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Buyer's Regret?

TOBASH

Father, Surgeon, Cantankerous Grouch
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I probably will, I think it’s too good of a deal to pass up. It seems solid, I just have to drive 4 hours away.....

What control box is necessary to make the 6.5 work with the 4 speed?

In Alabama, a lot of girls get tingly with vehicles like these. Haha. Daddy issues or just the vibrations? 😄
The 4 speed tranny 4L80E has an electric control box, and setting one up can be a hassle according to some members here. That is why I decided to go with a rebuilt 700R4. 4L80E is very robust, and is what the military chose. Unless the $11k vehicle was rebuilt with an A2 wiring harness, converting to a 4 speed military style tranny requires some work around.

I chose to do some aggressive upgrades to turn my 700R4 into a 765R4 in order to make it more stout. The 700R4 is entirely mechanical.

Both upgrades are discussed on this forum. Both are hotly debated as to which is better.

In the famous words of Humphrey Bogart (A long dead actor) in a very famous old movie (The African Queen), "you pays your money, you makes your choice".
 

Coug

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I probably will, I think it’s too good of a deal to pass up. It seems solid, I just have to drive 4 hours away.....

What control box is necessary to make the 6.5 work with the 4 speed?

In Alabama, a lot of girls get tingly with vehicles like these. Haha. Daddy issues or just the vibrations? 😄
On Facebook there is a 1025A2 GMV truck listed at $14k in Davidson NC, it has the Rod Hall suspension in it, missing a few things but would also be a good place to start a build. The differences between an A1 and A2 truck are definitely worth the price difference.

My truck with a 6.5NA and 4 speed doesn't leave me wanting more power. Currently I weigh about 8k lbs (I have a 10k truck) and while it's not a drag racer, it still scoots pretty good.
 

Retiredwarhorses

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Using an aftermarket controller and harness is very simple and setting the TPS is as easy as stepping on the accelerator pedal and letting off of it and you are ready to drive. I’ve done numerous aftermarket controllers and they seem to be quite flawless. It’s about a 3hrs process once the trans and Tcase is in.
The hands down winner for bang for the buck conversion is the addition of the 4 speed trans...
 

01GRANDER

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On Facebook there is a 1025A2 GMV truck listed at $14k in Davidson NC, it has the Rod Hall suspension in it, missing a few things but would also be a good place to start a build. The differences between an A1 and A2 truck are definitely worth the price difference.

My truck with a 6.5NA and 4 speed doesn't leave me wanting more power. Currently I weigh about 8k lbs (I have a 10k truck) and while it's not a drag racer, it still scoots pretty good.
I saw that, it looks like there’s no window, one seat and took the winch, at least compared to the other ones at 15k. It would take a lot to get it where I need it to be but I am tempted.
 

01GRANDER

Active member
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Alabama
Using an aftermarket controller and harness is very simple and setting the TPS is as easy as stepping on the accelerator pedal and letting off of it and you are ready to drive. I’ve done numerous aftermarket controllers and they seem to be quite flawless. It’s about a 3hrs process once the trans and Tcase is in.
The hands down winner for bang for the buck conversion is the addition of the 4 speed trans...
I just need to find a buddy in central Alabama. Haha. I’ve never dropped an engine and tranny before, I’ve seen videos and it doesn’t seem too hard but I would be nervous doing it myself. I also am in an apartment until I can find a house I like so there’s that as well.
 

Crapgame

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How far are you from FL state line? I've got the engine sling, air over hydraulic cherry picker etc here just not the brawn to use it. I'm trading some unused stuff to a Pensacola FD/ALARNGman former Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic to have one of my GMVs upgraded with a 6.5l GEP-T.

I regret buying #3 (1994 M1097A1) even before #s 1 & 2 were abled to be picked up and delivered. Its become my Johnny Cash HMMWV, "One piece at a time" project.
 
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01GRANDER

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Alabama
How far are you from FL state line? I've got the engine sling, air over hydraulic cherry picker etc here just not the brawn to use it. I'm trading some unused stuff to a Pensacola FD/ALARNGman former Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic to have one of my GMVs upgraded with a 6.5l GEP-T.

I regret buying #3 (1994 M1097A1) even before #s 1 & 2 were abled to be picked up and delivered. Its become my Johnny Cash HMMWV, "One piece at a time" project.
I’m in Auburn, not sure where you’re at. If I pick up the 6.5, I’m not so sure how much money I’ll have for a bit with whatever odds and ends I’ll need. I’d love to get a 4l80e to get the overdrive but I’m not sure how much it would cost for the transmission and controller even if labor was cheaper, I don’t have anything to trade.
 

Crapgame

Well-known member
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Rob R is somewhat close to you, he gets 6.5l GEP-Ts from time to time, Let him know what you seek and he will keep you in the loop when he gets stuff in. The long block I got from him came with the engine harness that just needed some end fittings replaced and one splice done, the 4L80E and NP242.

After you find an engine you'll need either the GI TCM (about $400-450), or aftermarket TCM ($400 plus the sub cable), an A2 or turbo truck body harness ($500-1000 or the 39-pin Amphenol Connector assy ($75) to make your own 4L80E sub harness assy, the turbo dog house ($350-450), the left and right sides dog house opening trim pieces, ($100) A2 brake pedal switch ($60-100) ; 4-speed shifter assy ($350-500), Transmission LED light ($40) Depending on what truck you start with you will probably need the front body mount spacers for the turbo truck, needed to help make sure the turbo crossover shield etc on the block backside clears the transmission doghouse opening.

If you have limited mechanical ability, tools or work area, then you are probably better off saving a bit longer to buy an A2 4 speed truck from the beginning. Buy once, curse once instead of bleeding and cursing much more later, Paying one of the experienced HMMWV wrenches to do a turbo swap especially on an A0 truck is going to cost several thousand, I think Augi stated at one time it took about 100 man hours to upgrade his A0 6.2l 3 speed to a 6.5l GEP-T/4 speed.

Might be worth considering a non-running A2-series truck out of Albany, GA that you are able to inspect before auction, then just do the transmission doghouse opening alteration and GEP-T bolt up. But even in this case you will not be able to inspect every single mechanical and diagnose the gig that deadlined the truck, you are buying a Pandora's box, doubt you'd even be able to take 2 batteries to try to start them.

I got extremely lucky with my "non-running" A1 truck, it had been in preserved storage as a former Avenger ADA missile truck then was pulled to be issued to the Marines as a Maintenance Support truck, who refused to accept the Army Hand-me-Downs, because they no longer supported A0-A1 trucks, so she just needed two batteries, a gear shifter and fitting for the fuel filter inlet, started up after several minutes purging the air out of the system.
Turn In Tag.jpg
 

01GRANDER

Active member
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Alabama
That sounds like a diesel all right. I don't hear anything unusual on my end, but my speakers aren't necessarily the best.
Ok, thanks. I know I’m a newb but I appreciate all the help guys. Can’t imagine posting something like this on like Pirate, I’d be roasted in 2 seconds. Haha

Glad I held off, I almost bought a 4bt tj earlier this year.
 

01GRANDER

Active member
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Alabama
Am I going to have trouble with a 6 digit vin? The guy just gave me the vin for insurance and I saw it’s only 6 digits instead of 16.
 

Chief B

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Milton, FL
Am I going to have trouble with a 6 digit vin? The guy just gave me the vin for insurance and I saw it’s only 6 digits instead of 16.
Not sure what others have dealt with, but when I first got mine, my insurance company did put a bunch of 1s after my vin to make it 16 digits. About a month later I received a letter from the state saying my VIN did not match and that I needed to contact them. I called and let them know and everything was good to go after that.
 
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01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
Not sure what others have felt with, but when I first got mine, my insurance company did put a bunch of 1s after my vin to make it 16 digits. About a month later I received a letter from the state saying my VIN did not match and that I needed to contact them. I called and let them know and everything was good to go after that.
Thanks. I really hope this goes through, it has been a dream of mine to own a Hmmwv or a h1. The guy said it didn’t have a dual generator but I just saw in the video that it does! That’s going to save me some headache and money.
 

Retiredwarhorses

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Thanks. I really hope this goes through, it has been a dream of mine to own a Hmmwv or a h1. The guy said it didn’t have a dual generator but I just saw in the video that it does! That’s going to save me some headache and money.
why don’t you buy from a reputable seller? I mean someone who knows the trucks?
not some guy on FB or CL thats selling...
I tell all my perspective customers, come to the shop, look, listen and test drive the truck...i do it a few times a week.
the feedback Is 100%, “thank you, you were totally right, I needed to see it and drive it”.
It‘s like pulling hens teeth sometimes.
 

MattNC

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Raleigh, NC
Hi Tobash from a few posts up I was wondering how the 765R4 is working out? Was there certain things that pushed you toward the 765 vs built 700 when you talked to the supplier? If I ever swap I may want to try this. I have a plain vanilla canvas doors and top 6.2 '93 that runs well but I would appreciate getting the rpms down when on the road and highway. I would rarely tow and if I did its my landscape trailer weighing ~4000lbs and I'm not offroading with that. Heavy towing I use a super duty for that. Thanks
 
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