Between Beastly and
the
Chevelle Wagon we need an
entire drive train, and then some.
We also want to swap at least a 3/4 ton running gear into Beastly which
leads us to look for a running 4x4 donor truck.
In our search I met a few guys that have a serious passion for Military
vehicles. We have always wanted a good tow/recovery rig but were not exactly
looking for one at this time, but when we were told this M1028 was going to
be available to us with less than 5,000 original miles for less than it is
worth in parts... we could not refuse.
December 26th, 2009 |
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The ride home...
The heater core did not last 5 minutes, before it blew up. Pouring so
much coolant onto the floor boards that it was running out both of the
doors coating the front of the
el Camino in antifreeze.
We had to stop and bypass the heater core. The next 80 miles went smooth
until it started raining. Fortunately it was the passenger side wiper
blade that was broken, but drivers wiper blade was not much better. The
advantage to the rain was that it washed the antifreeze off of both
vehicles. A quick stop to pick up a set of new wiper blades and the last
120 miles home went smooth,
just slow and cold.
Little did I know.....
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4,464.6 Original
Miles! |
The transfer case is
shot...
I discovered this on my way to the DMV, in the process of finishing the
registration. I found myself without the 2-High or 4-High gears, but
4-Low would engage. Engaging the transfer case in 4-Low or having a few
minutes to cool down, either way 2-High was functioning again allowing
me to continue on my way. I stopped at a parts store, checked the fluid
level and started adding ATF. Knowing things were not good as I poured
in the third quart, it turned bad when the fourth quart started pouring
back out on the ground. You can see where the flow of ATF actually
cleaned its way down the transfer case. It turns out the case was also
damaged when the fork lift damaged the driveshaft. The output housing
was partially ripped free from the rear half of the chain case. The
cross member was also bent up a little, and skid plate ripped off during
its forklift abuse. |
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Charging system issues...
Attempting to return home, I found myself in need of a jump start. There
I sat waiting for Kitty watching the puddle of ATF get bigger as the
transfer case continued to drain hoping I could jump it with a 12 volt
source. So I
may also have issues with both of the alternators failing to properly
charge, possibly complaining of bad bearings, and might have brought the
batteries down. With the volt gauge not functioning at this point, there
is not a lot of help there. And the fuel gauge seems to work when it
wants to. A lot of this is most likely dirty and-or loose connections,
but further investigation is needed.
And there are other little things like the heather core
that blew up. Both seat belts are stiff from dry rot, the interior in
general is but safety is a priority. Neither door has any weather striping
beyond the vent windows. The Body work had been started but not finished
as of when I purchased it, leaving some exposed metal that now has surface
rust. The fuel tank supports were bent, and the right side muffler and
exhaust pipe were also damaged by the forklift.
Not that I didn't expect to find problems like this, but
I must consider what I have already invested in this truck and what it
will cost to fix it. The "parts" I was originally looking for to repair
Beastly are all in very good shape and do presently cover all current
expenses, but the
Wagon is in dire need
of attention or a safe place to store it, or it must go. What little I
have driven the Bastard, I like it more every mile. I want to keep it but
we do not have anywhere to store a non-running vehicle.
Decisions had to be made fast!
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January 2010 |
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Our first month with the Bastard...
Commitment
The transfer case,
a lot of corrosion failed switches, dead batteries,
dry rotted rubber, and a few good laughs. |
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February 2010 |
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Smells Like... Smoke?
Releasing some smoke from under the hood and under the
dash, breathing better, and a steering wheel upgrade. |
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April 2010 |
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License Plate Mounting |
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May 2010 |
Finally got around to finishing the License plate frames.
Utilizing the idea I originally had, making it a reality with Design Engineering's (DEI) LED Lite' N Boltz. |
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