My Dodges are home

[jbingvtx]

It took a couple trips to Columbia SC but I got both of my new MVs home. I was happy to see the condition of the M880, no rust and a few dents and dings. When I opened the hood I was instantly a little worried, someone had taken the air breather and the radiator cap off. Those wonderful southern mud dauber wasps were building a condo on the side of the carb. The M886 is looking much rougher, most of the rust seems to be only surface and not into the structure yet. The back of the box had what appears to be a set of shelves from a newer ambulance kind of stuck in on one side and a bench on the other side. The passenger door is stuck, the outside handle doesn't work and the inside is missing everything along with the window being down. I found that several birds have made this their home, nests in the dashboard and in the shelves in the back.

 

[Bob H]

 

[nattieleather]

So what's the plan. Fix both up and restore to military glory? Use one for parts to the other? Make run and resell?

 

[LIFTEDANDTURBOM1028]

You were about 45 mins from my place.I live off I-26.Looks like you got some nice trucks.

 

[jbingvtx]

I'm planning at this time to fix up and drive. I hate to say "restore" because that's really more than I plan to do. I'm leaning towards mechanically sound military vehicles. I'm not going to worry about straightening every ding and dent, just hit the bad spots and repaint to military colors. I have begun to work on the M880 and have had it running and drove it a little. There seems to be a terrible bind in the front end. Some of the problem is in the wheels, they are much wider than the original and where they rusted on the inside they rub the tie-rod end and make alot of noise. The M886 is going to be a bigger project but I'm on the prowl for parts already.

 

[insanejecke]

nice i love dodge always cool trucks no matter what

 

[ryan77]

Ive wanted a m880 for 2 years! Nice truck! Some day the junk gods will bless with one!!!

 

[jbingvtx]

I finally got back to the M880 today. I replaced the fuel filter and some dried out fuel line, cleaned on the carb and added some seafoam and fresh gas. I had it running again and It's getting smoother each time. I think that the float is sticking on it though. It'll purr for a little while and then just run out of gas. I've got plenty of fuel pressure on the line but it won't stay running. I was hoping that I could get some additives running through the carb to clean it up but now I'm thinking it'll have to come off and get soaked and rebuilt.