hello fellow M880 owners!

[McGuyver]

Hello all,

new member here. Just thought I'd post here and say hello to all of you. I have an M880 that I bought in Fall of 1998 with only 23,200 miles on the clock. Currently has about 53,000. I've swapped in power steering, added the blackout light kit (never had it installed), a 4" lift with bigger tires, various other extras as well (that it never had originally, these gov't trucks were bone stock)such as tilt back bench seat, cigarette lighter, glove box lamp, Optima battery, etc. Currently working on swapping in a 440 big block motor. Seriously considering a future swap in of Cummins Diesel and NV4500 manual five speed. Also planing on redoing camo paint scheme. Considering old 4 color pattern, or new NATO pattern. What's your opinion? Well, that's all for now.

 

[Desert Rat]

Richard Dean Anderson;
I'd be tempted to stay with the paint scheme appropriate for the time the truck was manufactured. Just my opinion. I hope you have a sense of humor too (I couldn't help myself in addressing you<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_lol.gif" alt="LOL"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_rotfl.gif" alt="ROTFL"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_reyes.gif" alt="Reyes"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_tongue.gif" alt="Tongue"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_wink.gif" alt="Wink"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_big.gif" alt="Big Smile"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_approve.gif" alt="Approve">).

 

[McGuyver]

Hello Richard,

I seriously wanted to do that originally, but the only pattern I could find for the M880 was the NATO three color version. I've never been able to find the original 1975 4 color pattern or the FS numbers for the paint colors. Do you know were I could find those?

 

[Recovry4x4]

McG, darn, I have the TM with the 4 color MERDC patterns somewhere but I can't seem to find it right now. I'll keep looking. I have an M887 contact maintenance truck. Just got a NOS & complete BO light kit for a mere $60 from Mighty Joe Young (only one he had).
I'm picking the truck up on Sunday so I'll report on how it is. Looks real solid and straight in the pics and the guy I got it from was the only civilian owner. Welcome aboard Man!

 

[McGuyver]

That would be much appreciated if you could find the 4 color pattern for the M880 and the FS colors. By the way, which Technical manual are those in? These are the manuals I currently have:

TM 9-2320-266-10 hardcopy
TM 9-2320-266-24P electronic PDF
TM 9-2320-266-34 electronic PDF
TB 43-0147 electronic PDF

I'd like to get hardcopies of all of them but I'm looking for the right deal. By the way, does the -24P manual have the "wheels program" cover with the pictures of the ambulance and M880 pickup on the front? I've seen that one on Ebay several times. Haven't come across the -34 maintenance manual yet though. Anyway, I'm getting off topic.

Question for you all: Do you really prefer the old four color pattern over the new 3 color NATO pattern? It's taken me a while, but I'm starting to warm up to the newer NATO pattern. I learned something recently about it too. Aparently the original M1008 pattern was VERY similar to the M880 NATO pattern The M1008 pattern must have been adopted from the M880 pattern (there is a newer M1008 pattern that is different.) I thought that was cool to find out.

Does anyone here know if the bows, canvas tops and troop seats are interchangeable between the M1008's and M880'S? They look very similar to each other. By the way, I found a place today where I can buy the M880 troop seats for $25 a side. The catch however is that the wood parts are pretty weather worn. But you can always buy them for the metal parts and replace the wood slats.

Anyway, back to your reply, I hope you find that four color pattern. would be much appreciated.<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up">

 

[Recovry4x4]

Alrightythen. I don't recall the TM number with the MERDC camo in it. I prefer the NATO camo myself and patterns for that can be found in TB 43-0209. The word hideous seems to come up when some people refer to MERDC. Lots of folks say the cargo covers are interchangeable but I've heard from a reliable source that they are different. Each can be adapted though. As far as manuals, the one you see on ebay is the Mopar dealership parts manual for the M880. Chevrolet has one like it for the CUCV series too. I have all 5 manuals for the M880 on disc but only the -10 in paper. As soon as I find the MERDC manual, I'll let you know.

 

[McGuyver]

Would you be willing to let me down load your PDF copy of the TB 43-0209 manual? That would be a good one to have also. Also, After you mentioned the MERDC 4 color pattern (I didn't know that was what it was called)I did a search, and here's a page I found:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/afv/merdc.html

here's another good paint site:

http://www.rapcopartscompany.com/paint.html

Anyway, from these two links, one could figure out the correct FS 595A colors to use with the 4 color pattern. Thanks for your input. Oh, and I'm still interested in the M880 4 color pattern if you can find it. <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up">

 

[McGuyver]

Oh yeah, question for you all:

Which camouflage paint suplier is better for overal price, quality, resistance to fade, etc:

Rapco
Aervoe
Hentzen
other

 

[Desert Rat]

Hey McG;
I'd go with Rapco. I've always had good results from them. I looked at your link, WOW what a truck! You really have done a nice job with it!

 

[Recovry4x4]

McG, I'll share anything I have with ya man. Thats a cool truck! TB 43-0209 dated 29 Oct 1976 is the TM with MERDC stuff in it. Another manual that covers it is TB 43-0147. It explains alot and has some patterns but not the M880. I have that too in PDF that somebody just sent me. As far as paint, Hentzens are the guys that sell real CARC. Nasty stuff but it holds up best. I use the Gillespie that Rapco and Military Markings carry. Its very user friendly and looks great. The flat black is a little glossy at first but fades nicely after a few months. Let me know how to get the TBs to you.

 

[McGuyver]

Hey thanks guys! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up">

I appreciate the compliments on the M880.

Recovry4x4, you can send the manuals to me at this Email address: gvanhorn@xmission.com

So the Rapco is coming in as the first preference? Anybody know what shipping is like on a gallon of the stuff?

Question: I thought the TB 43-0209 was the publication listing the NATO camo patterns, Are you saying it includes the MERDC four color pattern as well? I would have thought this was published in the early `80's, not 1976. But I really had no idea, so that was news to me.

Regardless, I'm pretty sure that the TB 43-0147 was published in December 1975 and outlined the four color U.S. patterns. Unfortunately it does not include the M880 series. In any case, I would very much appreciate getting any of these manuals that you may have. Thanks again.

 

[Recovry4x4]

You are right. The TB 43-0209 dated 29 Oct 1976 is the version with MERDC. Any newer versions have NATO. I'll see if I can scrape up the older one.

 

[McGuyver]

Ohhhh... So you're saying there were later revisions of the The TB 43-0209, the original showing the MERDC four color paint, and later versions showing the NATO pattern? I would be interested in both the old four color patterns and the new NATO paterns. Thank you!! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up">

 

[McGuyver]

Hello Kenneth,

you haven't forgotten me, have you? You were going to Email me that TB 43-0209 document, right? I'd be interested in any and all versions of it, the original 1976 publication, as well as any revisions such as 1990 or 1991 revs with the NATO patterns. Here's my Email address again: gvanhorn@xmission.com Thank you!! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up">

 

[Recovry4x4]

Sorry McG. was getting ready then was out of town getting the M887. I'll get them emailed as soon as I can.
Kenny

 

[McGuyver]

Hi Kenny,

I got your Email showing me the link to click on to get this manual online. Worked great, thank you very much. I still don't think I've got the 4 color pattern for the M880 however. Did you say the original 1976 version of the TB 43-0209 had the MERDC 4 color paint in it? Did you say you had an older version? Since you're having trouble with the file size sending it by Email, do you know of any place on the web I could down load it from? Thank you very much.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Man, I gotta check. I think its Oct 1976 version. I'm going to ask one of my fellow collectors.

 

[McGuyver]

Kenneth,
I looked back on some of my posts and I think I owe you an apology. I didn't mean to sound pushy, but I think it came across that way.<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_blush.gif" alt="Blush"> I very much appreciate your help in finding the TB 43-0209 publication, (I've been looking for that for a long time.) No rush on the older version of that manual with the MERDC paint. It would be nice to have, and if you can find it, that would be wonderful. If not, no big deal, I'm still thrilled that I got the later rev with the NATO paint. Kudos to you for all the help you've given me. <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up">

 

[Recovry4x4]

No worries McG, none at all!