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Central FL M1031 project

deank

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Well. This has been a fun 4 days of 16-18 hours a day reassembling my M1031. Trying to be ready for the Veteran’s day parade. MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH!!!

Somehow, when I resealed the valve covers, I must have set the passenger valve cover on the rtv and I guess either moved or lifted the valve cover just enough to leave a gap in the rtv. So now I have a class 3 leak onto to exhaust manifold. Not taking that risk. Christmas parade is only a month away. Might make it to that one.

The other fun thing that happened during the reassembly was that the shifting link on the PTO snapped, with PTO engaged. Took the cover off to discover that the pivot arm inside snapped off. So, removed the PTO and fabricated a steel cover plate to replace the PTO so I can drive the truck.

That was when I discovered the valve cover leak.
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deank

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Well, after a long day at school, including a field trip for the Vetparade, I took some time to disassemble (again) the top of the engine. I found the culprit, it was me. I missed a spot with the rtv.

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Now to find two more evenings or a Saturday to clean it all up and put it back together.
 

deank

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Florida
Good evening all.
I had the time this week to fix my error on the valve cover. Got it all back together and running again this morning.

It felt good to take it out for a drive.

That is when I discovered the driver’s side caliper was dragging. Oh the pad squeal when they warmed up.
I have rebuilt both calipers and put on new pads on this evening. Just need to find a helper to bleed the brakes tomorrow.

My wife found a great square body t-shirt on her sister trip to Tennessee, I am going to try to get one made with CUCVs on it.

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deank

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Evening all. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. After a week with family I had some time to work in the shop today. Finally completed the changeover to the civilian fuel filler neck. Made a plate to attach the new neck. Cut it to fit, then drilled and pop riveted together.

Took the opportunity to put bumper numbers back on. I used mine from my last unit.
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view from the rear


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Getting ready to put tire pressure stencils and the black star on the front bumper tomorrow.
 
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deank

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Steel Soldiers Supporter
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468
63
Location
Florida
Made an unscheduled trip to Alabama this week. I had some down time today and found a salvage yard that had 3 squarebody trucks. Only one was available as a parts source. It was a 350 gasser but I found the electrical connector that I have been needing for the park circuit of my wiper motor. I did not hack it out, I reached as far out as I could on the remainder of the engine compartment harness and clipped those wires and took the engine side of the bulkhead connector so I can properly graft the needed wires into my harness. Gives me the added benefit of having more connectors if I need them in my bulkhead connector.

I also gathered up all the small hardware I could get to.

After doing a great deal of reading on this site, I ordered a new column ignition switch today.
 

deank

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Location
Florida
Yesterday was a good opportunity to get some work done. I have properly reconnected the park circuit on the wiper motor, cleaned all contacts on both sides of the bulkhead connector, created a new harness with weatherpack connectors for the aftermarket washer tank anp pump, and replaced the ignition switch on the column behind the instrument cluster. The wipers and horn work better now. I may still replace the wiper motor. Two more switches to go and then all will be new, wiper/washer and hi/lo beam. I have the wiper switch on hand.

later this week I plan to secure the mirrors with poprivets as cucvrus suggested.

next item after that will be adjusting the vacuum pump for smoother shifts and try to get better than 12mpg out of the IP.

Merry Christmas!
 

deank

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Location
Florida
Special thanks to cucvrus, the pop rivets in the mirror stems works great!

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The hi/lo beam switch and the wiper switch have also been replaced. This morning I did some rivet repairs to the work box, the floor where the torch tanks sat was very bent up. A little work with the floor jack and some new rivets and and is straightened out again.
This afternoon the tops to the rifle mounts go back in and I will start figuring out how to install the LED lights in the work box. Maybe look at a light bar also.
 

vanaisa

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Location
Tallinn, Estonia
I did same trick with mirrors. But i used hard plastic sticks - in case if i hit trees with mirror. Plastic breaks easier, no damage to mirror as with hard rivet.
 

deank

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
Florida
I had to take the truck to a local 4wd shop to have the backlash reset in the rear differential. When I pulled the rear diff cover off earlier last year it was full of a water and oil sludge. I pulled the diff entirely apart, I do not have the skills or the equipment to set the backlash. I did the best I could to get it back together and drivesble, now it is time for professional assistance. I should get it back Monday. Then I can get started on getting the generator working again.
 

deank

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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468
63
Location
Florida
I am glad I took the truck to professionals for the rear diff. I eyeballed the backlash and set it to 0.001, spec is 0.006 - 0.007. Now I feel much better about driving it.

Next step is the generator controller, new longer drive shaft, and then all things steering.

Current pic from the front with stenciling done.

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Far cry from day one…

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