Got My Lightweight!! Stay Tuned for Project Updates and Plenty of Questions!

[jac04]

It's a Marsland chassis. greenmeanie is correct about the x-member behind the front bumper (and the bumper is also reinforced). The rear body mounts are specific to the Lightweight since the rear tub mounts to the chassis differently than the civilian models.

[Tim Smith]

Interesting. I just took a look and I do have those box frame bits for the rear tub. Just never noticed them before. I don't have the front cross member though and I also don't have the battery box plate.

Mine came from out of Canada as an ex-BATUS truck. At least that is the story I got. Makes me wonder if they had a different spec chassis than your average lightweight.

[jac04]

Tim - Do you have a civilian chassis under your ltwt? I believe that the S3 civvy chassis may have had the 'box steel' body mounts as well.

[Tim Smith]

To be honest, I'm not sure. I have the military rear cross member (square ends) and I don't see signs of that being modified so my guess is it's military. I had found the original owner of the truck after the MOD but that was years ago. As I remember it, he had built this truck up out two that were retired from BATUS.

[xsbowes]

Tim-Check to see if the crossmember for the tranny is removable. the military frames had this feature to allow for quicker servicing/replacing of the gearbox. On my frame you can see where the front crossmember has been removed and re-welded. more than likely to replace the fron horns.

[Tim Smith]

Tim-Check to see if the crossmember for the tranny is removable. the military frames had this feature to allow for quicker servicing/replacing of the gearbox. On my frame you can see where the front crossmember has been removed and re-welded. more than likely to replace the fron horns.

Oops. Missed your message.

Yes I do have the removable transmission bar.

[jac04]

I never much cared for the oil bath air cleaner, so I installed my own filter set-up using an AEM Dryflow air filter:

[jac04]

I installed a new old stock double groove crank pulley and installed a Delco 10SI alternator:

[Dino]

I installed a new old stock double groove crank pulley and installed a Delco 10SI alternator:

Thats a beautiful engine

[jac04]

I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.....

The fuel tanks are now installed (after being blasted, etch-primed & painted):


The bulkhead is almost ready for primer:


The radiator support is ready for final paint:

[xsbowes]

Are you going for the original color? Were you able to find any of the original under the camoflauge? Mine was bronze green before someone decided it should have a NATO green paint job. The original color was still visible under the door seals once they were removed.

Great job! All your work keeps me motivated to work on mine.

[jac04]

I have decided to paint the vehicle flat desert tan, as if it were prepped for Desert Storm. The interior will stay green.

Actually, the original paint is is fairly good shape. I found that Citri-Strip will remove all layers of paint except for the factory finish. My vehicle was factory painted flat green. It then appears to have received one sprayed-on flat green paint job followed by several brushed-on black/green camo paint jobs.

So, my 2 choices right now are:
1) Remove all loose paint, hit it with the DA sander, then spray/roll on a few layers of desert tan.
2) Strip all the body panels to the original finish, do body work, then spray it desert tan. This is probably the better way to go, but it will end up being a ton of work for a vehicle that was never intended to look all that nice.

We'll have to see what I decide.

[jac04]

...bulkhead is now in primer:

[thixon]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one hanging parts on an engine hoist for paint outside his garage.

When I do this, it drives my neighbors nucking futs!

[ktom300]

Looks like the dash might need a skim coat of bondo to smooth over the rivets and other dents.