New 917AF Expeditions Truck

[Quintin]

Hi Steve
I wondered what happened with your 917. Blimey you must be brave driving at 110km/hr! I managed to get mine up to 100 once and once was enough...

I'm in the process of converting the 366A into a LA (i.e. adding an intercooler, new manifold and pipe work) but the problem is setting the pump as I'm far from clear what actually is the difference between the 200, 220 and 240 versions of the LA. I read somewhere that a Euro 2 366 LA has different injectors but I don't know whether a Euro 2 version produces 200 etc bhp. The easiest would be to rob the pump and injectors off a 366LA but the cost of a donor pump is prohibitive and anyway I've rebuilt my existing pump. Don't suppose either you or Mike (or indeed anyone) knows?

Q

 

[Allroader]

Hi Guys,

@ Quintin
I have not forgot about checking on the parts, just my nearest Dealer is 600km away. But next time I am in Germany I'll check that for you.

To have the Pump modfied, not the bigegst deal in the wourld and here in europe there are many places that will do that. Don't know where Steve is from (Sorry). There is a very good place in Köln, Germany that does the work on all the Race-Mogs. But for me that is still a way off.
I am very happy with the Truck and speeds so far, but onced finished building it, then I'll know more how ist handels at traveling weight.
There are so many option to increase Power & Speed. But one step at a time.

Mike

 

[Allroader]

Hi Joaquin,

Sorry that might have come of in the wrong way.
Thanks for the Input, always nice to hear thinking out of the box.

Mike

 

[keeneye]

Hello Everyone,

Ok we have been reading for a while and now we thought we wanted to share our new projekt with U Guys, but first a little about us.
At the time we are in Northern Sweden :elkgrin:, but have lived in Germany and the States many years.
We want to build our Truck here and do some "small" trips around here. :smiley_drive:
Some stops here in europe will include trip around the Baltic Sea, Spain, Greece, Denmark and who knows?
I would really like to travel to India, well we will see what trips will happen first. Then we will be coming back Home (USA) and travel North & South America until we want a none rolling home again.
We are moving up, from a VW Syncro. Was just getting too full, with our 2nd one on the way.

So get ready to hear a little bit more from us in the future.
Now to our new Projekt:

It is a Mercedes 917 AF 4x4, it has the 366 engine with 170HP (at the time) in it, has the quick Axels (at the time 95-100km with the small Tires, about 60mph) and only weighs about 4500KG (9900 lbs). :wings:

The future will hold a complete change for the Truck.

First it will be streched to a 147"- 158" wheelbase, not decided yet.

Then there will be a new Box installed, about 189" - 201" long.

New Tires will be 385/65 22,5 and should boost the top end to about 110kmh (67mph)

After that there are a million small things to do, to make it travel ready.
So be on the lookout for an interesting journey.

An ex-Military Bomb respond Truck to a full blown Expedition-Truck

:victory:


Mike & Nikki

P.S.: If anyone needs help from over here just let us know, we are more than happy to help if we can.

Hi Guys,
Wow you have EXACTLY the same truck as we do!!!
We purchased our 1992 917AF from a fire fighting vehicle dealer in Paris in June 09.
We shipped it to Fuess Allrad Mobile in Germany and did the same thing you are in the process of doing.
We took possession of the truck in Halifax and drove her home across Canada.
We are super happy with all the work done, it's a beautiful truck. We are now planning our first trip to Central & South America.
Perhaps we will see you on the road sometime...

 

[JRhetts]

Sarah & Tim

Check for a PM from me.

John

 

[eagel]

Hi all
this is my first post in this forum, that I just found last night, I'm so glad find this forum, I am Chinese living at the very historic city Xi'an in center of the mainland China, someone above wish travel to China with their own expedition vehicle,here I got some information about how to drive the vehicle in China, first you need get a invitation from Chinese company,for scientific Field trip or just traveling, so you got the invitation from the travel agency is ok ,the border police will give you a 90 day permission licence , also you should provide the chinese translated driver licence and vehicle register document and buy compulsive insurance about 100 euro and provisional driver licence is necessary

I buy a used MB1114 truck 3 years before and build a camper cabine, the truck only 2x4 use MB 366 diesel engine without turbo , I want seek a front dirve axle make a 4x4 truck , the refitting work will finished one month later, I want drive it to europe and share with all of you

Lee

 

[Harald Hansen]

Hi, Eagel! Would you care to post a thread about your truck? The back porch section, how is it stowed away when travelling? How did you construct the camper?

 

[eagel]

hi Harald Hansen

I am so happy to share all the time of these days that when I modified my truck ,I will post the picture of my camper truck modification procedure in the later time, I am very glad to answer the question about drive the camper truck within China, thanks

Lee

 

[Allroader]

Hi,

I am still here, just really busy building our Truck. Pics will be coming soon again.

@ eagle

I want drive it to europe and share with all of you

Wiered and we can't wait to get to the USA. :elkgrin:


@ keeneye
Please post pics.
We will be more then happy to stop by, send me where I can find you or contact you.


Mike

 

[haven]

Welcome Eagel! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

There are many of us who are very interested to visit your country.
Is it true that people traveling overland must be accompanied by an
approved escort? That's a problem when the vehicle doesn't have
room for an other passenger!

Chip Haven

 

[Joe]

Hi Lee,

thx for your interesting documentation, I would be interested as well in more details. As well your information about getting a 90 days permit is very welcome.

I saw your pics and from my POV a front drive axle does not really make sense for your truck.
- As it is at the moment you don't have enough ground clearance for driving off-road,
- It seems as if the chassis and the living cabin don't have a fixing which allows twist between them. Note: The frame of a truck is flexible. If cross a bigger bump not in a rectangular angle the frame of the truck will twist / bend as soon as the springs cannot eliminate that. The tension of the trucks frame will immediately twist your living cabin and sooner or later destroy the construction.

In addition to the new front axle you need a new transfer gearbox plus all mounting devices, you need a new prop shaft and to modify the rear one plus all other problems which may pop up whilst your modification.
Furthermore the current tires are too small for reall off-road adventure (ground clearance etc.) plus the twin tires at the rear axle should be modified to single tires - otherwise stones may stick between them and damage the tires sooner or later.

A limited slip differential at the rear axle - eventually with snow-chains - will help you to get out of 98% of all problems. In addition bigger tires for more ground clearance and higher end-speed or lower rpm of the motor when driving at previous speed will offer you more than enough for most circumstances - my POV.

How do you flip the drivers cabin? Isn't the top-sleeper box mounted at the front of the living cabin causing problems? Or do you access the motor from within the driver cabin?

 

[Allroader]

Hello everyone,

Well I know it seems that all has come to a Stop here, but it was more the like no more time on the net. Just building our Truck.

We have finally closed him up, finished all the wiring for the LED lights and installed the edges.







Meanwhile we started to take a peek at our driving headquarters. It has tons of brown, which ain't our color. So we are changing it to Black/Gray Design.
First a look at the before:


Now the stripping started:


And almost back together, without any extra parts


While everthing is out, we started to install some soundproofing material.


More will follow from the drivercab, just takes time. So let me jump back with you to the Livingquarters.
The Insulation is installed and slowly the Truck is becoming a full blown 4x4 Expeditions-Truck



I will try to update the build a little quicker from now on.

Mike

 

[keeneye]

Mb 917

Hi Mike,
Great progress on your truck!
Here are a couple of pics of our truck. It would be great to hook up if you come by our part of the world.
Watch for a pm with our e-mail address.

...and Joe, if you're reading....I would appreciate your specs for the engine tune you did to your truck, valve lifter clearances, injector nozzles and injection pressure.
Tim

 

[dzzz]

Tim, Nice looking truck. Who built it?

 

[Allroader]

Hi Keeneye,

Nice Rig, looks very similar to ours. :elkgrin:
Though missing the higher Roof on the drivercab, put you already have some nice sand Boards & a Whinch.

What Wheelbase do you have now?
How Long is your Shelter?

I'll check my PM and put you on our visit List once we are in the US.


@dzzzz
His Truck was buildt by Fuess in Germany.
Click Here

If you want one drop me a line, maybe I can help. Find you one and maybe save some money.



More Fotos coming soon, got rained out the last couple days.