HMMWV Fun

[Jamie]

What kind of oil does that beast consume? I’m sure lots of it...

Love your prepper glove box.

[Ajax]

The Army says HDO 30. Like, straight 30. I gave it Rotella T4 15w30. 15w40 is also acceptable.

It only takes 8 quarts.

[Jamie]

Interesting...Ole skoole single grade..and only 8 quarts. .Rotella (Brotella) is nice oil.

You must make up for it in strange transmission and gear oil?

[Ajax]

Nope. 80/90w gear oil in the hubs and riffs.
Dexron III in the transmission, transfer case and power steering

[Ajax]

So the Ranger Wagon feels like it has a tire with a flat spot, or out of balance. Not surprising since these are many years old, bias-ply tires with magnesium run-flats rattling around inside of them.
They don't really have any cracks and they're nearly full tread so I was really fighting against replacing them.

The HMMWV community strongly insists that these tires rode like crap even when they were new, and that they get flat spots literally overnight and you thump along the first several miles in the morning until you round 'em out again, especially in colder weather. The bias ply tires use an 8-bolt, 2 piece wheel. They are not strong enough or shaped properly for a radial tire, so to upgrade to what the military currently uses, you need to find 12 or 24 bolt, 2 piece wheels.

Ok, FINE! Sheesh, I did it. I managed to piece together a complete set of 12 bolt rims with Wrangler M/T radial tires. I'll swap 'em this weekend and see if the thump goes away.
FWIW, I checked ALL of the suspension and steering components. Everything is tight and in excellent shape. The bias tires have perfectly even wear with no cupping or scalloping or other odd-ball wear patterns which are indicative of control or idler arm wear, or toe problems.

AND... Ranger M really likes the "stake side" look of the 2-man HMMWV's with troop seats so I scored a set for a real bargain. I'll install them this weekend as well. It'll look like this when I'm finished:

[Ken Heaton (Salazar)]

"these tires rode like crap even when they were new, and that they get flat spots literally overnight and you thump along the first several miles in the morning until you round 'em out again, especially in colder weather. "

Back when I was a kid (not yesterday), bias ply tires with Nylon belts were common and this is exactly what they did every cold morning. The nylon took a set and had to warm up for it to go away.

[kimbottles]

I am constantly impressed with Ajax and Panope’s energy, talent and craftsmanship.
I wish I had some their abilities!

[Ajax]

I am constantly impressed with Ajax and Panope’s energy, talent and craftsmanship.
I wish I had some their abilities!

Pffft... you cannot use my name in the same sentence at Steve's. He is on another, higher plane of existence from me.

[kimbottles]

I am constantly impressed with Ajax and Panope’s energy, talent and craftsmanship.
I wish I had some their abilities!

Pffft... you cannot use my name in the same sentence at Steve's. He is on another, higher plane of existence from me.

I don’t know Ajax, you just jump in and replace heavy duty parts that require mechanical advantage and cranes and stuff the way I change my vehicle’s oil. You sound like the heavy duty version of Steve. (But Steve has been known to also single hand stuff that should take four people to accomplish.)

[H B]

I am constantly impressed with Ajax and Panope’s energy, talent and craftsmanship.
I wish I had some their abilities!

Pffft... you cannot use my name in the same sentence at Steve's. He is on another, higher plane of existence from me.

Go the Ajax!

In all seriousness...you and Steve keep us on our toes!

[Ajax]

Ok, via the HMMWV underground barter system I was able to obtain a complete set (plus a spare) of radial, Wrangler M/T tires with good tread that aren't all dried out.

I mounted them and we drove out to Ranger M's father to bring him his dinner ration. And...wow. I expected "minor improvement." This was major. The ride is 100% better, quieter, steers easier.

I put the bias-ply tires up for "free" as farm tires or off-roading tires because they have 90% tread. A guy contacted me 5 minutes later to claim them. He showed up today and loaded them into his trailer (while I stood a good distance away). This kept the tires and wheels out of the landfill and got them out of my yard. See how that works?

[kimbottles]

Ok, via the HMMWV underground barter system I was able to obtain a complete set (plus a spare) of radial, Wrangler M/T tires with good tread that aren't all dried out.

I mounted them and we drove out to Ranger M's father to bring him his dinner ration. And...wow. I expected "minor improvement." This was major. The ride is 100% better, quieter, steers easier.

I put the bias-ply tires up for "free" as farm tires or off-roading tires because they have 90% tread. A guy contacted me 5 minutes later to claim them. He showed up today and loaded them into his trailer (while I stood a good distance away). This kept the tires and wheels out of the landfill and got them out of my yard. See how that works?

Excellent all the way around!

[Ajax]

Went to put fuel in the HMMWV last night. By the time we got home, the engine was getting pretty warm and the engine fan did not engage.

This morning I tore into it. Discovered a weep on the upper radiator hose that let the coolant get low. I never saw a drop on the driveway. Surprised me.
So, good a time as any to perform the whole coolant flush and replace the thermostat and go over the whole system.

It runs about 10 degrees cooler now and it's actually difficult to get the engine hot enough to engage the fan.

Beau- Tell your crayon-eating Marine son to pass along to his troops to STOP stomping all over the oil and transmission cooler with their boots!
It turns out that my truck was a Marine HMMWV and the cooling fins on the coolers were smashed flat like Shrek was working on the engine. I spent 2 HOURS with a fin comb, straightening as much as I could and I'm still only halfway done!

Talk about no airflow. The cooler was just a mass of hot metal. There's a reason why these trucks are adorned with "NO STEP" all over the damn engine bay.

[H B]

There is a tool called a fin comb, huh? Whodathunkit?!?!!?

[Ajax]

Mine uses interchangeable heads, but basically, yeah. They used to be made of metal. I think a metal comb would have been better for damage this bad.

Got the troop seats mounted. Looks very cool but adds to the blind spots.

[LarryHoward]

Mine uses interchangeable heads, but basically, yeah. They used to be made of metal. I think a metal comb would have been better for damage this bad.

Got the troop seats mounted. Looks very cool but adds to the blind spots.

What is behind you is not your concern.....

[Ajax]

Yabbut, who is next to me should be concerned!

The wide angle mirrors help. You just need to jog your head around a bit to make sure the lane is really clear.
If we're ever allowed to socialize again, we'll defintely drive it down for a visit.

[kimbottles]

First rule of Italian Driving:
“What's-a behind me is not important."

[slap]

Rich - As our resident HMMWV expert, what's your opinion of this?

https://jalopnik.com/at-25-000-would-yo ... 1842979685

[Ajax]

$25k for a clean HMMWV like that is about the going rate. Maybe just a tad high for negotiating purposes.

Plus: Body, canvas and paint are in great shape.
Plus: Upgraded to the 6.5L GEP engine.
Plus: 12 bolt wheels with radial tires vs. the old bias-ply tires. Tires have 90% tread or better
Plus: 4-man configuration, including the rear seats and all the hardware
Plus: Better, later brush guard
Con: Still equipped with the 3-speed TH400 (AKA 3L80). This limits top speed to around 55-60 mph

IF the seller has gone through the cooling system and the geared hubs, checked the spindle nuts and whatnot, it's not an insane price.

I bought my wife's for $8k. I could sell it now for $15k without much effort.

Here's a laugh for you: My wife finally had to report to work for a live meeting. She's going to a local state park to plant trees...for Earth Day. She dove the HMMWV.

[Ajax]

Practical applications:

Ranger and I took the HMMWV down to the local nursery for 1.5 cubic yards of top soil for the veg garden. I lay a tarp in the bed and a bucket loader just dumped it right in.
Ranger M was excited to use her truck for real work and to not have to dispose of a ton of plastic bags and I was happy that we didn't have to trash her daily driver with dirty bags of soil.

It rode nicely with some weight in the back and the engine didn't notice the extra weight.

I was able to back it right up to the garden bed and we shoveled it right in.

[LarryHoward]

Practical applications:

Ranger and I took the HMMWV down to the local nursery for 1.5 cubic yards of top soil for the veg garden. I lay a tarp in the bed and a bucket loader just dumped it right in.
Ranger M was excited to use her truck for real work and to not have to dispose of a ton of plastic bags and I was happy that we didn't have to trash her daily driver with dirty bags of soil.

It rode nicely with some weight in the back and the engine didn't notice the extra weight.

I was able to back it right up to the garden bed and we shoveled it right in.

I want to borrow your cool toys.

[H B]

I want to borrow your cool toys.

+ 1

[Ajax]

Practical applications:

Ranger and I took the HMMWV down to the local nursery for 1.5 cubic yards of top soil for the veg garden. I lay a tarp in the bed and a bucket loader just dumped it right in.
Ranger M was excited to use her truck for real work and to not have to dispose of a ton of plastic bags and I was happy that we didn't have to trash her daily driver with dirty bags of soil.

It rode nicely with some weight in the back and the engine didn't notice the extra weight.

I was able to back it right up to the garden bed and we shoveled it right in.

I want to borrow your cool toys.

We could probably be convinced to drive the HMMWV down and make a bulk pick up of mulch at your local supplier at some point. Based on what I observed, the bed can probably hold 2, maybe 3 cubic yards of material if it's tarpped over to prevent it from spilling out over the tailgate.

Topsoil weighs an average of 1 ton per cubic yard, depending on moisture content.
Mulch weighs an average of 800 lbs. per cubic yard so it could easily haul 2 cubic yards.
The truck is 1-1/4 ton capacity.

I lined the bed with a tarp and folded it over the topsoil once it was loaded for the drive home. We shoveled it out until enough was removed that we could just drag the tarp out of the bed with the remaining topsoil.

[LarryHoward]

Practical applications:

Ranger and I took the HMMWV down to the local nursery for 1.5 cubic yards of top soil for the veg garden. I lay a tarp in the bed and a bucket loader just dumped it right in.
Ranger M was excited to use her truck for real work and to not have to dispose of a ton of plastic bags and I was happy that we didn't have to trash her daily driver with dirty bags of soil.

It rode nicely with some weight in the back and the engine didn't notice the extra weight.

I was able to back it right up to the garden bed and we shoveled it right in.

I want to borrow your cool toys.

We could probably be convinced to drive the HMMWV down and make a bulk pick up of mulch at your local supplier at some point. Based on what I observed, the bed can probably hold 2, maybe 3 cubic yards of material if it's tarpped over to prevent it from spilling out over the tailgate.

Topsoil weighs an average of 1 ton per cubic yard, depending on moisture content.
Mulch weighs an average of 800 lbs. per cubic yard so it could easily haul 2 cubic yards.
The truck is 1-1/4 ton capacity.

I lined the bed with a tarp and folded it over the topsoil once it was loaded for the drive home. We shoveled it out until enough was removed that we could just drag the tarp out of the bed with the remaining topsoil.

Problem is that we use cypress blend mulch and Lynne spreads 10-15 yards each year. Trailer will hold 100 bags (7.5 yards) comfortably and the Rhino will carry 10 or so bags so I can drop them around the beds for her to spread. Once the trailer gets about 1/2 empty, I make a stack in the drive and make another run.

For soil, I’m probably going to have a local yard deliver 4 yards for about $200 and just dump it next to the garage and then use the rhino to take small loads where I need fill. That may wait until fall so I can fill a couple of low spots and seed for winter growth. Seems spring seeding looks great until it gets hot and the shallow roots allow it to die off.

[Ajax]

Geeze, you make me look like an amateur.

Ranger M doesn't want me to put mulch around the bases of the trees. She says it causes root rot. I keep telling her that I'm not looking to make those "volcanoes" that landscapers put around trees at office parks.
She's very particular about mulch etc.

[LarryHoward]

Geeze, you make me look like an amateur.

Ranger M doesn't want me to put mulch around the bases of the trees. She says it causes root rot. I keep telling her that I'm not looking to make those "volcanoes" that landscapers put around trees at office parks.
She's very particular about mulch etc.

I try to discourage deep mulch around the trees but am often generally overruled on gardening subjects. I'm allowed to to what I'm told and much of the heavy lifting. I have no control on what and how much goes where.

[Ajax]

Yeah, I get that too.

[kimbottles]

I'm allowed to to what I'm told and much of the heavy lifting..................

Boy! Does that ever sound familiar!!

[Jamie]

Ajax, I thought you might appreciate this.

A close friend in the Philippines is has re-built this 1988 Mitsubishi J23G Jeep. It was built in Japan under license from Willys. It's based on a CJ3a. They have the same 4-speed gearbox, split-ratio transfer box (hi-lo ratio, 2 or 4WD) and power take-off options. It has the same Dana 44 rear and 30 front axles. All electrics are Japanese, and the fasteners are metric. This one has a 4DR6 engine, which is 2.7 liters, direct-injection, turbo diesel. The same engine is found in Fuso trucks like the Canter, and some forklifts. Electrics are 24v. This 'G' model was originally fitted with a light missile launcher that was intended for use against light armored vehicles and landing craft and it served the JSDF until 2016. It was been converted to the more common 'A' spec with seats for four in the bed, the bodywork was refurbished and repainted and converted to LHD. It's still on original wheels and military bias ply tires, and he's told me the pickaxe comes in very handy for fending off zombie attacks.