Saved one! 1975 M880

[Greasy]

Just saved a 1975 M880 from the scrapper! On a trailer heading to an undignified end. Borrowed battery, some fresh gas, fingers crossed......SHE RUNS!!!! Has some carb issues. Complete interior only missing the black out swich and horn button. Exterior is only missing the pintle hitch. Still wearing military paint! Standard non gloss green with strange shade of orange-ish camouflage. Hope to post pictures soon.

 

[glcaines]

Sounds like you did OK. Post some pictures.

 

[dc3coyote]

good save. Now post some pics "orange camo"???
Is this your first MV? I know I love my m880 Its going to get rebuilt and repainted when I get home "thanks Kenny for the truck".
Branan

 

[Greasy]

Could have been something the PO added. I'm bad with colors. Need to ask the Wife .

 

[earnie]

am jealous a bit as all of the ones i have seen recently are on the east coast
and i am looking for one
good job on the save

 

[Bob H]

Check the vin out, the 6th digit is the year.
I say this because the M880 series trucks were 76 & 77 model year trucks.

 

[fuzzytoaster]

 

[Greasy]

Thanks Bob H. The 6th vin digit is 6. Must be a 1976. Title and registration show 1975 (all # match trk), at least thats good for me living in California NO SMOG!!!! Data plate is stamped 9 or 10 1975. Will confirm tomorrow when I take pictures. Truck is currently not at my house. Hope to bring her home soon.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Speaking of Dodges, someone called me the other day in reference to a running M886 that can be had for just over scrap price I'm told. It's in Dayton OH. I'm waiting on a callback.

 

[earnie]

Speaking of Dodges, someone called me the other day in reference to a running M886 that can be had for just over scrap price I'm told. It's in Dayton OH. I'm waiting on a callback.

hey dude if you dont want her pm me with the info on her thanks

 

[Greasy]

Just took some pictures of my M880.

 

[earnie]

thats a good looker there
good job

 

[kfdk14]

Holy crap some idiot was going to take that to the scrapper!! Thats in better shape than mine!!

 

[N1265]

Gotta love the old style locking gas cap !

 

[M880 GC]

Good luck and good find.

Looks like it might have been a hunter's rig, camo seat cover and a CB?

Might want to take a very close and careful exam of the wiring at the ammeter connections for signs of heat and corrosion, also at the firewall where the engine wiring harness and body harness meet, there are 2 as I remember spade connections that are full power for the cab and circuits, subject to heat and corrosion = bad stuff for your wiring, worth the time to peak at it.

I'm finding out how tough my M880 can be, pretty awesome for a 318, not tire smoking power, just get it done power, with a payload.

 

[Boss Doug]

 

[Greasy]

Keep the advice flowing! Not familiar with the M880.

Thanks M880 GC for the advice on the electrical connections. I will check soon.

Checked carb. Full of rust? Plastic tank? Cleaned carb. It idles! Was worried about the timing chain.

Going to grease front wheel bearings this weekend.

 

[M880 GC]

I went thru a couple of pumps on the way to my cure that has worked for several hundred miles, a filter before and after the pump, previously posted. I believe that sediment was on my check valves in the pump and it would loose prime and not start.

Timing chain replaced on my M880, within skill level of a good shade tree tech. Made a HUGE improvement in idle quality, also previously posted. Takes patience if you haven't done one before, it was my first chain, but done lots of other stuff much worse KDP on a 12V Cummins comes to mind.

Timing chains and pump problems are PITA but possibly nothing compared to a burned up wiring harness might be, also previously posted by many here.

I have yet to have any drive train issues, lots of experience here, good luck.

 

[Greasy]

As soon as I saw the rust in the carb I thought of your post about the fuel pump M880 GC. Thanks for the advice. Cleaning the carb made an 80% improvement. I'm not getting a steady idle (serges) in netural/park, better in gear. Now i'm back to the timing chain issue again.

Would dielectric grease in the wire harness connections help?

On the passanger exhaust manifold there is a heat riser valve. Is there a spring attached to it? Mine just spins around. Slight exhaust leak on that side also. Need to pull the pipe down and take a look.

 

[Bob H]

I had one where the fine rust particles got lodged in the idle circuit somewhere, ( I suspect anyway)
I rebuilt that carb 3 times, still had the idle stumble/surge problem.
Put a new carb on and it was the end of that issue.