Allison M916 + Mk48 Cab = 6x6 "FEMTT"

[M813rc]

I was told by "one who knows" that the LVS lights were upside down so you could tell at a glance a Marine LVS from an Army HEMTT/PLS.

While that may be true, but failing to see why it would be important, I think it more likely that it was a former Army guy at Oshkosh having some fun with the Marines - "Hah! All your lights are upside down!!".

The Marines apparently caught on, because the LVSR (which my Combat Engineer son drives) now have the lights the 'proper' way up.

Cheers

 

[M920]

Soni:
Beautiful build, I have a question from way back on your post #59, on the use of the 55000 series transfer case. I thougt the 55000 reduced in high range as well something like 2.4 to one, am I wrong on this? I was going to swap a 916 t-case in place of a 55000 to get highway speed at 1600 RPM based on it being 1 to one.

KJ,

Thanks! I'm still trying to figure out the whole 55000 series Oshkosh TC situation myself. Apparently Oshkosh makes a bunch of different versions of the 55000 transfer case! I even saw one with a "direct" and "overdrive" only setup, No low range!
So I welcome input from anyone that can tell me more about which Oshkosh 55000 transfer case I should use in this truck!
I would not mind if there was a slight reduction in high-range, because the truck is geared to high as it is, but I really need low range! Do you have a 55000 TC?

Soni

 

[M920]

Some holes are easier to drill than others...

One of the reasons why I had to take the winch back off the FEMTT, was to drill the four 3/4" holes that attach it to the new front anchor points, behind the engine.
There was no way to do it in place, and as you can see in the pics, it still proved to be quite the challenge with the winch off the truck.....

 

[M1075]

Is that grey hair from this project? Hmmmm

 

[Cycletek]

Nice Magnet Drill, I hope to find one with a reasonable price someday.....

 

[patracy]

Soni, any chance you could measure the "doghouse" area where the radiator sits? I think some repositioning of the 939's radiator will have to happen if I can use it.

 

[goldneagle]

One of the reasons why I had to take the winch back off the FEMTT, was to drill the four 3/4" holes that attach it to the new front anchor points, behind the engine.
There was no way to do it in place, and as you can see in the pics, it still proved to be quite the challenge with the winch off the truck.....

Those forks look dangerous sticking out like that! Be careful out there. (maybe use some safety boots on the end of those forks while working around them) (available on AMAZON for $12.50) Hate to see a talented guy like you get injured on the job.

I wonder if those extension-ladder boots would fit the end of the forks? They are used to keep the ladder from scratching the side of a building when it is propped against it.

 

[M920]

Is that grey hair from this project? Hmmmm

Hmmm.....I think it's just the lighting......

 

[466Navastar]

Soni - thank you for the pictorial documentation of this great build.....Ive always admired your M920 and seeing you build this truck - OUTSIDE- in winter is a tribute not only to your craftsmanship - but your fortitude...I am in Awe.....looking at an earlier pic of the air tunnel - makes me want to say that you might want to build a smooth walled tunnel for the air - so ALL the radiator gets good air flow.....the low speed work that you have planned might heat things up - I suppose the sheetmetal that you fab up to cover the engine will be fully louvered to let the air OUT ?.... also hope that radiator is in good shape - looks like a SOB to replace.

Very nice touch - posting a pic of you drilling the holes for the winch .......humanizes the build and gives all an idea of what the guy looks like - whose hand we would like to shake........edit - Get some safety glasses

Look forward to seeing finished product and possibly "at work" pics....thank You again ...have fun

 

[M920]

Those forks look dangerous sticking out like that! Be careful out there. (maybe use some safety boots on the end of those forks while working around them) (available on AMAZON for $12.50) Hate to see a talented guy like you get injured on the job.

I wonder if those extension-ladder boots would fit the end of the forks? They are used to keep the ladder from scratching the side of a building when it is propped against it.

View attachment 414869

Thank you so much for looking out for my well-being! I was so worried about the mag-drill coming loose and wrapping everything, including yours truly, up on it self, that I totally overlooked the DANGER of the forklift forks!!!!

Next time, I will remedy the problem by slicing a couple of basket balls and sticking them over the end of the forks!

 

[Robo McDuff]

I planned to get an early night today and your thread was the last one I was going to read before sleeping. Ended up reading all 25 pages of this thread (that's the bad of not checking for nice threads every day).

 

[M920]

Soni, any chance you could measure the "doghouse" area where the radiator sits? I think some repositioning of the 939's radiator will have to happen if I can use it.

I will get the measurements for you first thing in the morning. We had a little blizzard going on today, so I rewired my dash, instead of batteling the elements outside....

 

[4 play]

One of the reasons why I had to take the winch back off the FEMTT, was to drill the four 3/4" holes that attach it to the new front anchor points, behind the engine.
There was no way to do it in place, and as you can see in the pics, it still proved to be quite the challenge with the winch off the truck.....

Hey is that the same magnetic drill the we used on the 50 project? If so my head still hurts from when it came loose under the train car. That drill almost beat me to death that day. Although it would have been almost impossible to drill all of those holes without it. to this day I still have not found 1 that works as well is that what did.

 

[M920]

Hey is that the same magnetic drill the we used on the 50 project? If so my head still hurts from when it came loose under the train car. That drill almost beat me to death that day. Although it would have been almost impossible to drill all of those holes without it. to this day I still have not found 1 that works as well is that what did.

Yes Dave, this is still the same mag dill that "attacked" you back in the early nineties! It has been one of my most usefull tools over the years. I remember, I bought it about 25 years ago at a pawn shop, they thought it was the top part of a drill press and gave me a discount because it was missing the bottom part!

 

[unimog_willys]

wow, great job. thanks for posting this

 

[Fredo Corleone]

Soni would you happem to have the TM for your forklift I am looking for one.

 

[promodhotrod]

Soni:
I dont have a 55000 tc now, I was just researching an upcoming project. It would seem odd to have different ratios of that 55000 as its all gear drive and the center shaft woud have to move up or down, but Im sure Oshkosh has done sillier things than that. I will post here as I find out better info. I think my lvs has a da100 tcase, they might be worth some thought as its 2 speed and very beefy.
KJ

 

[quickfarms]

Soni:
I dont have a 55000 tc now, I was just researching an upcoming project. It would seem odd to have different ratios of that 55000 as its all gear drive and the center shaft woud have to move up or down, but Im sure Oshkosh has done sillier things than that. I will post here as I find out better info. I think my lvs has a da100 tcase, they might be worth some thought as its 2 speed and very beefy.
KJ

You can get several different axle ratios to fit the same carrier in an axle.

If you change both gears the shaft spacing will not have to change.

It is not uncommon to find heavy duty transfer cases that are direct and overdrive.

I do find if unusual that the M916 had a single speed transfer case. What is the axle ratio?

 

[M920]

You can get several different axle ratios to fit the same carrier in an axle.

If you change both gears the shaft spacing will not have to change.

It is not uncommon to find heavy duty transfer cases that are direct and overdrive.

I do find if unusual that the M916 had a single speed transfer case. What is the axle ratio?

Very true on the ratios! I do think that <promodhotrod> was talking about the location of the intermediate (idler) shaft in his post. On a single gear idlershaft, it would have to move up or down in the t-case, to accomodate different ratios. As far as I know this is not an issue in a two speed TC, since they generally don't use a single gear idler. Even on a planetary reduction TC, they could use a two gear idler shaft, to be able to offer multiple gear ratios including overdrive.

Axle ratio on the M916-920 is 6.17 :1 combined with a very low first gear in the 16 speed 7155 Cat transmission.

 

[M920]

Soni would you happem to have the TM for your forklift I am looking for one.

Yes I have the manuals for the "Howitzer Mover" but it is not in electronic form. I can make copies for you if you need me to, or you can probably download them of the internet.
Just make sure you search for "Howitzer Mover" and not in the "Forklift" section....CAUSE THE USMC DID NOT CONSIDER IT TO BE A FORKLIFT!!!