Murdock,
Here are a few thoughts that hit me this morning when I read the updated posts. There are many people lurking in the background, following all of your progress, and cheering you on. I'm happy to be one of them. I am insanely impressed by your mastery of the English language, and your ability to convey detailed and complicated problems about systems to which you have limited knowledge of. You already know where, when, and how to reach out for help. You have reached out to Steel Soldiers, and ended up joining an international body of military vehicle knowledge. I am proud of your tenacity, and drive to succeed no matter what the circumstances. I'm impressed you have a career already chosen. You remind me of me in many ways.
This CUCV will teach you numerous lessons. Learn as much as you can from each step. You've already tasted success. For that alone, I congratulate you!
More advice on how to convince your grandfather to let you keep the truck: I bought my M1009 7 years ago. It is my daily driver. I
LOVE my CUCV! CUCV's are one of the most practical military vehicles you can own. I use it for trips to hardware stores, run it in parades, park it at static displays, pull stumps out of the ground with it, haul my wife's M422 Mighty Mite or my M151A2 around on my 18 ft flatbed trailer. It was even part of a wedding - it hauled the Best Man and Matron of Honor from the wedding to the reception (no joke).
Keep up the good work, and have fun!!!