Desert Turtle - M1010 Build

[ExpoMike]

havnt purchased anything yet.. but looking to do the same truck build as a weekend camper/ hunting rig.. build a good M1010 I’m up in north OC

This is my second one. The first one I decide not to build as I didn't want to take a couple years building. I bought a Dodge Ram and a FWC camper and used that for a number of years. Now I am willing to take the time to build what I want.

I will say, if you really want one, start looking now and be ready to jump. They do not come up often and the prices are starting to get crazy expensive. It took me over a year and had it shipped from Ohio. They are as basic as you can get as well. If you like modern comforts, be willing to spend the money and time to install yourself. You might want to make a trip down here to check it out before you get too far along. It might change your mind or really make you want one.

 

[16DenaliHD]

yah I read that whole thread and this one lol.. I was thinking about making it a daily and making it super reliable hahaha... I’m not afraid to put some money into it in suspension and shocks like kings(I know the owner Brett, and get some atlas springs etc) carpet interior etc... just main concern is reliability

 

[ExpoMike]

Picked up a couple things for the rig. Found some very high quality solar panels. 150 watt, 24 volt panels that when using a DC/DC solar charger, I should get 20+ amps of charge power. I think that will work very well for our needs. Got them cheap at $0.50 per watt.

Also picked up some 2012 Jeep Wrangler JK front seats that I will swap in. Should end up more comfortable as they recline versus being fixed back seats. Look like they will be fairly easy to adapt.

 

[nitro_rat]

I prefer the bench seat in these trucks. With most buckets if you adjust to get a comfortable "recline" position the seat bottom is pushed too far forward to be comfortable.

If you want a more comfortable seat the early 88-94 GMT400 bench will fit if you use squarebody BUCKET seat brackets. Use both outboard bucket tracks in their original position. You will have to work out the connection between both sides if want the adjuster to work with one lever. I just set it and forget it. The newer seat is lower and has an adjustable back rest.

 

[ExpoMike]

I prefer the bench seat in these trucks. With most buckets if you adjust to get a comfortable "recline" position the seat bottom is pushed too far forward to be comfortable.

If you want a more comfortable seat the early 88-94 GMT400 bench will fit if you use squarebody BUCKET seat brackets. Use both outboard bucket tracks in their original position. You will have to work out the connection between both sides if want the adjuster to work with one lever. I just set it and forget it. The newer seat is lower and has an adjustable back rest.

For an M1010, bench seats do not allow access to the pass thru cab door. They already come with bucket seats but they are fixed back and kind of "springy". Not too bad but I have spend many thousands of miles in JK front buckets and like how they feel, on road and off road.

Here are a couple picks of the stock seats and seeing the pass thru from the box side.

 

[nitro_rat]

For an M1010, bench seats do not allow access to the pass thru cab door. They already come with bucket seats but they are fixed back and kind of "springy".

Starting in 84 or 85 reclining backs were optional on the factory seats. They can be found in Suburbans thru '88 in that style. I think you must use your truck brackets on the Suburban seats as the floor is shaped differently.

In my experience seats like those Jeep buckets don't fit well in the cab. By the time you get the brackets mounted on the "hump" your head is in the roof and your knees are in the steering wheel. The back ends up too upright and you look (and feel) like a giant in a clown car...

 

[OldKoot]

Great project....always liked those old trucks but the one I did have a Neb hail storm totaled. As for the seats....I have been debating this myself for our project. Remains to be seen as of now how we will figure out thew seating in our old Dodge crew cab.

 

[ExpoMike]

Starting in 84 or 85 reclining backs were optional on the factory seats. They can be found in Suburbans thru '88 in that style. I think you must use your truck brackets on the Suburban seats as the floor is shaped differently.

In my experience seats like those Jeep buckets don't fit well in the cab. By the time you get the brackets mounted on the "hump" your head is in the roof and your knees are in the steering wheel. The back ends up too upright and you look (and feel) like a giant in a clown car...

Not my first rodeo on fabbing up seat mounts for seats that never belonged in the vehicle I am putting them in. As for these Jeep seats, the big metal brackets unbolt and leave the slider tracks and a nice, flat mounting surface. On my measurements before I picked them up, the seat bottom will actually be lower than the factory seats. Nice thing is the drivers side has a high adjustment.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Neat build. Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[chilliwak]

Expo Mike I am just curious as to how the back compartment is sealed to the cab? I would like to do something similar to my old rig at some point. If you could post some pics as to how the pass through is sealed to the cab it would be great. A little description would not hurt either. Thank. Cheers, Chilli... ?

 

[ExpoMike]

Expo Mike I am just curious as to how the back compartment is sealed to the cab? I would like to do something similar to my old rig at some point. If you could post some pics as to how the pass through is sealed to the cab it would be great. A little description would not hurt either. Thank. Cheers, Chilli... ?

Hey Chilliwak, let me get some pics this week and post them up. The M1010 uses a unique bellows designed for this rig, which is a very heavy duty rubber type, accordion gasket that is riveted to the cab and box. The box has it's own sliding door to seal off the box. The back of the cab is cut opened for this and the rear glass has sealed inserts on both sides of the opening.

 

[ExpoMike]

@chilliwak Here are a few pics. Hope this is helpful. When the interior was painted by the Sheriff dept, they did not tape off the inner bellows which is why you see the white paint cracking. The rubber is fine.

 

[ExpoMike]

Finally got some free time to do some work on the M1010. Next up is the cooling system refresh. I am going to be installing a Paradox By Design cooling upgrade kit, which route coolant from the rear head ports to the crossover tube. They found by doing this, it balances out the coolant temp across the hole block. Normally the 6.2/6.5 diesels have the rear cylinders run hot and tends to cause head gasket failures at the rear. I am using their hybrid kit that allows me to use a HUMVEE crossover tube. This gives me the return port at the top and allows me to move the sensors from the rear to the crossover tube, since the Paradox kit uses these ports. I originally was going to just flush the radiator but there is more crud then I hoped for. I think the radiator is in good shape but just needs to be boiled out and cleaned. Going to take it to a shop to get that done. I really want to keep this radiator since all of the replacement units are using plastic side tanks. I also removed the A/C compressor as it was not hooked up anyways. Made a lot of room on that side to work now. Also had time to remove the hitch that came on it. I assume the old Sheriff dept. had installed that. Had no need for it and am trying to fit the spare tire back into the stock location, which requires this to be removed. I think that is it for now.

Radiator removal






Pulling crossover tube and test fitting the HUMVEE one









Hitched removed

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Great build!

I'm also in San Diego (clairemont) and pretty sure i've seen this around. Lemme know if you ever need a hand, or someone to pass the beer!

 

[ExpoMike]

Great build!

I'm also in San Diego (clairemont) and pretty sure i've seen this around. Lemme know if you ever need a hand, or someone to pass the beer!

Cool! You might have seen it but I have only driven it a handful of times since getting it in April. Been wanting to baseline everything before really putting a ton of miles on it. I might take you up on the help offer. Thanks!

Update: I dropped off the radiator at the shop I have used before. It was questionable if boiling it out would not end up causing some pin holes, as it was getting thin in a few areas. Not wanting to deal with this again, I am having it re-cored. I guess this is a really big core as he said it was bigger than most motor homes he does. Core was 34" wide.