New m108 Crane Truck Project

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

Took a look at the front axle, I don’t see a whole lot wrong with it. The only thing keeping it from moving was the brakes. Once I got the drums off it all moves just fine. There was a little water in the hubs and a little bit in the diff but not very much at all.

The wheel bearings look decent, the axle shafts look decent, spindles, etc all look ok. There isn’t any play in anything or noise just turning it by hand. Nothing exciting on the drain plug magnet either.

Someone must have liked this truck back in the day. The lockrings and outside edges of the duals are all painted silver. Some interesting non standard wheels on the front tandem as well. They look like Firestone RH-5s to me, actual “widowmaker” wheels. I should probably junk those.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

All the floodlight parts and some field chock sockets have arrived. Forum member Dead pilot helped me out by picking up and shipping those from California. I can see why the light brackets were left off the later wreckers, they’re heavy and complicated (but pretty cool in my opinion).
I sanded down one of the doors and the hood before those go to scrap. Under the US Army markings on the doors was the same thing in another font, then just all yellow. Under the Army markings on the hood was what looks to be USAF in black letters and then nothing else. No registration numbers found or Army stars either.

 

[Dead pilot]

Glad to see they made it there in good shape.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

 

[SETOYOTA]

Done any more to the m108. I’m still working on mine 7 years in. Lol

 

[Junkyard Wars Crusher]

Proud member of the lifelong M108 project club.
Still trying to get mine back on the road. It's been in this same spot since 2011.

 

[SETOYOTA]

Proud member of the lifelong M108 project club.
Still trying to get mine back on the road. It's been in this same spot since 2011.

maybe we should start a club With t-shirts and everything. I‘m thinking 2023 is the year mine runs, drives,and stops.…….MAYBE

 

[SETOYOTA]

Proud member of the lifelong M108 project club.
Still trying to get mine back on the road. It's been in this same spot since 2011.

your truck looks to be in very good condition. My cab was toast . Did you do a multi-fuel swap.?

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

Done any more to the m108. I’m still working on mine 7 years in. Lol

Unfortunately nothing has been done to the m108 lately, work and too many other projects have gotten in the way as usual. Also added a working m62 wrecker to the fleet a while back which will probably end up ahead of the crane on the list.
Since the last update I did acquire the original weightball/hook for it and hopefully enough outriggers to make a complete set.