My M416 Build

[Desert_Explorer_75]

The tub sitting at the fab shop after picking it up from sand blasting. I used PCI in Palmdale, Ca www.powdercoatindustries.com for this go around on blasting. Service was excellent and got a great deal thanks to a tip from a friend at Virgin Galactic. The fab shop is going to be framing up the tailgate and reinforcing the tub a bit for me. The shop is KR Fab in Lancaster, Ca. www.krfab.com Met the owner through another forum and Ken and his guys do great work!!

 

[Desert_Explorer_75]

Made a visit to the fab shop on Friday. The pictures are of what welcomed me when I walked in. Have to say I was pretty darn pleased. The gate was better than expected and the welds were great. I had them add corner bars to the front after seeing the rear. Ken had added 3/16" angle to all four corners for a little added rigidity. The tailgate uses the original panel that was horribly cut out prior to me purchasing it and retains the tie downs. Some people may ask why I used a fabricator to do the welding instead of making it DIY project. Well time is a luxury I dont have a lot of currently and I knew Ken did great work. My welding skills are not the greatest. Ken used his apprentice to do a lot of the work on the project and my thoughts were that if his apprentice can learn from this then it was well worth it. The hinges and latches for the gate I purchased from Brocks Trailers in Bakersfield, Ca. www.brockstrailersinc.com Good company and they make great trailers. They have a full service parts department and if they don't have it they will get it for you.

 

[Mark Harley]

Very nice progress!

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Nice!

 

[Desert_Explorer_75]

Well I brought my baby home. Put her up on some saw horses to take a look at her. I then sanded her entire body with 320 grit and made it smooth as possible. Gave her a bath in DAWN to rinse all the funk and grease from last few months. The I gave her a little Phosphoric Prep and Etch. I have included the pictures of the etching solution I used, and the primer. The phosphoric solution worked really well. I used a brush to apply it so I could control where it went and avoid over spray. I did this on all my pieces to include the tub, tailgate and fenders. I have used this primer in the past and it works really well. Its a little more money but you get what you pay for. I used 6 cans of primer because I overlapped in several areas. Pictures in order are from wash to end of acid wash and primered tub. I did find one spot on floor of tub I did not catch before where a dent had perforated the metal so I will be fixing that. additionally I found where both center mounts for the tire fenders have pulled away a small bit from trailer box causing a small hole on both sides. I will repair those as well. For now I will be just leave the primer on the trailer to protect from elements in between working on it and on the rare chance it actually rains here in CA.

BTW- I welcome any questions about anything regarding the trailer.

 

[Michigan4x4]

As soon as the weather gets nicer her in MI I will start building my M416. I like what you have done with yours! The previous owner torch cut a tailgate out of the rear of my tub so I need a tailgate. Debating on whether or not to take it to a fab shop or do it myself. I am a novice welder. If you don't mind, can you PM me with an approximate cost for the fab work you had done? Trying to figure out what route I should take... I appreciate it.

Lookin good. I am following this one.

Jeff

 

[Desert_Explorer_75]

Thanks Jeff. Once you start its hard to stop. Ill send you a PM per your request.

 

[Michigan4x4]

Hey Tim... Did I miss it somewhere in the thread? Where did you source your shackle extensions?

Looking good. Keep adding photos as you make progress..

Thanks

 

[Michigan4x4]

Thinking I may extend my lunette ring like this guy did. I am sure it will make the trailer a bit easier to back up and a bit harder to jack knife into the truck bumper.











I will probably skip the Flame paint job.... I think it is a good idea... Pretty slick..



His build is here http://americanadventurist.com/Forum/showthread.php?197-Fygar-my-1967-M416-trailer-build

Figured I should give him some credit for a good mod.

 

[Desert_Explorer_75]

Thinking I may extend my lunette ring like this guy did. I am sure it will make the trailer a bit easier to back up and a bit harder to jack knife into the truck bumper.

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I will probably skip the Flame paint job.... I think it is a good idea... Pretty slick..

View attachment 224825

His build is here http://americanadventurist.com/Forum/showthread.php?197-Fygar-my-1967-M416-trailer-build

Figured I should give him some credit for a good mod.

Ha Ha- Small world as I was thinking of doing that exact mod to mine. I just want to source a secondary lunette so I can keep my original just in case.

And I bought the shackle kit as a generic set off the shelf at Autozone. Next time i'm by there I will swing in and look at the part number to get a reference. Energy Suspension makes a good kit if you want to spend a little more money. This one was around 20 bucks if I recall.

 

[Michigan4x4]

That is a small world.... Hey Tim, do you have the specifics (parts number or link) for the energy suspension kit? I would rather stay cheap so I will probably go the Autozone route like you did but wouldn't mind checking out other options.. As far as the Lunette is concerned. I think I bought mine off of ebay (they turn up every now and again) or know Midwest military has them but they are not cheap http://www.midwestmilitary.net/trailerparts.html

Jeff

 

[Desert_Explorer_75]

Sorry for delay. been super busy at work and havent had time to get on here.

The Energy Bump Stops are 2 bolt style, designed for 1976-86 Jeep CJ5, 7 front & rear position 1 7/8" tall X 5" overall length X 1 3/4" wide. Designed to accept 3/8" dia. bolts with center to center of
4 1/4" max. to 4" min. Hardware not included.
2 per set.
MODEL## 9.9137

 

[Desert_Explorer_75]

Latest Update- I have sprayed the underside of the bed with Rust-O-Leum Bed liner. The bed has been rolled with bed liner from Harbor Freight called Iron Armor. It went on really nice. I rolled two coats up the walls and over the top of rolled edge. I teh sprayed one layer of the Rust-O-Leum over the Iron Armor. Its not super thick like LineX but I didnt pay $450.00 for it either. HB sells a gallon for $45.00 and also comes in spray cans. Also have painted the fenders and underside of them with undercoating then sprayed with Rustoleum Professional Gloss Black. All surfuces were of course etched, sanded, then cleaned to be free of lint, grease, oils.

Painting the body of trailer is coming soon then lights. Pics posted after my crazy week at work is done. Woohoo-almost done.

 

[Desert_Explorer_75]

Here are a few pics of my latest progress. More to follow after the 4th of July Weekend.

 

[canorisa]

05TacoMedic....did you EVER finished this build or are you still working on it? I just bought a M416B1 and I'll be picking it up in the next two weeks here and your posts have been very interesting and informative to me. This will be my 8th trailer restoration and I'm always looking for ways to improve. As luck would have it, I have a completely restored M416...my last restoration, that I'm contemplating on selling. Don't know how much I would ask yet but I'm giving it serious thoughts on it. The B1 is certainly a nice addition to my trailer addiction

Joel