Combat Vehicle Simulator Build (Attex 8x8)
Ok, so just short of 2 weeks is my limit! I caved today and tore the tank trainer down to a pile of parts. Took about 2.5 hours to strip it down. My racer was the first full tear down I ever did, and it required the sawzall, torches and a cut off wheel for nearly every step. I'm glad that one was so tough because every one sense has seemed easy in comparison
Tear down went pretty well. a few axles were tough, but no WMD's were required to get it apart. All the parts look to be original including axles which is pretty amazing.
The Body is hammered and will take DAYS of plastic welding to put back together. I thought my Hustler Bigfoot tub was bad, but it was just a warm up for this one. I ordered 2lb of ABS welding rod yesterday and I'm wondering if that will be enough.
Preliminary inspections of the frame reveal no cracks or broken welds, but once I get it clean some might surface.
The T-20 has a broken off fill plug to be dealt with. The pivots for the tongue depressors are mangled (really old style T-20). This is the first one of this case style that I have ever seen in person, and I have an idea on fixing the pivots, but I'm not sure if it will work. I will know more on that once I get it torn apart.
The plan as of now for the rebuild is to use Argo axles, sprockets, and outer bearing flanges for the drive line (with a lot of help from Lewis, and Ken Bost). I want to replace the chain adjusters in one location with a different style. The engine will be the stock 18hp Vanguard that was removed from Beths Max II. If I can't fix the case on the transmission, I will throw my spare in this machine and once again be on the hunt for a spare T-20. Other than the addition of a full poly skid plate, the Body will be put back to original OD green and I will try to duplicate the paint scheme that it had while in possession of the US Army. On top of all the cracks, the body has also sagged badly over the years, so I will copy the skeleton that Hydromike added to Big 5 in an attempt to give her a lift. Thanks to Gus Marrone, I have an original roll cage, and a NOS floor pan so I don't have to fix the ones that came with the machine.
I realize I've set the bar pretty high with the time line on my last few builds, but this one will be a much slower process. I figure a solid week just on the body. Funding for this project is still slightly in the negative as well... not that I've ever been stopped by that before
Last edited by racerone3; 05-23-2011 at 10:33 PM.
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