M1078/M1079 for overland camper?

[LostInTheWorld]

Hi Michael. I noticed in the blog you guys have used the soda blaster to restore a ton of stuff. In addition to the NATO power connector it seems you guys have done air lines, hoses, etc.

Do you mind sharing the details of your recipe? What media specs? What pressure? Special nozzle? Any other important factors?

Thank you.

There is nothing really special about our soda blaster setup. We got it about 5 years ago when we were restoring a WWII GPW (jeep). It's just a stock soda blaster from Harbor Freight. The media we use is standard Arm and Hammer coarse soda, also available from Harbor Freight. We run at about 90 psi. It's a little finicky (being as cheap as it is), but it really does a great job cleaning up delicate hardware. You should see what it will do to an old carburetor body! It doesn't really have enough oomph to remove large quantities of CARC, paint, or rust, but it cleans up rubber, glass, castings, electrical connectors... It makes a really dusty mess outside, but it's great for some things.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Hard Head]

you may get some more ideas from this video

https://youtu.be/Vh_d31rWt2o?t=615

 

[csoledade]

There is nothing really special about our soda blaster setup. We got it about 5 years ago when we were restoring a WWII GPW (jeep). It's just a stock soda blaster from Harbor Freight. The media we use is standard Arm and Hammer coarse soda, also available from Harbor Freight. We run at about 90 psi. It's a little finicky (being as cheap as it is), but it really does a great job cleaning up delicate hardware. You should see what it will do to an old carburetor body! It doesn't really have enough oomph to remove large quantities of CARC, paint, or rust, but it cleans up rubber, glass, castings, electrical connectors... It makes a really dusty mess outside, but it's great for some things.

Cheers,
Michael

Thank you!

 

[LostInTheWorld]

We are making steady progress on our truck. We got the back portion of the frame painted (we made a nice painting enclosure), and we got several of the wheels assembled. It's all turning out quite nice.

I'm really pleased with how the silver power coated wheel rims look with the XZLs and the schrader valve shields.

 

[High Water]

Great build detail! I am glued to every post. I did not see anywhere on your blog or here a reason why you decided to eliminate the CTIS. Sorry if I missed it. Can you explain your reasoning? Was it just preventative to remove a potential mechanical system failure?

 

[LostInTheWorld]

Great build detail! I am glued to every post. I did not see anywhere on your blog or here a reason why you decided to eliminate the CTIS. Sorry if I missed it. Can you explain your reasoning? Was it just preventative to remove a potential mechanical system failure?

Yup, it was just to simplify the overall system a little. We actually didn't remove anything; we just capped it off and unplugged the controller, so if we (or a future owner) wants to bring it back, the CTIS controller can just be plugged in again and the wheels plumbed back up. We will see how we like the schrader valve setup. It seems pretty nice right now.

Michael

 

[1951M1078]

What bead locks did you use ? And was it a big deal to remove the run flats ?

And a big thanks for the guide book for my build !

Randy

 

[Another Ahab]

We are making steady progress on our truck. We got the back portion of the frame painted (we made a nice painting enclosure), and we got several of the wheels assembled. It's all turning out quite nice.
View attachment 663308

The work looks great.

How did you get the sheet-poly pulled so tight on the painting booth, did you use a stretcher of some kind?

 

[Former95Bravo]

Thank you SO much for taking the time to write this. I am in Hemet CA and was going to try the auction process on a [h=1]1994 Stewart & Stevenson M1078 LMTV 4x4 Cargo Truck with 3,750 miles. Now that I have seen what you posted, I wont buy one until I move to Arizona.[/h]

 

[Duckworthe]

Michael,
Still love the build! I need to come up and check it out one of these days! Keep up the good work and say hi to the wife! You two are a great team and kick butt. However, let's wrap it up and go on a trip already SHEESH! LOL
Eric

 

[mkcoen]

Michael,
Still love the build! I need to come up and check it out one of these days! Keep up the good work and say hi to the wife! You two are a great team and kick butt. However, let's wrap it up and go on a trip already SHEESH! LOL
Eric

Big Bend National Park in Oct for the 2nd Annual LMTV get together. It's only 9 hours farther than from San Antonio so should be doable. RAJ LMTV, TexAndy, and myself had a blast but it would have been more fun with more trucks. Here's a link to last years trip: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?156764-Big-Bend-NP-Get-Together

 

[Duckworthe]

I will have to look at this trip. Its 15 hours by map quest, so about 24 hours in LMTV! But I enjoy every minute that I drive my truck/RV.

 

[1951M1078]

745+ miles for me. Will need to think about it.

 

[Moraurah]

I hope this tread is not dead and that you are still working on your build. I am following your blog and nothing have been posted for the last 3 weeks.
I am french Canadian and my plan is also to build an expedition vehicle. I want you to know that sharing information and experiences like you do is very useful and appreciated. Best of luck with your project my friend.

 

[Another Ahab]

I am french Canadian and my plan is also to build an expedition vehicle. I want you to know that sharing information and experiences like you do is very useful and appreciated. Best of luck with your project my friend.

I recently met another newer Steel Soldier member like yourself (LonT), and he's got his eye on cobbling together a camper himself. Seems it's a popular idea.

And for the record:

- Welcome from down here in Virginia.

 

[Moraurah]

This is nice, we can all learn from each other build. I am planning to start from a m1079, fix it good and build a temporary camper in the van until I can put together a full custom camper box.
I have been living full time for the past 4 years in a slide-in camper. I know what I need and how it has to be done.
I live/work at a busy and remote lodge in the rocky mountains in Alberta. It is completly offgrid in every way and as a maintenance manager I keep everything running. The camper is only a smaller version of all the systems needed to run this lodge.
The FLTV is the upgrade I need as my old pick-up truck is getting tire after 41 years of hard work.

I need to know how those engines perform at 7000 ft of altitude and at temperature going down below 45°C.
The 3116, 3126 and C7.
Maybe someone who have experience with the FMTV in the Alaska winter can help me out.

 

[Another Ahab]

This is nice, we can all learn from each other build. I am planning to start from a m1079, fix it good and build a temporary camper in the van until I can put together a full custom camper box.
I have been living full time for the past 4 years in a slide-in camper. I know what I need and how it has to be done.

Maybe someone who have experience with the FMTV in the Alaska winter can help me out.

QUADJEEPER, and theeDIZ are also building campers, but they're working from their M109's.

I think they might each have a thread going on that.

 

[snowtrac nome]

I'm in Alaska just that mine is still in wa right now if you have any questions my number is 907 434 0692

 

[LostInTheWorld]

I hope this tread is not dead and that you are still working on your build. I am following your blog and nothing have been posted for the last 3 weeks.

We are still making good progress; we have just been bad about updating the blog the last few weeks.

We finished all the frame painting. It turned out nice. We just started cab paint prep this weekend.

 

[Another Ahab]

We are still making good progress; we have just been bad about updating the blog the last few weeks.

We finished all the frame painting. It turned out nice. We just started cab paint prep this weekend.

View attachment 669667

I would say so! It looks great.

That's quite a paint shed you all got there.