markheliops
New member
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- Location
- Surrey, England
Hi all.
My name is Mark and I live in the UK.
I have served in the forces and now work as a Fire-fighter in Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
I have been interested in Military vehicles for as long as I can remember.
This is my pride and joy.
It is a 1943 Ward La France M1A1 Wrecker.
I have owner it for around 5 years. I purchased it in Holland and have been restoring it ever since. It's almost 100% completed now. I have fitted a Cummins 6BTA diesel engine to increase power and have better reliability. The old R22 Continental was okay but under-powered.
Anyway, reason I have joined SS is due to a recent new purchase.
Chevrolet Blazer K5 / M1009
Date of manufacture - 15th June 1985.
Produced at the GM plant in Flint, Michigan, USA.
Served in Germany and with SFOR in Bosnia.
In the same condition it when released in August 2005.
Dry stored in the UK since release date until registered October 2009.
I served in Bosnia with SFOR so I'm not intending on doing anything to the appearance as I like it the way it is.
I brought the K5 for what I thought a very reasonable sum. It needs a new rear silencer (drivers side) and a couple of areas require welding. It needs a replacement dash (one came with the vehicle but it's grey and I need a maroon one). Also needs a rear tailgate winder mechanism.
I must admit to knowing nothing about this type of vehicle, hence joining SS.
I have one issue in that the gearbox (transmission) seems to take for ever to change up from 2nd to 3rd gear. It will quite happily go through the gears on a motorway when speed isn't an issue - however when on a 30 or 40 mph road the vehicle will not reach a high enough speed to change up to 3rd gear so you end up driving in 2nd gear at high revs. Can't be good for the gearbox!
Is this normal?
I did speak to another K5 owner and he told me the transmission is adjustable but I can't seem to find out how. I have a 900 page manual but can't find it in there either.
Anyway - loving the new purchase and looking forward to being part of SS.
Markheliops
My name is Mark and I live in the UK.
I have served in the forces and now work as a Fire-fighter in Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
I have been interested in Military vehicles for as long as I can remember.
This is my pride and joy.
It is a 1943 Ward La France M1A1 Wrecker.
I have owner it for around 5 years. I purchased it in Holland and have been restoring it ever since. It's almost 100% completed now. I have fitted a Cummins 6BTA diesel engine to increase power and have better reliability. The old R22 Continental was okay but under-powered.
Anyway, reason I have joined SS is due to a recent new purchase.
Chevrolet Blazer K5 / M1009
Date of manufacture - 15th June 1985.
Produced at the GM plant in Flint, Michigan, USA.
Served in Germany and with SFOR in Bosnia.
In the same condition it when released in August 2005.
Dry stored in the UK since release date until registered October 2009.
I served in Bosnia with SFOR so I'm not intending on doing anything to the appearance as I like it the way it is.
I brought the K5 for what I thought a very reasonable sum. It needs a new rear silencer (drivers side) and a couple of areas require welding. It needs a replacement dash (one came with the vehicle but it's grey and I need a maroon one). Also needs a rear tailgate winder mechanism.
I must admit to knowing nothing about this type of vehicle, hence joining SS.
I have one issue in that the gearbox (transmission) seems to take for ever to change up from 2nd to 3rd gear. It will quite happily go through the gears on a motorway when speed isn't an issue - however when on a 30 or 40 mph road the vehicle will not reach a high enough speed to change up to 3rd gear so you end up driving in 2nd gear at high revs. Can't be good for the gearbox!
Is this normal?
I did speak to another K5 owner and he told me the transmission is adjustable but I can't seem to find out how. I have a 900 page manual but can't find it in there either.
Anyway - loving the new purchase and looking forward to being part of SS.
Markheliops
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