intro - embarking on HMMWV build

Hello - I am happy to have found this forum - I am here for the HMMWV content!

Let me start off by mentioning I did not serve but many family members did - dating back to the 30s. I hold a deep respect for all branches of our military and law enforcement. Thank you to those of you here who have served and/or continue to do so.

I am here for the HMMWV but my obsession did not originate with the mil spec but the H1.

The more I learn, the more I appreciate the original's minimal/bare bones interior w/o all of the decades old plastics and carpet, not to mention the current market on H1s. And what's not to love about the exterior of these trucks? They are the most badass 4x4 ever imho.

Whether learning here, across the interwebs or through the generous knowledge shared by a few quality, vetted builders across the country - I am grateful for all of the information shared among enthusiasts.

Based on my research thus far and where my preferences currently lie, I established the build specifications outlined below. Whittled down from 149 images I have curated during my research, I am including 13 relevant ones.

I am all ears for ANY input! That includes welcoming all opinions on my expectations, suggestions on changes to what I have specified here and so forth.


Disclaimers:
1 - While I am a complete noob here, I feel I have a fair sense of what I am getting myself into with respect to:
-costs
-lead times to source what I am looking for and to complete the build during a pandemic and election year
-maint obligations
-noise/comfort level
-water tightness
-the court of public opinion on these vehicles

2 - My build will not be museum/period correct but it will be OEM / OEM+ with only top quality aftermarket parts if necessary and absolutely no blingy features.

3 - I presume there is plenty of member crossover but I will be cross-posting this on other relevant forums in an attempt to gain as much insight as possible before embarking on the build.

4 - all photos gathered online - not mine.


Base/Exterior:
-A2 or ECV four man soft top truck
-mechanically gone through and ready to daily (short trip/around town 'dailying')
-OEM stance - no suspension leveling at this time (understand ride quality sacrifice)
-specific off-center winch front 'bumper plate' pictured with teardrop shackles - sans winch at this time
-airlift rear bumper with mudflaps, pintle hitch, teardrop + end cap U shackles
-24 bolt wheels with BFGoodrich Baja T/A tires (self recovery 'winch' center mounts on rear wheels)
-clean tub and hood free of damage (100% complete OEM bolts/rivets/seals/gaskets throughout)
-sup-armor smooth X-doors with locks
-fresh glass if needed - if one piece needs to be replaced, all will be replaced
-first gen H1 mirrors (have friend who has already fabricated tasteful custom CNC bracket to mount on HMMWV door hinge)
-LED lights all around but need to learn more about the options available
--would love to hear more about high quality LED headlight options - I like the ones ICON4X4 puts on their restomod Bronco and FJs and they sell them direct (have not researched HMMWV compatibility)
--any feedback on the ones pictured in the reference images on the recent HUMVEE C-Series Chinese market trucks?
--H1 marker lights above windshield and below tailgate - OEM mount with aftermarket LEDs?
--reverse light
--license plate light

-fresh paint inside and out:
--tub, hood and doors inside and out including bolts and hinges in light grey (color reference picture)
--leave gauge console/dash original green
--bumpers, mirrors, door handles, wheels (raw bolts), all light and reflector surrounds, hood latches and hood grill in black

-soft top - curious to hear thoughts top color choice on light grey truck: tan, camo, green or black (I am leaning green at the moment)


Interior:
-new or high quality refurbished gauges - GPS speedo, center mount RPM?
-new data plates
-new shifter assembly
-OEM removable insulation/padding
-four high back seats - willing to reupholster if necessary in OEM or similar fabric

Realistic future additions/updates:
-whatever electrical conversions/swaps necessary to power intercom and cameras
-intercom system (pciraceradios.com)
-cameras
-dual antenna
-hood reinforcement kit
-may paint/wrap areas black white and yellow re A400M Atlas color reference
-imprinted tailgate - bonus if original truck has one

Lofty future additions/updates:
-Red Dot AC
-OEM rear fifth tire mount
-suspension leveling/softening if I grow tired of the stock stance
-arctic soft top, curtain and doors (aware I would need to swap fixed door latch components to change between sup-armor and arctic doors)
-Duramax/Allison swap

I have attached reference images in order corresponding to the outline.

If you got this far - thank for reading and once again - I am all ears for ANY input. That includes welcoming all opinions on my expectations, suggestions on changes and so forth.

Curious to hear any opinions on where I should start:
-truck that has been gone through and paint + change necessary bolt ons to meet my specifications
or
-raw A2 or ECV coming out of auction (I will not be purchasing from auction myself if going this route)

Reference images:

stance


stance


front bumper


rear bumper


doors


wheels


wheels and tires


lights


color


paint accents and lights

paint quality reference


paint quality reference


gauge quality reference

So what you're saying is you want to build a $65-$75K truck, but you don't have the truck or the parts or the experience?

My suggestion... Stop posting pics from the Internet, start reading a lot, and then purchase a truck that is within your means.

Then fix what you have to fix prior to upgrading.

Just the slantback top you want, with all pieces and such, will be a $12k investment. More if you go with a 1100 series and not a 1025/26 or 1045/6.

X-doors are $5K, without armor. Armored doors can double that.

Gauges that are in mint condition, at least $500.

24 Bolt rims, $500 to $2000 depending on source and tire age and condition.

5'th tire mount - $1.5K

Dual antenae, $1000

Comm system $500-$1000

The list goes on and on.

Buy a truck, any truck, and then decide if you really need and want this stuff.

CAREFULLY investigate the truck prior to purchase.

Make sure you can title a truck in Illinois. Some states will not allow HMMWV's on the road.

You will find that wanting a shiny new former military toy and the reality of owning one are 2 wildly different worlds.

Thank you for the response. I won’t be building this - it will be commissioned or purchased done if I find one near my specifications.

What’s wrong with pictures from the internet? You want me to go to the public library to find references?


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Then you should have led off with the fact that you're looking to get a vehicle build commissioned.

You need to contact RetiredWarHorses on this forum... He will build for you EXACTLY what you want.

If you chose him, the vehicle will be outstanding in every detail.

He is a well respected member of this forum.

You need to take the time to PM him.

86HUMV has all the parts you might need, and Eastern Surplus, a site sponsor, probably will have stuff too.

There is also a similar vehicle that you might want on E-bay that is listed for over 100K. Take the time to search E-bay for terms including M1025, M1026, M1045, M1046, HMMWV, Slantback

Has almost everything you want... For $5k in doors and $3K in paint, you will have what you want for $40K.

The paint forum will go over Behr paint, which looks great, or Rapco or CARC paint, which are cancer causing BUT are exact military use.

The color codes you want are in the "Paint and Restoration" forum on this site.

[I have no affiliation with this E-bay add or seller.]

thanks again for the response and additional info, my library comment was a little snarky - apologies

-I mentioned my ideal base is a four man open top near the beginning but understand I wrote way too much here and most won't take the time to read through it and many of my reference images were of slant backs but I tried to highlight the specific component I was referencing with the arrows

-I have been recommended to work with Steve by a few folks now +1 - understand he is the man when it comes to these trucks - found one of Steve's builds for sale just under $100k on uhrig - it's a possibility but I would rather not have to go about dismantling one of his masterpieces and selling the turret, slant back etc

-ebay is alright but haven't come across anything just yet that meets my expectations - as mentioned, need to filter past all the M998s on there

-thank you for the part price references - reinforces the information I have come across thus far

-thank you for the part source references - much appreciated!

Steve is one Hell of a guy. Helpful and solid.

There is also the company "Plan B" in California that will have what you want. A member here bought from them and was happy, although he had a differential fail driving cross country to get the rig home. https://www.planbtrucks.com/

If you buy the rig I showed or any rig with pieces you don't want, then you will get to sell them and recoup your purchase price.

A 4 man open top with solid doors makes no sense to me, but you know what you want I guess. If you wanted, there is a guy in Texas who has/had a set of H1 doors for sale that were complete. $5K IIRC. That might get the look you want.

My suggestion... You could buy a rig and get it re-built by Steve or Plan B, or maybe you should just buy one of Steve's rigs or a Plan B rig and be done with it.

Update!

Purchased an M1097A2 at the beginning of September and just awaiting on a few more parts and my build slot to get it rolling.

I’m beyond excited - immeasurable - literally cannot wait.

The project has been rethought over and over and the builder I am working with has been extremely helpful and flexible with my changes (note it has not gone under the knife just yet re changes - haha).

Definitely trimmed things down a bit from my OP.

This is where the build plan currently sits:
-4 man open top config
-OE x-doors
-24 bolt wheels with BFG Baja tires
-Camouflage Sand 30277 tub
-black top, hood grill, hood latches and door handles (not hinges)
-new LED lights, buckets and reflectors all around
-new high back seats


Known issues to be addressed:
-needs a new engine - have one ready to go in
-trans rebuild as long as engine is coming out
-new radiator
-new hood

Have yet to settle on plans for the interior so aside from a good clean and the new seats, it will be raw for the time being.




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