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GENTLEMEN & LADIES: I respectfully submit this post-recovery mission summary....
The Mission was a COMPETE SUCCESS !
Sorry to report that this whole process went almost completely uneventfully - THIS was an answered prayer.
As originally planned, I arrived in Eldorado, TX - on target and on time at 0900hrs. As I rolled in, I called the guy with the BED - Manuel - and his wife told me that he'd gone to fetch the forklift and that I should meet him at the "ranch" (I called it his goat pen - but I guess he has BIG dreams - LOL).
I then called the two firefighters who would be helping me us load the spare ENGINE at the firehouse. Everyone was up and running - lookin' good![[thumbzup]](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumzup.gif "Thumbs Up [thumbzup]")
Rolling in at the firehouse to take the Deuce Cab & Chassis over to the "ranch" I heard the unmistakable rumble and rattle of the forklift pulling in. It was Manuel - all smiles and ready to go. He headed out to the "ranch" about 1/2 mile away as I was checking and starting the Deuce. Once again, this truck absolutely AMAZES me! She'd been sitting for 8 days and again started immediately on the push of the starter button and I NEVER have heard her crank - AWESOME ! Not only did she start right up, but she was still holding 60 psi Air Pressure - WOW !
While the truck warmed up, I transfered tools, chains, etc. from the mini-van and then rolled out. By the time I caught up to Manuel and the forklift, we were all at the "ranch".
Backing a Deuce into a NARROW gate without outside mirrors is a real PITA
(Note that there are no mirrors mounted in the pics.) Thankfully, the ground conditions I'd scouted when I first saw the BED were now almost perfect. The mud had dryed up and grasses are now growing - the forklift had no problem in there.
As I dismounted from the cab, Manuel warned me to WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES (Dang, I hadn't even thought of bring a Glock with my tools 
... however Manuel was carrying .)
We first chained the front of the BED to the pintle hook and I dragged it forward about 10 feet for a better approach with the forklift. As I was dismounting the cab this time, I heard the distinctive POP - POP - POP as Manuel shot THREE RATTLESNAKES that had been under the bed - each about 3-4 feet in length. Thankfully, they were the only snakes that we encountered. (Anyone ever find snakes at a GL or GSA load-out
)
Manuel is obviously OVER QUALIFIED to every work for GL.... He was talented and careful with the forklift . We rigged a chain yoke to the four corner tie-downs in the BED and lifted it easily. Back in the truck, Manuel guided me back and once the Bed was set we had missed a perfect alignment by just 2 inches! That's when I remembered that I'd better take some pictures for you PIC-HOUNDS, remembering the Steel Soldiers Creedo....
(See PhotoBucket Link in Previous Post)
With a little nudge with the forklift, I was able to drop the two front bolts in and pin the bed in place for the short ride back to the firehouse to load the ENGINE. (I strapped the bed to the chassis as a quickie so that I could release my volunteer labor ASAP - trying to be as considerate as possible.) As I was tying the bed down, Manuel and the forklift departed for the firehouse.
Again, we arrived on target at the same time. Chuck and Joey (the firemen / sons of the Fire Chief) were also arriving. While one of them moved their new M35A3 Brush Truck out of the way, I dropped the tailgate, Manuel positioned the forklift and we looked like we had practiced this load-out to the point of precision. In under 3 minutes, the ENGINE in its tub was sitting in my bed right over the drive axles. (I was thinking... This is going almost TOO SMOOTHLY ! )
With that done, we all thanked Manuel, wished him a Happy Easter and cut him loose. He and I had spent just under one hour together on this - Again, I was AMAZED !
Joey, Chuck and I did a walk-around for all the Olive Drab spare parts that I was getting in addition to the Cab & Chassis and Spare Engine. We quickly set everything outside the firehouse bays so I could cut loose these two fine VOLUNTEERS also. Once they were gone, I finished bolting the BED onto the truck, and packed my "stuff".
This is probably a good place for me to list the parts that help to make this such a GREAT DEAL.....
PARTS LIST (A3 = "NEW" parts removed from the VFD's New M35A3):
2- Mirror Assemblies (A3) complete with mounts and large "rectangles" & "fish eyes"
2- Rear Mud Flaps (A3)
1- Gerry Can Holder (A3) without Gerry Can
2- Bumperettes (A3)
2- Forward Mud Flaps (USED: removed from the Brush truck bed - they kept the A3's new ones)
3- Air Filters - New in Boxes
2- Oil Filters - New in Boxes
2- Fuel Filters - New in Boxes
1- Instrument Panel - Complete
1- Tachometer
1- Radiator - condition unknown, but believed to be Tested OK about 2 years ago
1- Alternator - condition unknown, but also believed to have Tested OK
2- Doors - one complete and one missing glass
2- Door Window Cranks
1- Boarding Ladder (this sure was useful loading the parts single-handedly)
AND other miscellaneous brackets and stuff (I'll post pics later for some Identification Assistance.)
1200hrs: Everything was loaded, I was hungry, and my chase vehicle driver (Dianna) would be getting off work in an hour. (I now had TWO vehicles, but just ONE driver - this was as planned.) I took a break, drove back to San Angelo - 45 miles - and had a wonderful lunch with my bride before we returned to Eldorado for the Recovery Drive home.... It sure is a blessing to have a supportive spouse when it comes to MV Additcion !
Back at the Firehouse, another pre-trip inspection and on the road home at 1500 hrs. Dianna has driven professionally in the past testing tires under road conditions - Driving is a passion of hers. Five miles out, we pulled over for a conditon check - ALL OK, so we pressed on.
NOTE: My wife/chase car driver was a key player in this recovery since I had NO rear lights and NO mirrors except for a "Battlefield Improvised" handheld mirror (See Pics) that I had commandeered from Dianna's bathroom supplies
A cell phone is hard to hear with earplugs and a screaming Multi-fuel, but it worked as she'd ring my phone for the occassional "incoming" vehicle from our rear. Traffic on the roads we used is virtually non-existant by most standards - remember this IS west Texas !
With Speed Checks from the chase mini-van, this truck is running 60 mph @ 2500 rpm (inside, I was seeing 52 mph.). that seems a bit high, so I'll be checking actual tire diameters and crunching the numbers.
Engine/Water Temp was consistant at 180F (outside air temp approx 80-85F); Oil Pressure, Air Pressure, Ammeter ALL Normal. Everything functioned properly except the windshield wipers (Switch/knob is faulty) which weren't needed anyway. The only reason that I had no rear lights was that they were part of the Brush Truck Bed and I'll need to acquire some new ones. The VFD used the A3's tail lights as an add on when they put the Brush Truck Bed onto the A3.
We rolled into the "compound" without incident. We ran "LEGALLY" with a $5.00 One-Trip Permit AND INSURANCE ! ! ! I'll be registering her as a Texas Former Military Vehicle as soon as the Title gets here.
TITLING/REGISTRATION NOTE: I transferred the title at the Schleicher County Courthouse - where I paid for the truck. I live in Tom Green County. Had I registered her at the same time as the title transfer - it could have been quick and easy without the actual paper Title (having the old one to surrender). Since I want to run with Bumper Numbers only (No license plates or inspection), I had to wait for registering until I have at least the Bumperettes mounted and marked before that can happen. Now, I cannot register until the PAPER TITLE is RECIEVED (The "title application reciept" will not work.) I expect the Title to be in the mailbox this week. so I have plenty of time to mount and mark the bumperettes.
*******************
Well, that's my LONG story.... And I'm sticking to it.
Thanks for reading it.
BTW.... "Look at what the Easter Bunny left in OUR backyard
The Mission was a COMPETE SUCCESS !
Sorry to report that this whole process went almost completely uneventfully - THIS was an answered prayer.
As originally planned, I arrived in Eldorado, TX - on target and on time at 0900hrs. As I rolled in, I called the guy with the BED - Manuel - and his wife told me that he'd gone to fetch the forklift and that I should meet him at the "ranch" (I called it his goat pen - but I guess he has BIG dreams - LOL).
I then called the two firefighters who would be helping me us load the spare ENGINE at the firehouse. Everyone was up and running - lookin' good
Rolling in at the firehouse to take the Deuce Cab & Chassis over to the "ranch" I heard the unmistakable rumble and rattle of the forklift pulling in. It was Manuel - all smiles and ready to go. He headed out to the "ranch" about 1/2 mile away as I was checking and starting the Deuce. Once again, this truck absolutely AMAZES me! She'd been sitting for 8 days and again started immediately on the push of the starter button and I NEVER have heard her crank - AWESOME ! Not only did she start right up, but she was still holding 60 psi Air Pressure - WOW !
While the truck warmed up, I transfered tools, chains, etc. from the mini-van and then rolled out. By the time I caught up to Manuel and the forklift, we were all at the "ranch".
Backing a Deuce into a NARROW gate without outside mirrors is a real PITA
(Note that there are no mirrors mounted in the pics.) Thankfully, the ground conditions I'd scouted when I first saw the BED were now almost perfect. The mud had dryed up and grasses are now growing - the forklift had no problem in there.As I dismounted from the cab, Manuel warned me to WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES
(Dang, I hadn't even thought of bring a Glock with my tools ... however Manuel was carrying .)We first chained the front of the BED to the pintle hook and I dragged it forward about 10 feet for a better approach with the forklift. As I was dismounting the cab this time, I heard the distinctive POP - POP - POP as Manuel shot THREE RATTLESNAKES that had been under the bed - each about 3-4 feet in length. Thankfully, they were the only snakes that we encountered. (Anyone ever find snakes at a GL or GSA load-out
)Manuel is obviously OVER QUALIFIED to every work for GL.... He was talented and careful with the forklift . We rigged a chain yoke to the four corner tie-downs in the BED and lifted it easily. Back in the truck, Manuel guided me back and once the Bed was set we had missed a perfect alignment by just 2 inches! That's when I remembered that I'd better take some pictures for you PIC-HOUNDS, remembering the Steel Soldiers Creedo....
(See PhotoBucket Link in Previous Post)With a little nudge with the forklift, I was able to drop the two front bolts in and pin the bed in place for the short ride back to the firehouse to load the ENGINE. (I strapped the bed to the chassis as a quickie so that I could release my volunteer labor ASAP - trying to be as considerate as possible.) As I was tying the bed down, Manuel and the forklift departed for the firehouse.
Again, we arrived on target at the same time. Chuck and Joey (the firemen / sons of the Fire Chief) were also arriving. While one of them moved their new M35A3 Brush Truck out of the way, I dropped the tailgate, Manuel positioned the forklift and we looked like we had practiced this load-out to the point of precision. In under 3 minutes, the ENGINE in its tub was sitting in my bed right over the drive axles. (I was thinking... This is going almost TOO SMOOTHLY ! )
With that done, we all thanked Manuel, wished him a Happy Easter and cut him loose. He and I had spent just under one hour together on this - Again, I was AMAZED !
Joey, Chuck and I did a walk-around for all the Olive Drab spare parts that I was getting in addition to the Cab & Chassis and Spare Engine. We quickly set everything outside the firehouse bays so I could cut loose these two fine VOLUNTEERS also. Once they were gone, I finished bolting the BED onto the truck, and packed my "stuff".
This is probably a good place for me to list the parts that help to make this such a GREAT DEAL.....
PARTS LIST (A3 = "NEW" parts removed from the VFD's New M35A3):
2- Mirror Assemblies (A3) complete with mounts and large "rectangles" & "fish eyes"
2- Rear Mud Flaps (A3)
1- Gerry Can Holder (A3) without Gerry Can
2- Bumperettes (A3)
2- Forward Mud Flaps (USED: removed from the Brush truck bed - they kept the A3's new ones)
3- Air Filters - New in Boxes
2- Oil Filters - New in Boxes
2- Fuel Filters - New in Boxes
1- Instrument Panel - Complete
1- Tachometer
1- Radiator - condition unknown, but believed to be Tested OK about 2 years ago
1- Alternator - condition unknown, but also believed to have Tested OK
2- Doors - one complete and one missing glass
2- Door Window Cranks
1- Boarding Ladder (this sure was useful loading the parts single-handedly)
AND other miscellaneous brackets and stuff (I'll post pics later for some Identification Assistance.)
1200hrs: Everything was loaded, I was hungry, and my chase vehicle driver (Dianna) would be getting off work in an hour. (I now had TWO vehicles, but just ONE driver - this was as planned.) I took a break, drove back to San Angelo - 45 miles - and had a wonderful lunch with my bride before we returned to Eldorado for the Recovery Drive home.... It sure is a blessing to have a supportive spouse when it comes to MV Additcion !
Back at the Firehouse, another pre-trip inspection and on the road home at 1500 hrs. Dianna has driven professionally in the past testing tires under road conditions - Driving is a passion of hers. Five miles out, we pulled over for a conditon check - ALL OK, so we pressed on.
NOTE: My wife/chase car driver was a key player in this recovery since I had NO rear lights and NO mirrors except for a "Battlefield Improvised" handheld mirror (See Pics) that I had commandeered from Dianna's bathroom supplies
A cell phone is hard to hear with earplugs and a screaming Multi-fuel, but it worked as she'd ring my phone for the occassional "incoming" vehicle from our rear. Traffic on the roads we used is virtually non-existant by most standards - remember this IS west Texas !With Speed Checks from the chase mini-van, this truck is running 60 mph @ 2500 rpm (inside, I was seeing 52 mph.). that seems a bit high, so I'll be checking actual tire diameters and crunching the numbers.
Engine/Water Temp was consistant at 180F (outside air temp approx 80-85F); Oil Pressure, Air Pressure, Ammeter ALL Normal. Everything functioned properly except the windshield wipers (Switch/knob is faulty) which weren't needed anyway. The only reason that I had no rear lights was that they were part of the Brush Truck Bed and I'll need to acquire some new ones. The VFD used the A3's tail lights as an add on when they put the Brush Truck Bed onto the A3.
We rolled into the "compound" without incident. We ran "LEGALLY" with a $5.00 One-Trip Permit AND INSURANCE ! ! ! I'll be registering her as a Texas Former Military Vehicle as soon as the Title gets here.
TITLING/REGISTRATION NOTE: I transferred the title at the Schleicher County Courthouse - where I paid for the truck. I live in Tom Green County. Had I registered her at the same time as the title transfer - it could have been quick and easy without the actual paper Title (having the old one to surrender). Since I want to run with Bumper Numbers only (No license plates or inspection), I had to wait for registering until I have at least the Bumperettes mounted and marked before that can happen. Now, I cannot register until the PAPER TITLE is RECIEVED (The "title application reciept" will not work.) I expect the Title to be in the mailbox this week. so I have plenty of time to mount and mark the bumperettes.
*******************
Well, that's my LONG story.... And I'm sticking to it.
Thanks for reading it.
BTW.... "Look at what the Easter Bunny left in OUR backyard
Last edited:
. As soon as the fugly Brush Guard is gone, I'll finish painting the nose/grill area. I will then update the photo's for ya'll to drool over.
Ain't it great to see YOUR tax dollars hardly at work 
....I would say that the spare engine removal didn't cost me a dime, but I AM a taxpayer so it really was an expensive lift . 
