Power Washing The New Arrival
(photo circa 12/09/02)

(photo circa 12/09/02)

(photo circa 12/09/02)

Sunday January 20th, Ed, Mark and Dave went on an excursion and acquired 7
brand new 1100x20 tires for the Gun Truck project. Tires were donated by
club member Neil Dutton. The three of us went to Belvedere and loaded these
monster tires in my pickup, then proceeded to deliver them to Randy's yard
where the truck is currently located. An all day project! Our thanks to
Neil for his generous offer!! As you can see, Randy and Jesse also assisted
with the unloading.

New NDTs were donated and here is the delivery.
(photo circa 01/20/03)

(photo circa 01/20/03)
 

(photo circa 01/20/03)
 
 

(photo circa 01/20/03)

Vinny bought up an acquired set of batteries he scrounged from somewhere so we could
attempt to diagnose the electrical problems on the truck. The morning started out
with the removal of the bows, racks and seats as well as the (8) tires,
which were stored in the rear of the truck. Jack and I did the removal
of the rear bed hardware and tires assisted by Dan “Muscleman” Muchmore.
Randy was kind enough to donate his 1 ¼ ton trailer to store the tires and
other donated items we had previously acquired and had stored in the cab, tool boxes
and rear bed.

(photo circa 03/15/03)

While Ed, Vinny and I cleaned and loaded our treasures in the back of the trailer, Dave,
Dan and Jack started on the problems we knew the truck had, mainly stuck throttle linkage,
and electrical problems with the dash panel and lighting system.

Dave once again proved his worth by diagnosing the electrical system problems
with the aid of a 24 volt tester and some spare wire. Although I had the remembered
to bring the tools, I had forgotten the m-series chart with the explanation
of the wiring numbers. None the less, Wrench figured it out. In short order
Dave, with Jack and Dan's assistance had repaired the dash lights
and gauges, blackout light system, directionals and running lights.
We were unable at this point to check the brake lights because
the truck needed to be running and have air pressure built up in order
to test the brake lights.

Then it was on to the throttle linkage, which was disassembled, cleaned
and reassembled in short order. With these tasks completed, the next step appeared
to be an attempt to start the vehicle. Argument and discussion ensued as to
whether we could start and run the vehicle without the alternator in place
without running the scrounged batteries down and breaking up the belts,
which were still on the pulleys. Ultimately, mechanical knowledge and Dave
and Vinny's insistence prevailed and the attempt was made. To the surprise
of most of us involved the truck started with ease and purred like a kitten.
Once the air pressure was up, the brake lights were tested and passed inspection.
 

(photo circa 03/15/03)

Vinny and Ed and new member Dennis Kennedy completed the steel installation
between the 17th and 20th and then the truck was moved to Dover Armory for the show.
 

(photo circa 03/23/03)

As we are well aware, the show was a big hit. During the show, the Truck
was parked across from the mess tent. A display area was set up in front
of the truck using some of the guns we had purchased. Vinny Schwartz
painted up a sign identifying the “Truck” as an MTA project.

Photographs acquired by Ed and Mark through friends in the gun truck community
were displayed on the sign, which hung off the side of the gun box. Additional photographs
and our gun truck book were displayed on the table along with our “Request for Donations” jar.

Throughout the course of the show, the table was manned chiefly by Bob Maganga and Russ Voight and were spelled at various times by the other committee
members.
 
 
 

Gun Truck Pin
(Approximately 1" inch long)

Many Gun Truck Pins were sold which contributed to our
war chest. Ed flitted around back and forth between his indoor table, and the
gun truck display answering questions from curious spectators and
soliciting donations via 50/50 drawings which he held at random times
during the weekend. You never knew where he would pop up next.

Friday, November 1 St. 2003, Dave “The Wrench” Coward, and new MTA Member Bobby Zalewski and myself piled into my pickup and headed out to Flanders, NJ to retrieve the 5-ton gun truck. Upon arriving in Flanders, “Colonel” Ed Pavlick was there with Vinny Schwartz. Ed had already checked the fluid levels and tires and declared the vehicle roadworthy. Dave proceeded to solder new ends on the battery cables and we were ready to start the truck. After several attempts by Vinny, the 5-ton refused to start. Following a liberal use of 1-1/2 cans of starting fluid the truck finally started. We proceeded out convoy style and headed for Chester to retrieve the steel iron left at the location where Vinny had welded the armored steel box onto the truck. The gun truck ran fine and the rest of the journey to Vinny's house was uneventful.

Friday, November 8 Th. 2003 - A work party consisting of Vinny, Bobby Z. and myself continued working on the truck. Colonel Ed was conspicuously absent. Bobby Z climbed into the armored steel box to start sanding the rust off the steel armored plates. Vinny and I alternately took turns power washing the paint and undercoating off the right side of the truck. Around noon Dave “The Wrench” arrived and Bobby left. The air cleaner, lights, engine compartment covers and the front grill were removed by Dave and Vinny while I was in the bed applying primer to the gun box.

Saturday, November 9 Th. 2003 - While on a hunting excursion in Morris County, I made a side trip to Randy Emr’s construction yard and retrieved the brackets and bows for the rear canvas of the gun truck. Later that day, Dave and I trucked over to Vinny's place, cleaned all the leaves and sand blasting media out of the gun box and installed the bows and canvas. This was done in an attempt to keep the gun box from accumulating debris and to protect the newly primed surfaces. The Gun Truck Committee will continue to hold work parties on Friday's as long as the weather permits.

Note: The Gun Truck Committee would like to thank Bob “Sponge Bob” Macanga for his generous donation to the Gun Truck Project at the November 10 Th. MTA Meeting.

The finished maintenance tent.

Here are a few pictures taken during the build up, prior to painting.



Here are the fabricated machine gun mounts, just installed, prior to sanding and priming.

Hit it with primer and we're good to go.



Here the old camo paint scheme and insignia have been removed and red lead and prime is now being added.



Same as on the passenger side door.

Here are some pictures of the Gun Truck as it gets fitted out with the rest of the gear, just after its coat of fresh black paint.

It was one big attraction to guests and participants alike, “Satan's Little Angel,” the MTA Gun Truck. Painted black overall with a yellow nose and red lettering, this angel of death was ready for action. The 5-ton sports two .50 caliber machine guns, an M-60 machine gun, and a 7.62mm mini gun and ½ inch steel armor to protect the crew. It truly looked like it could handle itself in a tough situation – whether it was the paddy dikes of Vietnam or the dusty roads of Iraq. Vietnam Veterans were on-hand to escort visitors up the scaffolding to peer into this unique exhibit and explain how similar trucks were being used by soldiers from the Dover Armory in Iraq today.

Here are a collection of photographs taken at the Military Vehicle Show .
















The scaffolding, set up to allow visitors to peer into this unique exhibit.



Man the mini gun.



The entire floor is covered with steel ammo boxes. The list of accessories just goes on and on.



Grenade launcher, radio & intercoms system, mini gun, Ma Deuce.  A very impressive setup.

This page last updated 04/14/2004.