2000 HMMWV M1123 Project

[mow***com]

Time for another update... Well, life is still funny sometimes.
Not too long ago, I noticed the truck getting harder to start. Mind you, I plug my block heater in for a couple hours each morning.
So, I was a bit puzzled as to why it wasn't starting. Until, I figured out that my Zerostart 1000W block heater had shit the bed.
Being me and enjoying doing jobs multiple times, I headed over to the local auto parts store for some type of immediate replacement.
Sadly, they only had the Katz and I just had a feeling it was gonna fail. Two days later, it failed....

So, I ordered yet another Zerostart 1000W block heater and will give this another shot. It just isn't fun draining the coolant, just to do it all over again.
I've had enough older diesels to know that my 6.5 doesn't like sub freezing weather.
Even an hour on the block heater and it starts right up.

Anyway, that is the fun that I've been dealing with at the moment.
That and I've started to test my wiring for my 24/12-70 converter.
I ultimately decided to just run my signal wire to the ignition switch. Since, I already have a keyed set up, I've got threaded studs/lugs on the back of the switch.
With no load, it reads 13.5 volts. With the stereo hooked up, it reads 13.3 volts. I can adjust that as I need.
I still don't have speakers for the stereo. But, I'll probably just construct a temporary speaker box until I can think about it some more.
That's about it for now. Hopefully, it will be driving again in the next few days. Until then, maybe I can get the wiring dressed up and possibly get amplifier/subwoofer wired up. Anything is possible.

 

[mow***com]

Another update...

Okay, amplifier is wired up and subwoofer makes some noise.
The front speakers are in a cardboard box and it is better than nothin, probably.
I picked up some MDF for the rear speaker enclosures and I will just make basic speaker box, until I can design sort of what my mind sees and my hands can build. Somedays, I wish I had a plastic mould, or was better at fiberglassing.
I've decided that I will mount my rear speaker boxes to the front of the hard top "C" type piller. For the Plan B hardtop, it bolts together with the slantback portion, to create a "C" type pillar, instead of having a traditional C pillar in place. Essentially, the boxes will angle down slightly to the center of the cab. It will take time to get the angles matching, given that I am cutting them them by hand and eye, with basic cutting tools.
But, it should all fairly line up, creating a loose cental listening point.

The subwoofer is in the rear passenger seat box. But, only using a fairly shallow subwoofer will allow me to keep my pump jack in the same box. If not, the pump jack has to get relocated.
The bright side is, if I go shallow mount, I could probably fit a 10" subwoofer in each of the rear seat boxes.
Oddly, as much as I'd like seat bases, the seat boxes allow a little anonymity to the subwoofers for when the doors will be off.

Okay, so the stereo system is slowly coming along. But, the other day as I was driving, my voltage gauge dropped to the yellow area and shortly to the red. I had time to get it back to house, so I could change cars and get to work.
However. Today, I will do some testing and see what readings I get.
Although, I have a feeling that it may need a new regulator. The alternator is dated 1999 and I bet it is original to the truck.

This is where timing and fate sort of come into play. The other day, someone local listed a 200 amp HMMWV alternator that they had picked up a couple years back for a project. The regulator looks to be dated 2016. It came in a big barrel and I am hoping this keeps me on the road, if my alternator shit the bed.
So, I'll stay in touch in the next few days. Part of me can't believe that the alternator shat right after installing a converter.
It is hard not to make a relation between the two. But, maybe time did the alternator in and that is what there is to it. Time will tell.

*Bonus: The other day, I picked up a 4x8 section of MDF and it fit in the truck, with the slantback closed*