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The WeenieWagun v3

TechnoWeenie

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The name WeenieWagun came from a play on words from one of the other forums I frequent, WAguns. We would refer to one of the moderators Tahoe's as a glorified station wagun, word play on wagon....and when it came time for my projects, I found my screen name, and type of vehicle fit, so WeenieWagun was born....

The first WeenieWagun was the M1010. It was great because it got 14-16MPG, and fit in a normal parking spot.. I had it outfitted with a bed, cooking, TV, heat, and a head. Everything but a shower. Downsides were it was just too low, with an interior height of only about 5'8" or so, means no room for a shower, and I had to duck/twist my head any time I needed to move. Not gonna lie, I loved it. I had my ups and downs with it, and ended up selling it to my mom, whom I recently sold it for.... If the roof was a foot taller, I probably would have kept it.

frontpassenger.jpg



Second WeenieWagun was an M934.. A behemoth.. a 3 axle, 10 tired, 6x6, pushing 40K lb, 5 ton, expansible van. As much as I loved it, it was sorely impractical. @ 5mpg, it just wasn't easy or cheap to take it places. The interior layout was compromised because while the sides fold out, they do so in a manner that makes it impossible to place anything on the walls, as the walls are the floor and ceiling when expanded. So not only does it block any way of mounting things, it blocks the sides with the windows and doors. I thought I fixed that by removing the folding portion, but then realized I just lost a bunch of space and hauling a 17' box with only 12' easily available due to side doors, and issues parking in urban areas with a 32' long 35klb chassis getting 5mpg just wasn't sustainable, so I sold it.

When I bought it....

1234.jpg




and just before I sold it...

20190524_122030.jpg




Yes, that big boy. For size/context, it's towing a full size Chevy 1 1/4 ton pickup with a service body on it (M1031).



-------


So, the current plan..


I bought a deuce and a half.



e5r6yg.jpeg



There are some key advantages/disadvantages on choosing a deuce, but I think the positives outweigh the negative.

Big + is it's 22' long, which is the length of a full size 4 door pickup with 8' bed.. So, fitting in a parking spot isn't that hard.
It's multifuel, which means it'll run on pretty much anything you toss in the tank.

Bad, it's 60 years old, and will need to be gone through, stem to stern, to make sure it's ready to hit the road. Another potential downside is it's a stick, which I haven't driven in over 25 years...

Plan is to get a box (which I already have) and seal it up, and outfit it to live in. I've already started work on both the box, and the truck, and still compiling parts for both....
 

TechnoWeenie

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My current to do list with the truck is...

  • Primary:

  • Change oil (purchased + spin on filter conversion) completed
  • Change gear oil (axle) (Purchased)
  • Change trans fluid (purchased)
  • Flush brake system (purchased)
  • Replace fuel filter (spin on filter conversion)
  • Flush coolant
  • Adjust air assist steering
  • Adjust parking brake
  • Replace belts

  • Secondary
  • Replace inner and outer bearings
  • Replace axle seals
  • Replace oil filters with spin-on kit (purchased)
  • Replace all rubber brake lines
  • Replace all rubber air lines
  • Replace all rubber fuel lines
  • Replace all wheel cylinders (Purchased 2)
  • 1200/20 G272 'Stryker tires'


  • Possible future upgrades

  • Dual circuit master/braking
  • Full hydraulic steering
  • Lockable/unlockable front hubs
  • ROPS/Rollover protection
 

TechnoWeenie

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My current to do list with the box is....

  • Plan full build
  • Remove all existing lighting
  • Remove interior wood completed
  • Seal interior
  • Seal exterior
  • Install exterior fixtures
  • Install solar
  • Install battery bank
  • Install heater
  • Plan for door install
  • Install plumbing/shower

...and others... including mounting the box on the deuce.
 

TechnoWeenie

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*Language Warning*

I try not to cuss in my videos, but words may slip out. If you're offended by cussing, don't watch the video as I'm sure I've dropped something, somewhere....




Front wood is also removed, exposing the front passthrough that will be narrowed.



20211016_174521_copy_1209x1612.jpg
 

Rhino 5/4

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Very nice. I am experiencing your first truck limitations and the thought of a deuce is rather appealing. I'm thinking that it would take the trust in a Higher Power to get me through an adventure to another level. But then I have jumped in a A26 war bird to dump ashes out and never thought about a wing falling off or loosing an engine 🤔 .
 

TechnoWeenie

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Nova Laboratories, WA
Alright so.... time to update...

M923a2 I got from local auction. High bid $7100, almost 2k$ in taxes/fees/transport costs..

20230508_175057.jpg

Going from 1100s on my M934 to 1400s on the A2.... holy crap. It's only like 3 inches but it feels like it's a good foot higher trying to climb up there.. I'll be adding a step.. 🤣

I also now know why people love the 8.3

Near silent compared to the NHC250. I was having a just above normal conversation level right at the cab before it hit me how quiet it was... I'd have to be yelling if it was a 250.

Been having a blast working out issues.

Transfer case was a $&+(" to switch between ranges. Solenoid worked, air was venting, still had to wrestle with it. Pulled solenoid.. So, is this supposed to be loose, or captive? It was just hanging in there loose..

20230508_175314.jpg


Next was the removal of air to the solenoid and removing the front axle low range cut in.

My air line was literally an inch short... so I had to use 2 unions and a short jumper. Eventually I'll run a dedicated line from dash switch to front axle.

20230508_175619.jpg


Also noticed it's missing the fuel transducer... after finding a plug with nothing connected to it and doing some research.

ABS light is still on. No clickety clack when I got it.

Pulled 3A fuse, it was good....Plugged it back in.. It clickety clacks now...

Can't find 15A fuse... still looking. It was a FD truck and they basically cut any wires to quickly get lights and radios out.

Gotta patch or fill screw holes in roof from lightbar. Also gotta trace and remove residual wiring that they didn't remove.

I got the remainder of the GO coming in within the next few days so I'll have all the fluids for a complete fluid refresh. Oil, trans, transfer case, diffs, and coolant..
 

TechnoWeenie

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mechanical 8.3? Am curious what HP and Torque rating military had these tuned too?
Supposedly same as the NHC250, but since it relies on a turbo, it definitely is lacking a bit until it spools up.

Nice thing about the 8.3 though, is it's easily modified to crank out a bunch more power.


Per Wiki...

The M939 and M939A1 models use a Cummins NHC 250, a 855 cubic inches (14.0 L) naturally aspirated inline 6 cylinder diesel engine developing 240 horsepower (180 kW) at 2100 rpm and 685 pound force-feet (929 N⋅m) of torque at 1,500 rpm.[8] This was the standard engine of the M809 series. The M939A2 models use a newer and smaller Cummins 6CTA8.3 504 cubic inches (8.3 L) turbocharged inline 6 cylinder diesel engine developing 240 horsepower (180 kW) at 2100 rpm and 745 pound force-feet (1,010 N⋅m) torque at 1,500 rpm.[4][9][10]
 

coachgeo

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North of Cincy OH
Supposedly same as the NHC250, but since it relies on a turbo, it definitely is lacking a bit until it spools up.

Nice thing about the 8.3 though, is it's easily modified to crank out a bunch more power.


Per Wiki...
thanks..... looks like 330hp obtainable all the way to 380.... in cummins configurations though I think the 380 bumps it to new pump and common rail upgrade.
 

TechnoWeenie

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thanks..... looks like 330hp obtainable all the way to 380.... in cummins configurations though I think the 380 bumps it to new pump and common rail upgrade.
They're very popular in motor coaches... where they're routinely outputting 350 HP for hundreds of thousands of miles. There are also Marine versions (as in, boats) that push 400HP.... 1100 ft lb of torque seems to be the upper limit for all variants.

First thing I need to do is get all the mechanical stuff done, and get a baseline.. Then I'll start with small stuff like a pyrometer and simple changes to gain an extra 15-20 hp here and there. The mods are well documented.
 
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