One Piece at a Time...My Deuce Project

[ridingshotgun]

Ok folks, so still being relatively new to SS, I am really gaining a lot from everybody. When I did my first post, one of you gave me the assignment to share all my pictures, especially of any rebuilding project. When I first got my deuce, I mainly bought it for projects around the farm, but after getting it and starting some research, I kinda got bit by the green monster and am searching for a cure!

In the beginning, it never crossed my mind that someone would care about pictures of my deuce, so I didn't really take any. Now that I see how interesting all your pics are to me and others, it should serve as good motivation for me to share mine with you. So, if it's ok with you all, I'm starting this thread to chronicle what I do with this truck.

As with many of you, money and time are important considerations, so my deuce (Big Woody) will have to be a working truck while I fix it up "one piece at a time."

This first pic is from the day I picked it up in mid-February. I have a Class A CDL, so I borrowed a detach truck from work one Saturday and went to pick it up. It was about 100 miles away and I bought it from a guy in central IA who was a member of SS at one time. (He told me about this website, but I don't know his screen name.) He was really honest and helpful to me and I think he gave me a fair deal. So far, the truck has been as he described. He put the custom dump conversion on it. I know the truck originally came from the Illinios Guard at one time and I kinda know where it has been since then from the history he gave me. The truck was rebuilt by the army in the early 90's I think and it runs well.

I'll list what needs fixing and what I have done to it in a later post. Feel free to chime in with your opinions, criticisms, etc.

 

[ridingshotgun]

I forgot to mention, the seller also threw in a generator trailer, cargo cover, and a hard top that was sitting in the weeds. We pulled the truck out and I thought I was going to have to use the recovery winch on the detach to load the deuce, since it had been sitting for a good while. There were some dead weeds that had been growing out of the seat! Surprisingly, it pull started on a 25 degree day! We just drove it on! These pics are from the next day after we got it unloaded and I set the hard top on.

My wife was tickled, because I used it for my anniversary gift to her!

 

[pyro1955]

Nice looking truck! Good luck, I'm sure it will be fine, afterall, it's a Deuce!

 

[ridingshotgun]

Here's what I have done so far...

1) Wire brushed and repainted the hard top and mounted it.
2) Replaced the two batteries
3) Replaced the battery cables
4) Fixed a flat tire
5) Changed the oil and filters
6) Replaced the driver's seat (what was left of it) with a new one from TNJ Murray - ebay score.
7) Purchased good used passenger seat cushions via ebay
Replaced a taillight
9) Accidentally knocked out a front directional light hauling storm debris
10) Took the neighbors on a "booze cruise" through the pastures - they were consuming...not me of course
11) Used a wire wheel on the cab floor and sanded it
12) Am in the process of primering and painting the inside of the cab


Like I said, I intended to get this truck to do some dirty work around the farm...my problem is, I hate for anything I have to not be right...so here I am.

What it needs:

1) Right windshield is cracked
2) Wipers don't work/air lines gone
3) Two air leaks - nothing major, just needs done
4) Left front boot is ripped - Am going to do complete axle seals and boots on front
5) Hydraulic cylinder leaks and needs rebuilt on dump
6) Am planning on repainting it - Have repainted a few spots
7) Turn signals don't work - don't know why
Batteries bleed down when it's not running - this is the priority - any ideas? Will tie into that here pretty soon and let you know what I find out.

Here's a few pics. Am planning to document progress with photos a little better now!

 

[RodUSMC1962]

That dump will be used so much, you will wonder how you ever lived with out your truck! Good for you!

 

[lawdog1623]

congratulations. i love the dump bed feature. Ive yet to come across one of those!

 

[Robo McDuff]

Seeing the picture of the dump in action, I first got confused on the single action cylinder and the cargo-like bed without the front part that sticks out over the cabin (is there a name for that part?). Then realized its a deuce and not a five ton. What vehicle type you have, an M47, M59, or M342?

 

[caliber1]

Seeing the picture of the dump in action, I first got confused on the single action cylinder and the cargo-like bed without the front part that sticks out over the cabin (is there a name for that part?). Then realized its a deuce and not a five ton. What vehicle type you have, an M47, M59, or M342?

Robo, that is an M35 with a dump conversion on a stock bed. No cab protector.

 

[04mustang]

The turn signal issue is probably due to a bad signal control box. mounted on the firewall usually. Mine was bad and my lights wouldnt flash, $50 later, my lights flash

 

[cattlerepairman]

I second the flasher unit for the turn signals. Also ensure you have a good ground for it; ground attached to the fender and you may want to run a ground wire to the firewall.

That hydraulic cylinder looks heavy-duty! A very beefy setup. When you have the time, please post a series of pictures dealing with the dump conversion; hinges, how the bed sits, how the bed channels were strengthened, hydraulic setup etc.
We love that kind of stuff!

 

[John S-B]

Cool thread! I'm restoring mine piece by piece too. I just decided to start at the front bumper and work my way to the back. Although I may jump around as opportunity presents itself.

 

[ridingshotgun]

That hydraulic cylinder looks heavy-duty! A very beefy setup. When you have the time, please post a series of pictures dealing with the dump conversion; hinges, how the bed sits, how the bed channels were strengthened, hydraulic setup etc.
We love that kind of stuff!

Thanks for your help. That hydraulic setup is VERY beefy. It came off a Mack dump truck with a 16ft box. It will dump waaaayyy more than the standard 12 ft M35 cargo box will handle. I'm tempted to beef up the box a little, but that's way down on the priority list. It's probably better to just leave it the way it is so I don't overload the frame and all. The previous owner did this conversion and he built the doghouse in the front of the cargo bed and mounted the cylinder. I will get some pics of that the next time I get the truck out...probably this weekend.

 

[DeucesWild11]

I'm loving that dumping bed.. A conversion I want to do down the road when I have more $$.

Best of luck with it!

 

[ridingshotgun]

flasher

04mustang & cattlerepairman where is that flasher? I don't find mine on the firewall. Would this be it?


Ok. I can't get this pic uploaded from my phone, but what I'm looking at is a black thing zip tied to the inside of the fender. It is a little bigger than a deck of cards with what looks like cooling fins on one edge. It has a round silver 2-wire plug connected to it.

ok...here's the pics.

 

[Mike O]

That sounds like it. It should be bolted down, not zip tied as it needs to be grounded to function. I had the same problem with my signals and it turned out to be a bad ground between the flasher and the fender well. The back of the flasher was severely corroded, but nothing a little sandpaper and two new bolts couldn't fix.

 

[cattlerepairman]

As MikeO said. There is a ground wire coming out of the cannon plug and it needs a good ground connection to work as it should.

 

[ridingshotgun]

Thanks to you both. There is a grounding wire coming out that goes to a lug on the firewall. But for some reason someone before me has this zip tied to the fender. I'll work on the grounding aspect and also see if I can get it mounted properly.

 

[cattlerepairman]

Thanks to you both. There is a grounding wire coming out that goes to a lug on the firewall. But for some reason someone before me has this zip tied to the fender. I'll work on the grounding aspect and also see if I can get it mounted properly.

If the turn signals still do not work after that, move on to the turn signal switch. The switch grounds to the steering column, so check that the bracket on the assembly or the worm clamp that holds everything to the steering column has a blank contact surface (you see what I mean when you look at it). If still no go, remove the turn signal switch, open it up (be ready for a little spring to jump out) and gently clean/refresh the contact surfaces with electronic cleaner and emery cloth. Reassemble and try again. If still no dice, fork out $45 for a new flasher control box. Yes, you can perhaps repair the old one - there is a thread on it - but you be the judge whether the work involved is worth it for you.

 

[04mustang]

04mustang & cattlerepairman where is that flasher? I don't find mine on the firewall. Would this be it?


Ok. I can't get this pic uploaded from my phone, but what I'm looking at is a black thing zip tied to the inside of the fender. It is a little bigger than a deck of cards with what looks like cooling fins on one edge. It has a round silver 2-wire plug connected to it.

Mine was on the engine compartment side of the drivers side fender as well, I just figured since everyone i talk to told me it was on the firewall that mine was a fluke.

 

[shannondeese]

Good Luck with it. I am bringing mine back too. Enjoy the busted knuckles. They are a testament to everyone else that you are the one doing the work.