[michigandon]

Found a guy parting out a motorhome on Craigslist and scored myself a rooftop AC unit WITH heat strip today! Never know whether or not you'll be freezing or frying at Durhamtown or Denton, so this is exactly what the doctor ordered, IMHO.

 

[41WC18]

Haha! That's part of my plan for a backcountry rig. Hope to see the progress in photos and narrative soon.

 

[Bob H]

Might have a line on some axles for ya, nothing solid yet but met a guy that said he would trade a set of 1 ton axles geared for a Cummins for the W400 axles. He is supposed to come check out the M886 this week & I'll get more info on this at that time.

 

[michigandon]

I had been planning on biting the bullet and just having my current ones regeared. I had a D70 4.10 ring and pinion gifted to me from one of my old TDR friends, and a got on good deal on a Powerlock carrier on Craigslist to go with it. Also have a 4.10-down D60 open carrier on hand for the front.

 

[sf38a1]

any updates?

 

[michigandon]

As of right now, none to write home about, regrettably.

Hoping to make some more headway this week, while most everyone else is enjoying themselves at Durhamtown.

At a MINIMUM, I need to get the roof back on this thing before snow flies.

 

[michigandon]

Managed to finally get the roof skin on. Not so sure I'm happy with the way it turned out, but I guess it's better than it was.

More pics coming soon.

 

[michigandon]

It was dark by the time we got the skin on, so no shots of that yet. The edges ended up being pretty messy looking, nothing a few coats of Lusterless Forest Green wont hide.