M1010 Meat Wagon to RV conversion

[Skinny]

The purpose of this build is to take the M1010 and outfit it into an all terrain RV that can haul my Samurai and sleds or serve as an expedition platform for any type of non-hardcore offroading. Part of this like any other old truck build involves starting at one end and working your way to the other taking breaks only to refill the wallet and do that pesky thing that gets in the way called work.



Please see other thread where I deconstruct the ambo box if you want to see what is under the skin.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?146746-M1010-ambulance-box-build-reference

 

[Skinny]

Most of my work up front will be converting the box over to a livable space along with the necessary mods to get the truck running under its own power. Right out of the gate I changed the starter relay, GP's, and GP solenoid. I am awaiting a new controller card but in the meantime the fuel system is functioning fine.

The charging system was DOA. Fire departments should not be able to touch their own vehicles...period. This is one more case in point of hackery. The bonus was finding a starter about to jump ship. I removed all of the starting and charging parts for a full refit. I'm going with a pair of new Leece Nevilee 160A 12v alternators wired in series just like the other CUCV trucks. It required a little bit of grinding on the cases to make them work with the adjusting bracket.

I removed the engine bay harness and stripped the DUVAC wiring out of it. I hate electrical loose ends. Plus a little bit of fresh electrical tape never hurt anyone. It appears someone's idea of a great repair included twisting my cold start advance wires and taping them together was good enough. The engine harness is back in and I'm hoping to have the starter back in with new bolts along with the alternator cables by the holiday weekend. New bolts in stock at the GM dealer $12 total...SCORE!

 

[ballencd]

"It required a little bit of grinding on the cases to make them work with the adjusting bracket."

Where did you grind on the Leece-Neville alternators? Pictures. I can't get my belts tight! What belts did you use?



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[chevymike]

"It required a little bit of grinding on the cases to make them work with the adjusting bracket."

Where did you grind on the Leece-Neville alternators? Pictures. I can't get my belts tight! What belts did you use?

What I did was to modify the adjusting bracket by fabbing/welding some extended adjusting slots. Worked out great.

Original


Modified

 

[ballencd]

Did you use a second bracket to make two into one or did you just add some steel to the cut adjuster? I am considering taking the charging system to 12 VDC vs the 24VDC. Most of the kitchen and A/C stuff uses 12 VDC. I could leave the second alternator in there as a spare and just carry the belt if I needed it. Not made any decisions yet and there are too many to make from what I can tell. I'm not sure if it makes sense but seems if I can make everything the same voltage it might be easier in the long run but I do like the lower current and wires on a 24 VDC system.

 

[chevymike]

Did you use a second bracket to make two into one or did you just add some steel to the cut adjuster? I am considering taking the charging system to 12 VDC vs the 24VDC. Most of the kitchen and A/C stuff uses 12 VDC. I could leave the second alternator in there as a spare and just carry the belt if I needed it. Not made any decisions yet and there are too many to make from what I can tell. I'm not sure if it makes sense but seems if I can make everything the same voltage it might be easier in the long run but I do like the lower current and wires on a 24 VDC system.

I used the existing bracket and made my own extensions to it. I suppose it would be easier if you had a second bracket but that was not an option for me. Currently mine is setup with the "Plan B" using two 12v alt but still keeping the 24v system. My plan (assuming I don't do the engine swap I am planning) is to convert fully to 12v. I already have the replacement 12v starter. I wanted to do this, as if I have a bad starter on the road, I am much more likely to find a 12v version at a parts store than a 24v version.

 

[ballencd]

The starter issue is why I wanted to put a manual trans in mine but my wife said no to that, she wants to be able to drive the vehicle too and although she can drive a manual fine; the M1010 does not have "hill-hold" and she worries about city traffic on hills with a big box on the back. I am going to apply your bracket extension idea to mine. I had a hard time getting the belts on since they have to be short to get them tightened up and I barely have them tight enough to run without them flying off. With the brackets adapted I could use a slightly larger belt so it goes on easy and still get it tight......hopefully. I had to pry my belts on and off which is probably not very good for them. I'm still thinking on the 12 vs 24 question. It will mostly depend on what equipment I use for heat and A/C.

 

[79Vette]

The starter issue is why I wanted to put a manual trans in mine but my wife said no to that, she wants to be able to drive the vehicle too and although she can drive a manual fine; the M1010 does not have "hill-hold" and she worries about city traffic on hills with a big box on the back. I am going to apply your bracket extension idea to mine. I had a hard time getting the belts on since they have to be short to get them tightened up and I barely have them tight enough to run without them flying off. With the brackets adapted I could use a slightly larger belt so it goes on easy and still get it tight......hopefully. I had to pry my belts on and off which is probably not very good for them. I'm still thinking on the 12 vs 24 question. It will mostly depend on what equipment I use for heat and A/C.

I've done city traffic in a K5 with a 8000 lb trailer. With the low gear in an SM465 or other truck trans you will be fine.

If the wife doesn't want a manual that's one thing, and entirely up to you/her. But the truck doesn't need "hill hold" or whatever newfangled thing . That's what gears are for. Starting on a hill with a huge trailer in my manual CUCV or C30 civvy pickup is easier than starting on a hill in my 500 HP Corvette