My new project m725

I've been dreaming of having an expedition vehicle for a while. I started checking out Pinzgauers and Volvo troop carriers and ambulances but with a price tag of 16k they were a little hard to justify their cost. Then I started looking at older series II and III 109 Land Rovers. The LR were less expensive
but needed many pricey upgrades to make it expedition worthy.
Then while cruising craigslist I stumbled upon a m725 ambulance for $2500
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9141/mym725a.th.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4261/mym725d.th.jpg
Apparently it spent some time working for the Santa Cruz Fire Dept.
It is in pretty good shape with 18k miles and very little rust to deal with. It drives and stops o.k. for now I have a few upgrade in mind already thanks to all of you guys on this forum.
Please post picture of your m725

Thanks,


Charles

sweet ride, looks clean and complete

let the od madness begin...

Looks like a nice start to a cool rig!

Welcome aboard......

I hope this project fails.

Seriously, I've been able to keep thoughts of dragging a 725 home quelled for years. Tag it "expedition vehicle" and it suddenly changes the game.

You know you want one, Doug.....And you know you will drag one home when it presents itself.

Will it end up parked next to the garage like an ARGO?

Looks good! What are your plans with it?

I'm doing something similar and have pics here

Hey Charles, keep us updated on the project.
I know about thr flip pac but what about drivetrain, etc

Sent from my SPH-M900 using Tapatalk

Hey Panther,
Thanks for asking, actually I just started working on my m725 last month. I just installed the front dana 60 dually (spring under axle) with H1 hummer wheels. I also took the leaf springs apart and sanded away the rust and spray them with Slip Plate. I also used the Dyantrac high clearance u-bolt kit on the front axle which made the conversion a little easier. Just pulled the rear axle and springs yesterday, I hope to have it back together by next week. I'll post some pictures soon.
The flippac is under a tarp until the spring. In the mean time i'm considering repair and mounting options.

-Cheers

[IMG][/IMG]Although I'm not finished here are a few pics of my sua dually install using the Dynatrac high clearance u bolt kit. First here is the front spring before and after[IMG]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4...sprigs1.th.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4...ipplate.th.jpg[/IMG]
The local shop wanted $100 to press out the old bushings and press the new ones in, so after a trip to Home Depot I started in on the spring bushings.
After 30 min. of pounding I was beginning to think that $100 was worth it. What
I needed was something that was the same diameter of the bushing. Then I spotted my Husky deep socket set, and they worked like a charm to pond out old bushings. Of course the 4 pound sledge Hammer helped too too.[IMG]http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/1...ushings.th.jpg[/IMG]

Here is what it looks like with a dually d60 with H1 hummer wheels and
37"x12.50x161/2".[IMG]http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/4973/lftfront.th.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9947/rtfront.th.jpg[/IMG]
The tires stick out the fenders little as seen in the pictures.

-cheers

I like the spring under perches and plates, nice idea on the top plate

Nice progress, at first I didn't notice the spring plates in your post but clicked on the imageshack links and saw all the pics.

In the back I assume you're flipping the rear dually hubs on a 14 bolt?

Is the idea to keep the stock motor, tranny and tcase? With 4.56 gears you're at 2700 rpms at 65 mph, that's pretty good.

Panther,
I got my axles from a 79 k30 4x4 dually, a D60/70. I got my idea from this article.
http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticl...wap/index.html
I have srw hubs from a14 bolt axle to go on the dana 70. I plan on putting a cummins diesel so I put a 4.10 R&P, with 37" tires and a.75 OD shoud be about 1800rpm @ 65mph. The rear is also getting a detroit locker and disc brakes. I'm still undecided what kind of locker to put up front, if money grew on trees I would put in an OX cable locker but i'm leaning towards a Truetrac. I'm trying to keep the stock ride height for a lower center of gravity, plus a soa lift means bigger tires to fill the wheel wells (otherwise it looks ridiculous) and more money. H1 hummer wheels are cheap and plentiful and the 37" Goodyear radials with 75%-95% tread are $100ea. I've narrowed down my tranny choices to either a NV4500/np205 or a 4l80e/np205 Lomax 3to1. I know the Cummins engine is tall and usually needs a lift to clear the diff so i'm looking into using a cummins marine oil pan or a dry sump.

Thanks,
found in this post some info I did not have so far.
Wolf

Looks great. How is the clearance between the tire and the springs when you turn the steering to full lock?

If it would stop raining for a while,I could finish my axle swap. I'm really itching to get this thing back on the ground with the new axles and wheels.I cannot check the wheel clearence rihgt now because the steering box is also being swapped for power steering. I do know that the front axle stops need to be shortend (maybe the the u bolts too) for more flex. Hopefully it will be done this time next week.

Has it stopped raining yet? :D

Just wondering if anything has happened with the project.
Also curious about the flip pac if that has had any attention?

It's been a while since my last post. Not much has been done since axles and wheels. The flippac is still waiting it's turn. However I did bring this big beauty home recently[IMG]http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/7...inghome.th.jpg[/IMG]
It's a 96 6bt cummins from a ford f800 or something, claimed to have only
25,000 miles on it when the truck was wrecked. The bad news is it has sat outside for about 10 years (mostly covered). The motor seems to turn freely so
it has not seized. It came with a few extras like a Bendix air compressor and a 14 in. spicer clutch, although I will be needing a new bell sae#2 bell housing.
[IMG]http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/1264/mins3.th.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/1806/clutchv.th.jpg[/IMG]
Lately i've been thinking to bolt it to a Spicer 3053a / np205.

Cheers

Any new updates on this cummins swap or project in general

I can't seem to find the pics of the spring mounting.....