I'M BACK WITH A 6.2

[Missy Good Wench]

Been a while since I been around.

The Dahoooley is with my son in law now and doing fine

The Kid loves it.

He approached me about doing an Army 6x6 a while back.

We now have two 1953's and a 54 M211 6x6 trucks

The plan is doing a 4 door conversion and a re-power with a turbo'd 6.2

We scrounged up a good 88 6.2 from a 1 ton rig, plus an AT545 Allison tranny to stuff behind the little oil burner.

The project has stirred much enthusiasm from little old me.

The kid asked "can we put full air brakes on it" ???? Ohh @#$%^ yes, ahhhh can we can we can we ???? "Oh !@#$% yessss we can.

Me and my big mouth.

So I am designing brackets to mount air brake spiders to the old axles.

No biggy, just some time at the lathe and mill.

My stroke of a few years ago screwed things up some, so I am passing on the skills I can while I can.


A few pix of the "Scrap iron"
The 3 trucks, the 6.2 and the Allison

I must be crazy.
Ohhhh, and there was the little thing about needing to rent a trailer.
For one truck it was ok, but then it became clear that there was a need for a big !@##@$%^ trailer, so I popped for a 25+5 Big Tex for doing STUFF and hauling hay for the Ranch.

Mostly SHTUFFFFF

That Tex is a great hauler.

The light green truck weighed in at 16000#
TRUCK, TRAILER AND ARMY RIG 30300#
THAT WAS A PULL FOR SURE
Missy

 

[NVW]

Welcome back Missy, looks like you have your work cut out for you.

 

[Will L.]

That's some good looking iron there. Fun project to teach on and pass the skills with. What are your plans for the air supply, a York (or more modern) a/c compressor?

 

[btfarm]

Great to see you back in action Missy. Looks like plenty of work to keep you all busy

 

[schiker]

Thanks for the update. Have fun with project and post up anything cool.

 

[Missy Good Wench]

Thanks troops

As far as the air compressor goes, likely will use a contemporary compressor that we can install with belt drive.

Bendix pumps are plentiful and won't break the bank.
We can easily build a simple bracket to mount on the 6.2

There have been many GM gassers (366-427) used in school buses and medium duty rigs that had air brakes, and a bracket should be something we can scare up and modify to fit the diesel.

We are using the air system layout from a Pete 359 Conventional
I owned one of those beasts and have a huge air system schematic I scared up.
It shows all lines, valves and the like, making it very simple to reproduce the same system on the Army truck.

I decided to use 15 x 4 Brakes which are 1 inch wider than the original set up.
These are a very common front axle size used on heavy trucks (Cheap too)

The tough part is manufacturing the brackets to allow the brake spider (backing plate) to fasten to the axle housing.

We are using the original backing plate flange on the axle to locate things, then once everything is where it needs to be it all gets welded to the axle.

Welded on brake spiders are common on heavy trailer axles, so not an issue.

We are building a fairly hefty wheel spacer to allow us to use standard 10 hole Alcoa wheels on the original hubs that had 6 hole wheels.

The spacer also works to pilot the new brake drums as well.

The brake parts for one axle (Drum, Shoes, spider, springs and such, S cam and bracket) $200 so the cost is very easy to deal with.

All standard Q brake parts, so replacement shoes and such can be had almost at the corner store

The valves and such are equally easy to find (Napa HD carries it all)

We found an 83 Chevy 2500 4x4 with a totally intact ATS turbo system to provide the "Whistle"
The truck was a dead player with a stuck engine (6.2) likely blown head gasket.
We took what we needed and parted the rest out for a nice profit.

We have the engine (frame mounts) we cut off an old Burb we had laying here waiting for a ride to the scrappers.
These will make quick work for getting the engine set into the frame of the M211

Pretty straight forward stuff.

The current plan is to use two cabs and flip one around backwards and after a few mods fasten it (Weld, bolt, rivet) to the back of the other cab to make the crew cab with suicide doors on the rear.

Decisions, decisions, decisions

The kids got a handle on the abstract design ideas.

I'm just the source of machining and "How do we do this" stuff

Oh !@#$%^ yes, we can make that work

Missy

 

[WarWagon]

Nice update. I assume 'the kid' has an air brake endorsement on his license?

 

[Missy Good Wench]

The kid is a fireman (Captain)

I gave up my CDL when I retired.

No worries
Unless its commercial the empire is of no concern

A lot of the big RV'S (Bus chassis stuff) have air brakes and no issues, here at least.

I certified back a few years as an air brake tech.

I certainly don't need a piece of paper at this late juncture.

Basically this will be RV/ Special interest vehicle.

 

[3500GMC]

Always enjoy your posts/projects. Looking forward to seeing the beasts up and running. Don't be a stranger!

 

[Missy Good Wench]

Will try to post things as they become relevant

Missy