Author Topic: M715 Project (Read 37912 times)

ncjeeper · « **on:** August 22, 2011, 07:58:25 PM »

A friend of mine brought this to me today. He wants me to finish his project. Should be fun since it has some neat military history behind it.

Goatdog62 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:16:10 PM »

This is a project I will watch closely. Awesome find!

MacReady · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:46:20 PM »

Wow. That's an awesome truck. I look forward to seeing it progress.

bartsdad · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2011, 12:44:25 AM »

Very clean looking rig. What direction is this headed? Resto, trail rig, or some cool over the top monster BOV?

Pathfinder · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2011, 04:25:05 AM »

I have not had a case of immediate vehicle lust in a long time. That was nice.

Very cool truck. And yeah, what's the plan for this one?

ncjeeper · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2011, 09:16:56 AM »

Right now he has enough money saved up to pay me to get it road worthy so he can drive it around and take his son camping in it.

It sure needs power steering. Holy cow is that a workout turning the wheel.

ncjeeper · « **Reply #6 on:** September 04, 2011, 01:41:35 PM »

Started working on the electrical. Previous owner butchered all the wiring by cutting everything so trying to trace down what is what.

backwoods_engineer · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2011, 07:18:27 PM »

Jeeper, that is a cool project! I'll definitely check back in to see your progress.

ncjeeper · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2011, 12:33:48 AM »

There was a front end wobble starting at around 40mph. The owner put new tires and rims on the beast but didnt balance the wheels. I took the two front wheels in and as you can see the tires were alittle off. One tire has nearly a pound of weights.

I finished the wiring trouble shooting so I got the fenders and grill installed.

One headlight was bad. You just cant run down to the local parts store to get a 24 volt headlight.

I have one on order from a military resto guy.

SteveandTracyinKY · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2011, 12:49:26 AM »

Nice project truck, Will enjoy following it along.

I'm really just cgiming in so I can follow this one on replies....

WVMan73 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2011, 10:04:44 AM »

Now this is one very cool project! I do love the look of those older military trucks. Very no nonsense and all business.

NCJeeper, just out of curiosity, did your friend mention how much he paid for the truck?

Thanks for posting this thread! I'll keep watching your progress.

WVMan73

ncjeeper · « **Reply #11 on:** October 03, 2011, 06:26:25 PM »

Owner found some more parts and brought them over.

I saw a spark when the e-brake handle made contact with the dash. Hmm I thought. Checked around and couldnt find a ground wire between the body and the frame. I guess all the rusty bolts holding the frame to the body arent doing it so I connected the two with a 12 gauge cable. I also found the ground stud where the battery cable was attached at the frame was majorly rusted and probably wasnt letting in much current. I cleaned the area with a wire brush, added a bumpy washer and a new bolt. No more spark and the starter turns over much faster.

Also the battery connectors were shot and no matter how tight you cranked down on them they would still wiggle if you pulled on them. Installed marine grade clamps with a mounting stud for the cable.

Got the window weather stripping installed and the windows. Of course the little clips that hold the window regulator stud into the window bracket were gone. I tried using a snap ring and also a washer and a serrated cotter pin but both failed when trying to roll the window up. I resorted to removing the regulators and grinding off the little stud and then installing a 5/16 1" bolt into the hole and welding the head of the nut to the regulator arm. I was able to washer and nylock nut the bolt and both regulators work great.

Nicodemus · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2011, 11:25:07 PM »

Sweet. I'm going to be following this thread closely.

ncjeeper · « **Reply #13 on:** October 25, 2011, 07:18:46 PM »

Got the E-brake tore apart and put back together correctly with a newly shoed band. Its the E-brake system that goes on the rear driveshaft at the transfer case flange. The previous mechanic didnt adjust the band right and burned it down to metal in acouple of spots. He also didnt install the retaining clips in the u-jount that retain the caps.

Got the other headlight in and wired up.

Put in some GM seat belts.

Took it for a test drive monday with the owner. He was

Ill get some pics up this weekend.

ncjeeper · « **Reply #14 on:** October 30, 2011, 05:24:28 PM »

Heres the driveshaft E-brake with the newly reshoed band. Previous mechanic didnt install it right and wore out the band. It has to be adjusted so there is 15 thousand spacing in between the band and the drum. There are 3 adjustment points.

Got the other headlight in and installed. Also owner found the front bumper for it.

Rattle canned the body. Will be spraying in a bedliner into the bed as soon as the owner gathers some more money to pay me.

Truik · « **Reply #15 on:** October 30, 2011, 05:54:32 PM »

I wonder what he wants to do about the canopy, if anything.

That's an awesome project and you got it looking good!

Nadir_E · « **Reply #16 on:** October 30, 2011, 07:40:54 PM »

What tires are on it?

Nice looking project and lucky for him he's got someone who knows what he's doing working on it.

ncjeeper · « **Reply #17 on:** October 31, 2011, 12:02:28 AM »

Quote from: Nadir_E on October 30, 2011, 07:40:54 PM

What tires are on it?

They are Michelin XZL 11.00xR16. There about 38" tall and stiff.

ncjeeper · « **Reply #18 on:** October 31, 2011, 12:13:13 AM »

Quote from: Truik on October 30, 2011, 05:54:32 PM

I wonder what he wants to do about the canopy, if anything.

Not sure what he has decided. He may just keep it open.

Nicodemus · « **Reply #19 on:** November 01, 2011, 06:25:14 PM »

The jeep is looking really nice. Great work!

ncjeeper · « **Reply #20 on:** November 12, 2011, 03:11:39 PM »

Well found out why the speedometer wasnt working. The cable at some point got to laying on the exhaust pipe and melted it. Of course the cable at the t-case was still turning because it was connected to the speedo gear so eventually it just twisted it in two.
It was a major pain in the butt getting the broken piece out since I really didnt have any room to work because of the E-brake set up and the connection is angled up towards the floor. I had to use a mirror and feel and a few cuss words to finally get the little piece out.

Bradbn4 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 12, 2011, 04:35:16 PM »

Just this week I eyeballed a rebuilt version of this in town - no hoops on the back. Some what better shape paint. I know I had not seen it in town before, it did take me a few second why the vehicle looked like I had seen some just like it the other day.

Good work, always nice to see these beasts brought back to life.

hillclimber · « **Reply #22 on:** November 13, 2011, 01:40:43 PM »

I have a friend who has an old 5/4 that he picked up from a local fire dept.
He converted it to 12v and dropped in a smallblock chevy. Sure is fun driving it around with the cab roof removed in the summer.

He's thinking about selling it, but don't tell my wife

ncjeeper · « **Reply #23 on:** November 13, 2011, 05:51:30 PM »

Yeah the owner was wanting to do a chevy swap (motor, tranny, and t-case) but once the numbers were crunched he decided it was too much right now. He just wants to get it on the road.

ncjeeper · « **Reply #24 on:** November 17, 2011, 02:07:50 PM »

Well the owner came and picked it up.

I did everything he wanted done to it.

Truik · « **Reply #25 on:** November 17, 2011, 08:40:15 PM »

I hope you got to ~~play with~~ test drive it before it went.

MacReady · « **Reply #26 on:** November 18, 2011, 12:14:18 AM »

Thanks for sharing the project. I'm envious of your mechanic skills. I assume you learned all of that through your off-roading hobby.? BTW your old avatar description was "Wheeling in WV", just curious where in WV(I may have asked about a year ago but cant remember)?

ncjeeper · « **Reply #27 on:** November 18, 2011, 10:51:12 AM »

Quote from: Truik on November 17, 2011, 08:40:15 PM

I hope you got to ~~play with~~ test drive it before it went.

Yep. Needs power steering though

ncjeeper · « **Reply #28 on:** November 18, 2011, 10:52:31 AM »

Quote from: MacReady on November 18, 2011, 12:14:18 AM

Thanks for sharing the project. I'm envious of your mechanic skills. I assume you learned all of that through your off-roading hobby.? BTW your old avatar description was "Wheeling in WV", just curious where in WV(I may have asked about a year ago but cant remember)?

We would ride on private property in the swiss area which is just outside of summersville.

WVMan73 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 18, 2011, 07:14:57 PM »

I'm sorry to see that project go. I sure did enjoy this thread and watching your progress. Thanks for sharing it all NC

I always wondered about your "Wheeling in WV" also, since Wheeling, WV is a city in the northern panhandle of WV. lol

WVMan73

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Author Topic: M715 Project (Read 37912 times)

Goatdog62