Allison M916 + Mk48 Cab = 6x6 "FEMTT"

[Stretch44875]

I work around industrial machinery every day, and your work looks factory, and even better than some I've seen. Nice welds, chamfered holes, beveled edges, and smooth cuts.

I just got in from working outside in the cold, not my favorite thing!

 

[marchplumber]

Amazing thread! In awe. THANKS for sharing!
God bless,
Tony

 

[wreckerman893]

Soni, if you get tired of all that snow and cold and want a break, I have some "similar" fabricating that needs done here in SUNNY and 85 degree Florida.

I'll see your oppressively humid, bug infested Florida and raise you a killer shop.

 

[patracy]

Soni, I'm still working on a transport method on the thing we talked about.

Has anyone studied the 916 chassis to say something like a 931? I know the steering boxes are mounted similarly. Did you happen to keep blueprints or measurements of the mounts you've made?

 

[M920]

I'll see your oppressively humid, bug infested Florida and raise you a killer shop.

Ok...so I like the shop! I like it a lot!!!! Hmmmmm....what's the catch....just what excactly would I be working on?

 

[pctrans]

WM, down here on the coast, I can guarantee it's cooler and less humid than your place. On the other hand, I REALLY like that shop! Is that gonna be your new workshop?

 

[M920]

Soni, I'm still working on a transport method on the thing we talked about.

Has anyone studied the 916 chassis to say something like a 931? I know the steering boxes are mounted similarly. Did you happen to keep blueprints or measurements of the mounts you've made?

Of course I kept the drawings of all the parts.....

I believe that the frame width on the 931 is the industrie standard 34" outside to outside frame rails just like the 916.

I'm actually talking to a friend of mine, about doing a conversion on his 931A2, after I get done with the FEMTT project.
So there is going to be an opportunity to get the mounts and frame extensions and all other related parts, specifically for the M931 series trucks!!

 

[M920]

WM, down here on the coast, I can guarantee it's cooler and less humid than your place. On the other hand, I REALLY like that shop! Is that gonna be your new workshop?

Hmmmmm....would I be able to use my sailboat?

 

[patracy]

Of course I kept the drawings of all the parts.....

I believe that the frame width on the 931 is the industrie standard 34" outside to outside frame rails just like the 916.

I'm actually talking to a friend of mine, about doing a conversion on his 931A2, after I get done with the FEMTT project.
So there is going to be an opportunity to get the mounts and frame extensions and all other related parts, specifically for the M931 series trucks!!

PM'ed you.

 

[wreckerman893]

Ok...so I like the shop! I like it a lot!!!! Hmmmmm....what's the catch....just what excactly would I be working on?

Soni......I and a partner are in negotiations to buy the place. Right now there are no plans for anything specific. With the supply of cheap 5 tons around here I was thinking of refurbishing trucks for the timber industry, firefighting, and another project I can't discuss now. Doing custom work like your present project would be a huge drawing card for the business. By the way...that building can be rented for $2900.00 a month. I can't remember the square footage but you could park a platoon of 5 tons in the rear bay. The front is office space but is big enough to make living quarters in if needed. If the deal goes through I'll post more details.

 

[Recovry4x4]

I'll see your oppressively humid, bug infested Florida and raise you a killer shop.

Haha, that looks like some of the buldings at Defense Supply Center Columbus. Did you buy this building from GL on your credit card and now have to move it to your back 40?

Wicked work Soni, I love to watch what you and Leonard Jones brew up when you get to brainstorming.

 

[patracy]

Soni......I and a partner are in negotiations to buy the place. Right now there are no plans for anything specific. With the supply of cheap 5 tons around here I was thinking of refurbishing trucks for the timber industry, firefighting, and another project I can't discuss now. Doing custom work like your present project would be a huge drawing card for the business. By the way...that building can be rented for $2900.00 a month. I can't remember the square footage but you could park a platoon of 5 tons in the rear bay. The front is office space but is big enough to make living quarters in if needed. If the deal goes through I'll post more details.

I'm not knocking your plans. But I will say this. Take whatever you plan on the high end of your costs to be monthly and double it. The gotchas on overhead are what will kill you. Also the business licenses to run a "dealership" will set you back at least $10K a year. I'm not sure what your insurance will run either. But I'd expect it to be somewhere around that much as well.

That said, if you need some assistance with a security system, let me know.

 

[wreckerman893]

I'm not knocking your plans. But I will say this. Take whatever you plan on the high end of your costs to be monthly and double it. The gotchas on overhead are what will kill you. Also the business licenses to run a "dealership" will set you back at least $10K a year. I'm not sure what your insurance will run either. But I'd expect it to be somewhere around that much as well.

Yep PA.......the devil is indeed in the details.

 

[M920]

I'm not knocking your plans. But I will say this. Take whatever you plan on the high end of your costs to be monthly and double it. The gotchas on overhead are what will kill you. Also the business licenses to run a "dealership" will set you back at least $10K a year. I'm not sure what your insurance will run either. But I'd expect it to be somewhere around that much as well.

That said, if you need some assistance with a security system, let me know.

Ok....so lets summarize: my "overhead" is definitely much cheaper, I to have heat in the summer and a/c in the winter and I don't need a security system, at least not in the winter, because whoever wants to steal something of the truck, will still be frozen to it when I come out in the morning!!!!

So maybe I'm just fine where I'm at.....

 

[BBoomerBootCamp]

 

[M920]

Here is an update.....

Well....since the weather is finally improving somewhat, (sunny but a high of only 29 degrees yesterday!) I was able to fabricate the mounting brackets for the twin booster reservoirs, and then mount them behind the modified battery box. These two reservoirs where needed back when the truck had the Caterpillar 7155 16-speed transmission, that has a really big "appetite" for AIR!!!
I thought about leaving them off, since that would make the air charge up faster on start up. This is especially true, after the truck has been sitting for a while and all the air has bleed off. On the other hand, I do like the safety of the extra two reservoirs, so I decided to keep them.

I modified the bottom of the battery box to accomodate six Optima "Yellow Top" batteries. This consisted of welding a frame of 2"x1/4" flat stock, on edge, on to the bottom plate. This shoud keep the batteries firmly in place on bumpy cross country trips. All that I have left to do on this, is fabricate two hold-down brackets and get the cables made up for the two extra batteries.

Today, I welded up the front support frame for the engine compartment hood. For it's constuction, I used heavy duty 2"x4"x1/4" rectangular tubing because it also doubles as a ROPS and the attachment point for the two front fender mounts.

I was going to take the cab off today, but it was apparently to cold and despite extensive begging, pleading, the excessive use of starting fluid and then finally cursing, the "trusty" 10 ton (crane) could not be conviced to come to life....

 

[patracy]

Why is the cab coming back off? Wiring/plumbing?

 

[M920]

Why is the cab coming back off? Wiring/plumbing?

After fitting all the cab mounts, installing the bumper / armor / brushguard and the ROPS, there are a bunch of areas that can't be accessed for welding and painting. Being the slightly "anal" person I am, I could not possibly live with myself, if I did not take care of those "troublesome" areas....whether anybody will ever see any of it or not....

 

[patracy]

Ahh going back through the pics, I see it now. I agree. BTW, can you take pics of the plumbing/wiring when you reinstall it?

 

[M920]

Ahh going back through the pics, I see it now. I agree. BTW, can you take pics of the plumbing/wiring when you reinstall it?

Yes for sure!