"LUCKY 13" Restoration Process

[coreyelliott]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  We really appreciate it.  It helps us both make it through some of the tough times working on this thing!

Way to go...nice job on salvaging the roller.  Hope that higher math didn’t fry your brain too bad!?

-Tom

We are both still recovering from that!

Bravo! How did you collapse the springs to get the shaft in?

Don G

Well, about that.  My mind has purposefully blacked out part of this whole installation for some reason, but I remember there being an overhead chain host, some jack stands, and a floor jack.  Then we prepared the fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads and used about 10 quarts of anti-freeze.  Prestone.... no, make that Quaker State.

Also, remember that these are not original springs.  They probably aren't as stiff nor quite as long.

Corey

[spec4don]

Thanks! That project is on my list!

Don G.

[coreyelliott]

WE HAVE OUR BED!!!!!!!


Today, we spent all day driving to pick up two more halftracks that we purchased.  One with the bed we need!  I'm exhausted, so I can't post much, but I'll put up a few pictures.  There is one M2 (I believe it's a White) and an M15 (I believe it's an Autocar).  I'm just so relieved to finally have a bed.











































Corey

[brit plumber]

The condition of the projects you guys find are amazing. I think you would recoil in disgust at the amount of corrosion on my project. I’m ashamed to even post photos of the frame as I know someone will tell me it’s only fit for scrap. Unfortunately that’s not an option in the UK as there’s no spare frames.

[RB-058]

Great finds Corey! Congratulations on having your bed! It is always nice to aquire spares!

Rob

[8683jb]

The condition of the projects you guys find are amazing. I think you would recoil in disgust at the amount of corrosion on my project. I’m ashamed to even post photos of the frame as I know someone will tell me it’s only fit for scrap. Unfortunately that’s not an option in the UK as there’s no spare frames.

It's very impressive that you're going to all the effort to save it! Don't be ashamed of it or let anyone discourage you from it - everything is fixable and you can be all the more proud when it's done and you look back at what you started with! Have fun with it and keep at it. That's how Shon & Corey got theirs looking so good!

Jon

[coreyelliott]

The condition of the projects you guys find are amazing. I think you would recoil in disgust at the amount of corrosion on my project. I’m ashamed to even post photos of the frame as I know someone will tell me it’s only fit for scrap. Unfortunately that’s not an option in the UK as there’s no spare frames.

Don't you dare be ashamed of the condition of your project!  The worse condition it is in, the prouder you should be when you are done!  You are saving history, no matter what it looks like in it's current state.

Corey

[coreyelliott]

Shon and I spent all day working on our two new acquisitions.  It took half the day to get everything unloaded and moved around where we wanted it.  After that, we cleaned up the M2 and got the bed off.   Well, it's unbolted and ready to pull off anyway.  Here are a few more pictures I was able to take today.




































Corey

[RB-058]

That is a great find Corey! Pretty cool that it has all the aluminium diamond plates, those are kinda rare!

Rob

[coreyelliott]

We got the bed set on tonight for a test fit.  We learned some things that are going to have to come back off in order to get it all back together.  Maybe.  We still have more investigation to do.  Also, we need to weld on some angle iron that was twisted beyond saving, or even missing.  We didn't want to weld those on without the bed in place, to make sure it was a square as we could get it.

Corey

[brit plumber]

Not a piece of rot in sight. Nice work!

[emptyhead]

Nice bed. Keep the pics rolling.

[spec4don]

Looking good!

Don G.

[coreyelliott]

I haven't updated our Lucky 13 project in a while, so here are some pictures.  We had to do quite a few repairs to the bed, but it went surprisingly fast.  Still haven't worked out the hinges mounted to the chain locker doors as they bend out of whack when trying to screw the hinge to the diamond plate.  Got the grab bars installed but haven't welded in the pipes in yet as we want to make sure the bed is square and in the position we want first.  The bars are inserted, just not welded yet.

We started installing the armor from Paul.  Primed and painted individual panels and then began bolting it up panel by panel.  I could just imagine the truck getting heavier and heavier.  After the rear lower was installed we bolted up the rear steps.  They look incredible!  Finally, we finished painting the last batch of armor and got it installed last night.  We only have the two locker doors left to prime and paint.

Shon and I can't believe we have this thing sitting in his shop.  We just had to step back and stare. 

Still lots of small things to do on the bed, and there is a significant gap around the vertical gap on the back of the driver's side door we have to get fixed.  You can see the gap in the third to last picture.  Could possibly be bed alignment.  We still have to replace bearings and seals in all the bogie wheels on one side and replace the tires.  Both of those projects keep being pushed back further and further.  I think we are both hoping that one day we will go into the shop and they will have been magically done for us.

Corey











































































Corey

[spillmk1]

Looking really great!!!
A fun part of the project.
Things get "big" quickly!!

Keith