Pershing 1A missile man visits

[cranetruck]

A radio operator with the Pershing 1A days in the '70s, stationed in Germany, Calvin ("Trapper") stopped by for a visit during the week. He was tickled pink at a chance to drive the old 757, which was very familiar to him, but had never driven while in service.
We took the truck for a 2-mile drive. Here are a few pictures...

My own camera was out of commission after having been left out in the rain prior to the drive, so these are the only images.

 

[rcflyer70]

Go Pershing!

 

[gimpyrobb]

Very nice Bjorn. Can't wait to see it in person some day.

 

[tigger]

How Meany gallons to the mile that thing get?

 

[cranetruck]

Very nice Bjorn. Can't wait to see it in person some day.

Give me a little notice and we'll go for a drive when you are in this part of the country.

As far as MPGs, it shouldn't be much worse than a loaded deuce in the bobtail config...it weighs about the same and some drive shafts have been removed for "highway" driving.

 

[JDToumanian]

Hey Bjorn, did you ever get the XM757 to shift out of 1st gear? Maybe I missed a thread, but last I knew you still hadn't driven fast enough to cause the Allison to shift...

 

[cranetruck]

Hey Bjorn, did you ever get the XM757 to shift out of 1st gear? Maybe I missed a thread, but last I knew you still hadn't driven fast enough to cause the Allison to shift...

Yes Jon, it shifts nicely, but sometimes a little rough shifting down slowing down on a down hill run.
All gears "lock up", so there is always some engine braking available.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Nice Bjorn. Can we talk you into coming to one of the rallies this year or next? Start processing fuel now and you should have plenty. Lots of good folks here have never had the pleasure of meeting you and it's been a good long while for us. Maybe you can get Adrian to drive you down in a civy vehicle for a day or two????

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

It's great that as an ambassador fo the MV Hobby you were able to give the old missile-guy a chance to drive her.

 

[cranetruck]

Nice Bjorn. Can we talk you into coming to one of the rallies this year or next? Start processing fuel now and you should have plenty. Lots of good folks here have never had the pleasure of meeting you and it's been a good long while for us. Maybe you can get Adrian to drive you down in a civy vehicle for a day or two????

Starting to look seriously at the GA rally now...need to get some cash together, this fixed income retirement situation is not going well, got stuck in a rut it seems.

Adrian is working near Atlanta at the moment and might attend regardless, although his M37 is up here.

The 757 runs so nicely now, it's scary... I just want to take it for another drive every time I get in it.

I do think about the times we met in the past and time really flies, so many new rallies, just in the last five years. Hoping Ingrid and the kids are doing well.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Ingrid and the boys are just fine! If I can help you get to the GA Rally, just let me know! I'm certain you would have a great time and your major expense would be getting there. Bring a few wares and maybe we can peddle them off!

 

[maddawg308]

Alright, Bjorn, you've been here far too long without a major update to the 8x8, and this visit has given me the idea for you to continue:

Wouldn't it be great if your buddy stopped by to see the truck, and you had the missile flatbed with a giant dummy missile on it?

Just an idea...

 

[cranetruck]

Alright, Bjorn, you've been here far too long without a major update to the 8x8, and this visit has given me the idea for you to continue:

Wouldn't it be great if your buddy stopped by to see the truck, and you had the missile flatbed with a giant dummy missile on it?

Just an idea...

Mike, I have been working on "details" and posted progress from time to time (I don't care for threads with hundreds of pages, so my reports are usually single page jobbers). For example, the tire chains, the MEP018 genset, the fuel burning heater, some mention of the NiCd cells used for "house battery" to run the heaters and an inverter, short off road trip, the removal of the muffler to mention a few.

You are one of the few to have been in the truck, next time we'll go on the road, so that you won't have to worry about trees and such.

BTW, the missile above is the later Pershing 2, which needed the 10 ton tractor (MAN and OSHKOSH), but yeah, a missile behind the 757 would be impressive...

Kenny, I'll start saving for the rally. I have plenty of (waste) veggie oil, but don't like to use anything but fresh oil in the 757. The cranetruck is in need of a major cleanup to rid it of all WVO residue inside and out. Some parts are coated with polymerized oil and the fuel tank is a mess, another valve failed a couple of months ago. Having learned from the 6x6, the 8x8 got motorized valves and a Racor primary fuel filter among other things.