In Love With An Older Woman

[Guyfang]

Typical water can.



Typical fuel can

And the one everyone wants to find. I have seen 2 in a barn a few years ago. The SS fuel can.

 

[BELinNC]

Super cool 404! Congratulations on finding her! I studied the 404 series quite a bit back when I had my Swiss version and I don't remember that box version. Could be a police version like mentioned above or some kind of command and control type. I wonder if the basket/fence around the top is original. Looks great overall and that winch is really nice and valuable/rare. Hope it works. What in the world is up with the rows of holes in the grill area. That seems really weird! Glad you avoided any damage with the battery situation!

 

[SuperMochombo]

Many thanks! I don't like the monkey cage roof rack, and was actually planning to cut it off right away, but it is really well built, welded to the roof in a million places, and undeniably functional. It might be original, and if it is, I will hesitate to cut it off. I also noticed those holes in the nose and at first I thought maybe a backyard modification, but the holes are perfectly round and spaced, and I have seen at least one other 404 on the interwebs with the exact same hole pattern so I think it was OEM and may eventually be the clue that ID's it's origin.

Quick update: Capital District Towing is bringing it down tomorrow for $600.

Once it's here in my shop, I'll need to get up n running ASAP. Many threads on the future loom cuz I'm gonna need help. Tires! Trying to buy tires, change them myself. Have seen just enough to know its a major PITA.

I don't know if the world needs another Unimog 404 tires thread, so I'll ask here for advice or if you know of a good deal give me a heads up!

 

[Guyfang]

Have you eyeballed the whole truck looking for data plates that might give you an idea about its history?

 

[SuperMochombo]

No I haven't. The weather has been dreadful. Cold rain and snow. But I will! And soon too.

Anybody ever deal with Simpletire.com?

 

[SuperMochombo]

My new truck was delivered today. The driver was a nice guy and put it exactly where I wanted it. I couldn't resist taking the afternoon off. I got the snow off the roof, which improves its look considerably because the cagey nature of the roof rack is less pronounced. There are cool hatches with sissy bars around them. The little cage over the blue light is hinged, for access.

Put the carb back on, added fresh gas. Turns over, no fire. Not even a sputter. The truck already has an electronic ignition instead of points, and last I heard it was running well enough for the prior owner to drive it and use it, tho he said it never ran right acted like it was flooding itself out or something. Anyhow, enough for tonight.

Headlights work and I have three gauges that illuminate, but that's it on the electrical side of things. No wipers, turn signals, brake lights, horn. I can hear the electric fuel pump running, see the headlights. I traced the cobbed fuel delivery system and there is a filter, a pump, new lines and everything shiny.

My next line of attack is check for spark at each of the wires.

Once I get rolling, I will have to go through everything. More rust than I first noticed. However, given the age of the vehicle and it's apparent neglect I am impressed with the overall condition. Made with good metal.

 

[SuperMochombo]

Mo pics. Those fuel cans say Treibstoff Feuergefahrlich 20L. Interwebs has em for $100 each. Apparently pretty old but not WWII German Military I don't think. But I don't really know. I do know that the design of these fuel cans was fantastic. I remember a guy showing me all the amazing design features of them years ago. I remember the weld. It's protected and therefore less likely to fail from damage.

How do you restore these things? I want to use them.

 

[NDT]

Cans need rust removal by blasting or dipping, then wet or powder paint. Which way you go is kinda governed by cost and what is available to you.

 

[BELinNC]

Really enjoying the pics of your 404! I guess the uncovered blue light on the roof indicates a police van of some type.
I had good luck getting some Continental MPT tires for my SEE Unimog from Colony Tire. They have a mil surplus division in VA. Price and shipping was reasonable.
Sounds like you have a bit to sort out-don't be too quick to give up your daily driver!
I am sure you understand how slow this truck will be in acceleration and modest top speed.

 

[BELinNC]

Oh yeah, I had a theory on the rows of holes above the grill. Maybe they added those on winch equipped models to get more airflow for cooling since the winch blocks the grill quite a bit. Has to be some reason the factory went to that trouble?

 

[Migginsbros]

Congrats ! Remembered me to the good old times in the early 80th. We own a 404S togeter with friends.
Had a lot of fun.

 

[SuperMochombo]

I thought I knew a little, but now I know I knew nothing at all.

I'm just continuing to learn as best I can. But I have to admit that seeing my own truck every day makes me hate my little electric mind control commuter spaceship all the more. My car yells at me. It electronically scolds me in public. It tells me when I need coffee. It reminds me that it reads my phone and reports back to the mother ship. Darn thing creeps me out.

I'm reading reading reading. I found a box of spare parts with seatbelts, wipers, wiper motors, and I found all the engine cover panels (3) and fit them in place just to see. Sat in the cab for a while. Made some truck noises. Engine cover has its cute little jacket with the arm holes for handles. Headliner looks a little saggy. I'll get some inside cab pics up. I discovered the high/low beam switch on the floor, but right now it's a high/no beam. The driver interior door handle does not open the door, so you have to roll down the window and reach out to get out. Bonus: I have windows, they roll down, AND they roll back up.

Going to start some threads pretty soon. Still researching what I have. I fell down the "Decoding a Unimog VIN" rabbit hole.

 

[SuperMochombo]

BELinNC that's a sound hole theory. I had the same thought.

Love that cargo box with the windows in the tarp. Looks like a dirt bike on the back too. And thanks for showing me the correct orientation of the windshield wipers. I'm learning!

 

[SuperMochombo]

This truck I found on the Classic Unimogs website. The box has the same door configuration as mine, and looks like the same winch. No nose holes that I can see but the pic is not great so they may be there. It is allegedly directly from the Saarbrucken police department, original color.

Anyone from Saarbrucken who could confirm they painted their police trucks Sprite green?

 

[SuperMochombo]

 

[tennmogger]

The holes; That area, above and below the seam, are really rust prone. I bet someone decided to air it out.

 

[NDT]

This truck I found on the Classic Unimogs website. The box has the same door configuration as mine, and looks like the same winch. No nose holes that I can see but the pic is not great so they may be there. It is allegedly directly from the Saarbrucken police department, original color.

Anyone from Saarbrucken who could confirm they painted their police trucks Sprite green?

That color is (or was) the national German police vehicle color.

 

[SuperMochombo]

That color is (or was) the national German police vehicle color.

Wow! That's cool. The plot thickens. I have a 404.113. I have read that most of these that had a hard cab and this type box were for the German police. The green one has the radio stuff still in it, and even tho the chairs and desk are gone, the rest of the layout of my box is the same.

Thanks for the info on the Jerry cans. I've seen some dipping done. Now I get to do it.

 

[m1010plowboy]

Great save! I did a little 'Images" search on the Unimog 404 and found a toy replica. https://www.reynaulds.com/products/Roco/4104.aspx Very handy having a shell on the back and there's just something cool about the Mog.

 

[Guyfang]

This is a typical Polizei green. This kinda truck would show up with there are demos, or street "Problems".