Newb from SE MI w/ M880

[MattL]

Hello, just picked up a well-used M880 so will be asking dumb questions about converting to power steering and Dodge rust issues.

Seems like a lot of good information here!

-Matt

 

[MattL]

 

[kblazer87]

Hello and welcome from southern Indiana

 

[ageregunner]

Welcome from PA.

 

[bikeman]

Welcome! Nice '77. What are your plans? I can't help you with power steering much as mine came with it from the FD.

 

[theeDIZ]

Welcome from MD

 

[MattL]

Thanks for the welcomes.

I had been sort of looking for an older truck to handle various tasks, how could I resist something as cool as an old military truck? It's an M882 according to the tag on the dash.

My plans are to get PS on it, and fix little things and just use and abuse it. First up will be the steering, then probably wiring and some rust repair. Of course I did a horrible job of checking it out before I bought it, hence the discovery that the bottom 2" core support is non existent due to rust!

I am quickly learning about the 72-93 Dodges, as it seems that a surprising amount of stuff interchanges with some minor fiddling. I found a 79 Power Wagon parts truck locally that I grabbed the power steering box, mount, shaft and drag link as well as pump out of, as well as the fender and inner fender. But it seems that I need to read some more as the steering column must be different from manual to power steering as the donor truck had the coupler on the steering box and the M has the coupler on the end of the column...

 

[Derrickl112]

.

 

[Bob H]

Welcome from a northern M880 hoarder...

You'll need a 78/79 steering column to go with the rest of those steering parts. or cut & weld yours.

the 77 has a reverse rotation steering box the 79 is std rotation, it can work, just have to change all the steering parts with it.

 

[m38inmaine]

Welcome to the M880 world.

 

[m109a2]

Welcome and the only dumb question is the one you do not ask.Al

 

[MatthewH]

Welcome from another Michigander. Previously owned a M887, sadly sold it couple years ago

 

[Recovry4x4]

And a hearty welcome from hurricane alley. M880 trucks are a well kept secret. Fine MV for your needs.

 

[MattL]

Interesting History

I am disassembling the front end of my truck prepping for the core support replacement and came across this. Not sure if this was someone in the past or if this was from the factory, driver's side of the core support, between the radiator and battery:

 

[bikeman]

Mine had one wired into the front passenger corner support between the fender and the grill, hanging kind of behind the headlight.

 

[Bob H]

Common military thing, from what I have experienced.

 

[MattL]

I've been able to get a few things taken care of. For the steering I wound up going the Borgeson shaft route, and used a rag joint/ coupler on the box. I had found the box and pump locally off of a 79 not knowing that the steering column splines were different:

I found that the cab mounts were almost as bad as the core support, so I fixed those with some 3/16" plate.

Then I patched up a replacement core support with some angle iron, it should work ok and be hidden by all of the front end sheetmetal. Bear with me on the pictures, I think I have something wrong...

 

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Welcome. I could be wrong, but I think you just picked some fenders up from me.

 

[Tracer]

Welcome aboard from Nevada.

 

[Gralmk]

Welcome from MA!