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I finally got to work on a project that I have been wanting to do for several years: to convert my M1078 to an M1079! Luckily for me I had all of the proper parts to make the swap, which I will cover as well. Before getting into the details I want to say thank you to all of those people who have helped me with this project, both directly and indirectly. The MV community really is the BEST! This project began 7 years ago when I bought a non-runner M1079. Upon receipt of that truck I realized that it would take a LOT to get it going, especially with the engine and trans in unknown condition and missing parts. So I ended up selling that truck for parts, with me keeping the M1079 van enclosure. Some time later I was able to also remove the other necessary parts for the swap. Over the next 7 years I used the van enclosure as storage, and even had to move it when I moved. My goal in performing the swap was to make some sort of extreme RV type of setup, and make it a mobile ham shack for amateur radio stuff. I am also trying to keep the swap as close to "factory" as I can, at least on the exterior, and in terms of how the enclosure is mounted.
First a few pics to show the major stages of the swap. Here's how my truck started out, with a cargo cover and troop seats:
The first thing I did was to move the cargo cover and frame from the truck to the trailer:
Next was removing the truck bed by cutting the 10 huck bolts on each side. The top frame rail I removed by cutting the 10 huck bolts on each side as well. More on this later.
Now I installed the factory M1079 frame rail section, complete with the enclosure mounts:
I installed the rear bracing plates that are not present on the M1078, but are on a M1079:
And finally mounted the van enclosure! Yeah the van enclosure is pretty dirty at this point, it had been sitting for 7 years!
First a few pics to show the major stages of the swap. Here's how my truck started out, with a cargo cover and troop seats:
The first thing I did was to move the cargo cover and frame from the truck to the trailer:
Next was removing the truck bed by cutting the 10 huck bolts on each side. The top frame rail I removed by cutting the 10 huck bolts on each side as well. More on this later.
Now I installed the factory M1079 frame rail section, complete with the enclosure mounts:
I installed the rear bracing plates that are not present on the M1078, but are on a M1079:
And finally mounted the van enclosure! Yeah the van enclosure is pretty dirty at this point, it had been sitting for 7 years!
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