• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

Rebuilding after 15 years of storage

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
It seems it was a good deal

Of this plate

IMG-20220722-WA0002.jpg

i am guessing there was in 1989 a rebuild of the TC and i found only Quality Parts like Timken Bearings and not damage or worn signs on the gears nor on the shift forks. Seems after rebuild does the TC not have much miles and was in along storage without oil which shown the less rust inside the case.
I will discuss the rebuilding with our transfercase professional which also will support us with spareparts

20220723_091535.jpg

Start with disambling after remove the oil - just less than 250 ml

20220723_092143.jpg

20220723_092954.jpg

20220723_093403.jpg

20220723_093528.jpg

20220723_094318.jpg

20220723_094824.jpg

20220723_095650.jpg

20220723_102502.jpg
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
20220723_122734.jpg

20220723_104327.jpg

20220723_124208.jpg

20220723_123339.jpg

20220723_125318.jpg

20220723_130453.jpg

20220723_130727.jpg

20220723_130643.jpg

20220723_130936.jpg

Result of long storage out of oil ...



20220723_125924.jpg

fortunately i have access to professional cleaning on machine parts 🥳

A new driveshaft will be already necessary after Engine and transmission swap.
We have here good sources for that => Driveshaft
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
During we prepare the cargobox does the NP205 undergoing a cleaning process

20220730_084914.jpg

Halftime

20220730_084921.jpg

it will go tomorrow last time again in the ultrasonic washer with treatment for rustprotection as we will still wait on parts surely 4-6 Weeks until at our door

20220731_110740.jpg

20220731_110717.jpg

20220731_110830.jpg
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
After the P400 is now also not more available from the NL-enginebuilder have we to find another solution.
We checked again our option and decided the engine swap shall be a duramax as a cummins diesel was never an option for us.

We found a nice Duramax LBZ from a 2007 Model GMC Sierra 2500 HD with 147000 miles on the clock. Singlecab and longbed.
Brought him home in a 8 hours trip yesterday.

20220813_185645.jpg

20220813_185658.jpg

But now we have a real dilemma 😇
It is such a great driving and a difference like night and day to the old squarebody technic that it will be very hard to "destroy" him.

We have three options:
1. do the Duramax swap on the M1008 with an engine controller calibration on 280 HP (this was what here is allow to take on the M1008 in stockcondition) - the roadapproval is still expensive about the different single testing on emission and brake control with some other minor procederes

2. Swap the classic body on the 2007 frame

3. Stay with both - the Gimmy as daily driver and the M1008 in stockcondition with a remanufatored 6.2 as historical vehicle - have no extra costs on the roadapproval

Usually what came first in our mind was always the thing we go with in any projects.

Guess what our first idea was and who it came from....
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
If I were you I would leave the Gimmy as-is and use it. Then find and rebuild a 6.2 or 6.5 engine for the CUCV.

Just my 2 cents..............
You are right it will be only a 6.2 as any other engine forced us on the expensive roadapproval thats, why we said let us go on if it is almost same expensive than we can use any engine with more HP.

The M1008 will be than in stockcondition renewed and registered as historical vehicle and valuable oldtimer.

The money what we spare on the M1008 for the roadapproval and tuning is enough to give the Gimmy the same renew like the M1008 as daily driver and workhorse for our demands.
So we have a powerful drivetrain and still our Squarebody just not in one Truck
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
We have from two enginebuilder the info that the original block is still a good 6.2 block for rebuild.
So our choice is to rebuild his own 6.2 and IP.

My wife said a long way back on start again ...

Why not just a running engine? Simple reason Truck got a complete renew not just rebuild. The value as historical vehicle is up on the quality of this job
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
we did not stop our build, just now are a lot of work on the box
In 1998 we closed all holes of the sidepanels as we dont want to use Troop seats or the Cover at that time
Today where we rebuild now as historical vehicle, are these holes to open again. A really hard work if you have done your job well in the past

20220820_100358.jpg

20220820_124127z.jpg

beside this we take a closer look on the frame and chassis from the Sierra
Same Situation like the M1008 - will need also a lot of love and attention

20220820_142746.jpg

20220820_141220.jpg

why we look for a truck with more power....

20k.jpg

German Highway Saturday morning 11:00 and nooooooooooooo speedlimit :driver:

Back home another highway in Germany in the afternoom 04:00...

20220813_172811k.jpg

We was home in 3 hours with the Sierra - in the M1008 minimum 7 hours for the same way 400 km. Average Speed 130 km/h
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
Just only for the historical Appearance

ca2d70a1-5dd5-4063-bdbb-6dc015687afbk.jpg

Could got an used Brushguard in good shape - again 400 km away from us, we have already become used to this distance 😅

Now we just need the troop seats and canvas top. We had a very good offer in the USA for $600 for a complete set in April this year, but $1400 additional shipping plus import taxes and fees.... we have not taken that offer as at this time was the historical appearance not the first aim. So we are looking again for them to make it complete. Maybe it come a good offer in future just like the brushguard. The seller of the Brushguard offered me a shelter for the CUCV for 3800 euros, but the shelter is not a solution for us.

1f3cc0db-bbd4-4534-88bc-0f5a2bb3b9ce (2).jpg
 

flyfishtrailer

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
552
1,040
93
Location
Cool, CA
Just only for the historical Appearance

View attachment 877044

Could got an used Brushguard in good shape - again 400 km away from us, we have already become used to this distance 😅

Now we just need the troop seats and canvas top. We had a very good offer in the USA for $600 for a complete set in April this year, but $1400 additional shipping plus import taxes and fees.... we have not taken that offer as at this time was the historical appearance not the first aim. So we are looking again for them to make it complete. Maybe it come a good offer in future just like the brushguard. The seller of the Brushguard offered me a shelter for the CUCV for 3800 euros, but the shelter is not a solution for us.

View attachment 877045
Looking awesome. I really hope your able to find the troop seats and cargo cover. I was the lucky one next in line for that purchase and it really made the truck look the part. Funny thing is my truck, an M1028, was actually designed to have a shelter and not the troop seats and cargo cover. Keep up the outstanding work.
 

Attachments

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
Looking awesome. I really hope your able to find the troop seats and cargo cover. I was the lucky one next in line for that purchase and it really made the truck look the part. Funny thing is my truck, an M1028, was actually designed to have a shelter and not the troop seats and cargo cover. Keep up the outstanding work.
Look perfect on your truck. On many other trucks the cover has come loose and looks ugly. But I had seen about that the parts are really in great condition. It was a very hard discussion at home about going with this offer or not 😇 In the end, common sense prevailed

I have more contacts in the US now, so it may be possible to find a cheaper way to ship them. Maybe the parts are slumbering in a shed somewhere in Europe.... Eventually, when everything is complete, I can get to work on the replica myself. Dive Dive has given me a lot of parts pictures and measurements. With the TMs a replica should be possible. Sometimes you can get the cover NOS.

Also, I'm not sure the truck ever came with these parts either

20220824_091538.jpg

Yesterday I got the first feedback that the old engine will be overhauled in its original condition. Mainly it will require new pistons / rings and cylinder heads and valve train. Of course, every possible upgrade in terms of durability will be taken, the list is well known to all. Now the search goes on for a 4L80e after 1997. There are enough of the old ones on the market even here in Europe but the new one is rare.

After that only the interior remains. Original is "carmine red" - thats not really my color but in case of original.... We prefer black. Classicparts.com offers OEM Dashpads, Doorpanels and Sunvisors. The bench will be go to a local upholstery for leathercover.

I found in Eastgermany an upholstery that refurbish the dashpad with leather - Costs 500 Euro.
We have a local upholstery for the bench maybe he is also able to do that similar with our dashpad

0175c408-a35e-4735-beef-0278872a67a9.jpg

11dd079e-cc2b-4feb-a578-bffd3e584764.jpg
 

Mullaney

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
Supporting Vendor
7,702
19,733
113
Location
Charlotte NC
Look perfect on your truck. On many other trucks the cover has come loose and looks ugly. But I had seen about that the parts are really in great condition. It was a very hard discussion at home about going with this offer or not 😇 In the end, common sense prevailed

I have more contacts in the US now, so it may be possible to find a cheaper way to ship them. Maybe the parts are slumbering in a shed somewhere in Europe.... Eventually, when everything is complete, I can get to work on the replica myself. Dive Dive has given me a lot of parts pictures and measurements. With the TMs a replica should be possible. Sometimes you can get the cover NOS.

Also, I'm not sure the truck ever came with these parts either

View attachment 877149

Yesterday I got the first feedback that the old engine will be overhauled in its original condition. Mainly it will require new pistons / rings and cylinder heads and valve train. Of course, every possible upgrade in terms of durability will be taken, the list is well known to all. Now the search goes on for a 4L80e after 1997. There are enough of the old ones on the market even here in Europe but the new one is rare.

After that only the interior remains. Original is "carmine red" - thats not really my color but in case of original.... We prefer black. Classicparts.com offers OEM Dashpads, Doorpanels and Sunvisors. The bench will be go to a local upholstery for leathercover.

I found in Eastgermany an upholstery that refurbish the dashpad with leather - Costs 500 Euro.
We have a local upholstery for the bench maybe he is also able to do that similar with our dashpad

View attachment 877150

View attachment 877151
.
Wow! Real Leather seats and dash pad... How cool would that be!?

My dog would definitely be in heaven. He always has sensory overload when we go to the local construction store in the "leather gloves" section. No chewing. Just standing in front of the display sniffing deeply...
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
.
Wow! Real Leather seats and dash pad... How cool would that be!?

My dog would definitely be in heaven. He always has sensory overload when we go to the local construction store in the "leather gloves" section. No chewing. Just standing in front of the display sniffing deeply...
a leather-sniffer-junckie-Dog 👍who not destroy - great

if i choose new parts like dashpad, seatcovers, new seatfoam..... and take than the 45% additional which is usually the amount on shipping, fees and taxes than i can also go to an upholstery in our town for leather and a foam upholstery of our demand = on the edges harder/stronger
Beside this a high quality leather will survice us by a good care on it - synthetic leather have a usual live around 10 years dependent on the use and the Sun-dispositon. High quality synthetic leather is also not a cheap choice
 

Keith_J

Well-known member
3,657
1,319
113
Location
Schertz TX
Top quality leather work on the dash! Leather seats are on my wish list..I have a local shop that quoted $500 for the bench and back.
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
Top quality leather work on the dash! Leather seats are on my wish list..I have a local shop that quoted $500 for the bench and back.
That is not much. Here i have to expect 800 Euro only for the leather on bench and back without new foam. If you want special feature you pay more like different color of the sewing thread, special quilting... for example the Chevy logo on the back - which is not conform to the original appearance and will be reduce the historical value of the truck. Just only said as example (with the GMC in mind which have no leatherseats 😇 😅 )
 

MAZ537

Member
166
23
18
Location
EU
Awesome work so far!

I can help you with troop seats located in Europe.
Morlock motors should have them too...

Good luck!
 

PHOENIX-GER

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
461
966
93
Location
Germany
Awesome work so far!

I can help you with troop seats located in Europe.
Morlock motors should have them too...

Good luck!
Thanks MAZ537 i know Morlock Motors since more than 25 years. I prevent any purchase of this company about my expierence with them.
From myself is the advice be careful and check twice before purchase. ;)
 
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks