algeroth79
January 5th, 2008, 14:09
I wasn't going to post this until the truck was done. Its about 90% there, but its been on the road and finished up its maiden 40 mile, 1.25 hour drive from Manchester back to PRR HQ in Abingdon on the 1st.
Background :
It all started with a trip to drop off some parts to a big dogs event. We rolled around the Camp sites checking to see if anyone needed anything while we were down there. My smart a$$ comment was that we needed something like a 4wd ice cream truck to sell parts while we were roaming around.
After hauling all kinds of stuff to the PA Jeeps show 2 years ago in a TJ with an M101 trailer and a XJ with a ATV trailer we figured there had to be a better way. Parked behind us that year was a white M725. Bells went off.. 8 ft bed, its cool looking, and could probably tow ok with the right drivetrain in it. Its also affectionately called a 'ice cream truck' by the rest of the M715 truck owners.
A few weeks later, we found one. Was in pretty good shape. Was working as a plow truck for an industrial architect (cabinet maker) and looks like it served a little time as a bagel delivery truck as well.
It was nearly bone stock, and still had just about all of its M truck parts till on it, including the anemic I6 that's near impossible to get parts for.
It was originally going to be a 6bt based swap, but that fell through. Then one day this showed up on ebay pretty cheap:
It was ordered and delivered to Condon's. AJ being the man with the fork lift
Its a 2005 5.7 Hemi, 545RFE and NVG244 Gen II t-case. Its also a CAN bus ECU, making it even a little more fun. Drive by wire and all, this thing was going into the M725.
The front suspension is off of a 2500 LD ram, complete with the 5 links and Rock Krawler cloned uppers. Its only a D44 for now, but that year's 60 will just about bolt in when one becomes available at a decent price.
The rear is a pretty run of the mill Chevy 14 bolt with disk brakes (14 bolt drums won't clear the location of stock M715 leafs)
Its a bling truck, so they're power heated leather seats from a ZJ. Also added TJ style shoulder harness seat belts.
After a while the truck started to take shape, and it was time for some wiring:
We took it out a few times, then loaded it up with the contents of the garage we were leaving:
... and then we were off
Only one glitch on the ride home:
Forgot to tighten down the last exhaust hanger bolt. It vibrated loose... ooops.
We've still got the dash to finish up, probably lower the front by an inch or two, and finish up some wiring. There's also a mac mini sitting here to handle the gauge and navigation work.
full pics here:
http://www.powersrockandrally.com/projects/M725/index.html
A little youtube to hear the engine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2scWiOLXEg
_________________
Background :
It all started with a trip to drop off some parts to a big dogs event. We rolled around the Camp sites checking to see if anyone needed anything while we were down there. My smart a$$ comment was that we needed something like a 4wd ice cream truck to sell parts while we were roaming around.
After hauling all kinds of stuff to the PA Jeeps show 2 years ago in a TJ with an M101 trailer and a XJ with a ATV trailer we figured there had to be a better way. Parked behind us that year was a white M725. Bells went off.. 8 ft bed, its cool looking, and could probably tow ok with the right drivetrain in it. Its also affectionately called a 'ice cream truck' by the rest of the M715 truck owners.
A few weeks later, we found one. Was in pretty good shape. Was working as a plow truck for an industrial architect (cabinet maker) and looks like it served a little time as a bagel delivery truck as well.
It was nearly bone stock, and still had just about all of its M truck parts till on it, including the anemic I6 that's near impossible to get parts for.
It was originally going to be a 6bt based swap, but that fell through. Then one day this showed up on ebay pretty cheap:
It was ordered and delivered to Condon's. AJ being the man with the fork lift
Its a 2005 5.7 Hemi, 545RFE and NVG244 Gen II t-case. Its also a CAN bus ECU, making it even a little more fun. Drive by wire and all, this thing was going into the M725.
The front suspension is off of a 2500 LD ram, complete with the 5 links and Rock Krawler cloned uppers. Its only a D44 for now, but that year's 60 will just about bolt in when one becomes available at a decent price.
The rear is a pretty run of the mill Chevy 14 bolt with disk brakes (14 bolt drums won't clear the location of stock M715 leafs)
Its a bling truck, so they're power heated leather seats from a ZJ. Also added TJ style shoulder harness seat belts.
After a while the truck started to take shape, and it was time for some wiring:
We took it out a few times, then loaded it up with the contents of the garage we were leaving:
... and then we were off
Only one glitch on the ride home:
Forgot to tighten down the last exhaust hanger bolt. It vibrated loose... ooops.
We've still got the dash to finish up, probably lower the front by an inch or two, and finish up some wiring. There's also a mac mini sitting here to handle the gauge and navigation work.
full pics here:
http://www.powersrockandrally.com/projects/M725/index.html
A little youtube to hear the engine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2scWiOLXEg
_________________