Help me identify this Military Ambulance

[David_VT]

I bought this from a fire department. Military tag on dash says it was delivered to the USmilitary 2/80. Grill looks wrong for time so must have been replaced by the fire department.



W400 chassis cab with 6 tires, 360Auto,PTO winch... and less that 9K miles on the odometer. Door Jams and Engine Compartment show airforce blue.



Can't figure out the Military Model Identity. . Do you know it?



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Not Diesel (yet)...

 

[willyslover]

David. . posted this on D-C site. . Bill [Kickin Y2k] is a used military dealer and restorer, and damn nice guy . . maybe he can answer for you



http://diesel-central.com/forums/thread.asp? ForumID=7&TopicID=706



and here is Bill site about restored Military stuff



http://www.geocities.com/kinghumvee/Kickasshomepage.html

 

[willyslover]

David. . Bill came through for you



Hi Gary, that worked! I can't tell from the photo if it's 4x4 or not. If it's 4x4 then it is the M886 or if 4x2 it's a M893. All of them had the 318, auto transmission and 4. 10:1 gearing. Original manuals are easy to come by here [ http://www.portrayal.com/ ]. Parts here [ http://www.saturnsurplus.com/newpage11.htm ]. If he needs any more info let me know. Excellent for a Cummins conversion. He's right about the year, they were only purchased 1976 and 1977. Thanks for the compliments too!

Bill

 

[willyslover]

David. . another E-mail from Bill



Hi Gary,

One thing I forgot to mention, the military uses silicone brake fluid in most everything they have. It will NOT mix with regular DOT3 fluid so he may want to check and see which fluid is in it.

Bill

 

[David_VT]

Year is odd and model seems odd

Gary,

First off, thanks for the input. Their are two parts that confuses me in his messages:



1) The truck is not a 4 tire truck as most M886's seem to be. It is a true dually. Yes it is 4x4. Mine is built on a W400 chassis not the W200 chassis. I realize that the shadow on my photo does not show the dual tires very well.



this is an image of an M886 which is built on a W200 chassis on AM Surplus's website. #ad




2) The Military plate on the dash says it was delivered to the US GOV on Feb/1980 which is after the window for the M886



Finally my Front end does not match an OEM 1980 so I've assumed that the fire department must have replaced the camo grill with the current one.



I called one place and they thought it was a canadian rig but the dash plate is clearly US GOV. The fire department bought it after it served in Europe (KMH<>MPH conversion sticker on the ceiling of the cab)



David

 

[willyslover]

David. . don't know the answers. . Bill [Kickin Y2k] signed up on TDR yesterday. . will be by to check out this thread. .

here is his E-mail addy. . ask away he will be happy to help ya out. . again Damn Nice Guy !!



-- email address removed --

 

[big jake 1]

Originally posted by willyslover

David. . don't know the answers. . Bill [Kickin Y2k] signed up on TDR yesterday. . will be by to check out this thread. .

here is his E-mail addy. . ask away he will be happy to help ya out. . again Damn Nice Guy !!



-- email address removed --

thats all we need... ... ... ... .





another FORD guy on this site... ... ... ... ... ... ... .











Yo: Billy Bob... ... ... ...





welcome aboard, when you get here!!!!!!!!!!!







Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.





big jake, another FORD guy

 

[Kickin Y2K]

Gary, Big Jake, thanks for the welcome Yeah, I'm always working on Dodges, figure I ought to learn a little more about them

As for the ambulance, I you are right, I didn't realize it had duals. I do have a book around here that says what it is, if only I can find it. I've been packing my books up to move into my office in the next couple weeks. Is there any original color left on it anywhere?

 

[David_VT]

I talked to someone today that was there a few years back when the truck was moving from Federal ownership to the fire departments here in Vermont. Apparently this dodge ambulance and a slightly newer chevy ambulance were both side by side, having arrived from 'the desert'. The box on that Chevy was restored with diamond plate and storage compartments were added for Jaws, etc. It remains in Service in my towns fire department as the rescue truck.



I found Airforce Blue in the engine compartment and I found the Dodge build tag on the inside of the hood. I stand corrected on the engine, it is a 360 4barrel!!!



Update:

Yeeehaaa, this winch is worth the price I paid for the entire truck. I have already pulled out of the snow my Cummins Ram twice, my wife's 'burban, the now dead snowplow once and the replacement plowtruck from it's former resting place... .

 

[willyslover]

Very cool David... I've been gone again for a few days. . sounds like a way cool rig. . maby a retro fitted camper out of the box area ?. . nice fishing rig / getaway rig... maybe a cool flatbed, lots of uses to be had



you can send the winch out here to me iff'in ya want

 

[Philsram]

Help me

Hmm looks to me like a 1978, 79 1 1/4 ton dodge power wagon with a 318 I presume. The army used those truck in alot of different applications back then. They were great! My qusetion is..... Is that Yum Yum Yellow? pw