XM757 8x8

[rmgill]

Bjorn, I just realized. You can't have this truck. You'll have to give it up!



Why? The dash is too small. Where are you gonna add the 20 other gauges, indicators and controls your Deuce has?

 

[DDoyle]

Let me know what info is mangled, and I'll try to replace them. You should have also gotten some photos of what was likely the first XM757 that I thought may be useful to you.

Good luck with your project.

David

 

[Elwenil]

Ahh, I found one of Toms 8x8 with the XLs:

 

[Adamlee]

XL's on a m757

those XL's make it happen....NOW we're talking!

although, a shop van body is probably the last type I'd want on any vehicle...too much like a military moving van than a tactical vehicle (at least in appearance).....but a neat truck nonetheless!

 

[emmado22]

RE: XL

Thats an expando van body, not a shop body..

 

[BigJay]

RE: XL

double post, sorry about that

 

[BigJay]

RE: XL

Been looking at Bjorn's "rough" pics and having a hard time figuring out if I liked that truck or not. Now that I see the completed one, man... that thing looks awesome. In my mind's eye I see a crane and a flatbed... but Bjorn already has one of those... The tractor will still look cool.

-Jay

 

[DDoyle]

RE: XL

As I recall, Tom had to trim the fenders to fit those tires - which he bought after giving up on finding the right ones.

The expansible van variant of this truck, the M791, was the control center for a Pershing II missile battery - truly a cold war icon.

BTW, when Tom was selling the truck, a group of former Pershing launch control officers looked hard at buying it in order to make a mobile museum - dunno if that is what happened.

Regards,
David Doyle

 

[cranetruck]

The tires were developed specifically for this application, as can be read in this paragraph from David's SAE paper.

The cranetruck is a perfect "tender" for the 8x8.

 

[cranetruck]

Changed engine oil today. Nothing like sitting down on the job.
Texaco Ursa 30W it is.

 

[CGarbee]

Ahh, I found one of Toms 8x8 with the XLs:

I've got a few more photos of this truck on my website taken during the 2004 East Coast Rally at Ripken Stadium (Aberdeen)... Including some of the truck with the sides extended showing the interior and exterior...
Take a gander at photos 73-78 on the convoy/rally photo page located at:
http://www.garbee.net/~cabell/photos34.htm

Enjoy.

 

[JDToumanian]

That 8x8 is just too cool!

I'm baffled by the front wheels - What are those expanded-metal looking rings around the hubs for?

Jon

 

[Elwenil]

Steps to get into the cab, similar to a Unimog.

 

[maddawg308]

Really cool truck, Bjorn. I can't wait to see that up and running around fully restored.

I saw that 8x8 at Aberdeen in 2005, too. Guy had $4,000 on the truck, but he wanted to keep the tires. $8.000 if the tires went with the truck. Not bad, but where to put it?

 

[rmgill]

$4000 for 8 tires?

 

[maddawg308]

That's what I said!

 

[rdixiemiller]

They are an oddball size, and expensive. Bjorn will soon find out......

 

[cranetruck]

Apparently they were custom made for this family of trucks. I have Goodyear and BF Goodrich tires on mine.
The Goodrich ones have the military FSN number right on the tire, indicating that it's indeed a military part. (FSN 2610-886-1262)
Guess I'll need 2 or 3 more tires for short road trips anyway. The tread isn't too bad, just old rubber. Wonder if Tom Bauer kept the old tires...
The wheels are aluminum and very light, btw. Will need one more of them, since my XM757 doesn't have a spare.
The spare is stowed behind the driver's seat and could easily be handled by two people, thus no crane to lift it.

 

[cranetruck]

The education continous...here one of the "sealed for life" brakedrums is shown. Brakes are 100% air. We pressurized the system before the trip in OK and the brakes worked and released just fine. Light pedal pressure was all that weas needed.

The truck was built from scratch to mil spec and was not a modified/improved older truck and therefore has many interesting features.

Built by Ford Motor Co, delivered in 1969.
The M656 model, built for swimming has pressurized door seals!! The cab tub is all aluminum and is completely sealed.

(*) "Sealed for life" according to the SAE paper.

 

[rdixiemiller]

Cool looking truck Bjorn, you are really going to have some fun here!
Engine running yet?