UNIMOG 404

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The Restoration

 

The project  started with a 1965 Mercedes Benz Unimog 404.1 It was a Bundeswehr radio truck, which I had purchased in 1995. I had spent the first two years driving it. It runs well and is a blast to drive. It’s a go anywhere, pull anything, haul anything type of vehicle. It was obvious that it was a very well thought and well built truck. As with all military equipment, there was some wear, which was mostly on the cab. The rest of the vehicle is bullet proof. So the restoration of the Unimog was centered on the cab. I began buying the sheet metal and extra parts needed for the restoration. Then shopped around for a body repairman that did this type of work, which was a project within itself. When I found one, the project started in earnest. Below is a break down of the project.

 

The Cab

 
Stripped and removed the cab from the vehicle.
Had the cab and all parts associated with that cab dipped in a chemical process that stripped multiple layers of military paint and dissolved all rust in a way that can only be done by entirely submersing the cab.
It was then primered and delivered to the body shop.
The bodywork comprised of replacing old sheet metal with the replacement sheet metal, (replacement sheet metal, in gray, shown at right). Then sealant was applied to all seams between body parts, (added protection against moisture). The cab was then primered and painted.

cab_shadw.gif (47035 bytes)

 

The Engine, Transfer Case and Transmission

 
Components were removed.
Engine, Transfer Case, Transmission and components were sand blasted and painted.
German Bundeswehr engine rebuild tag dated September 1986
German Bundeswehr transmission rebuild tag dated July 1984

eng_w.gif (35772 bytes)

 

Frame, Drive Train and Suspension

 
Components were removed.
Frame, Transfer Case and Transmission was sand blasted and grinded, (considerable coats of military paint).
Associated components were sand blasted.
All was then primered and painted.

 

The Cab (installation)

 
Cab was installed on the frame.
Interior and exterior components installed, (new metric fasteners)
Installed Canvas.

Canvas.gif (19047 bytes)

 

The Bed

 
Cut the Radio Box off the torsion bar sub frame.
Fabricated a flat bed platform using 2" x 3" and 2" x 2" steel frame.
Weld the framing platform.
Fabricate custom tail gate.
Primer and paint .
Add wood and storage boxes.
Install bed on frame.

 

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