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M101 Cdn Rebuild

Discussion in 'Jeep Trailer Tech' started by Howard Eisenhauer, Dec 28, 2021.

  1. Dec 28, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
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    My poor little Iltis trailer has been suffering from living by the sea :( The springs & tongues are in pretty bad shape so it's time for a fix up & some long planned mods.


    Up on the jack stands, hopefully they won't collapse under the load :whistle:

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_1.jpg

    Ouch. :(

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_2.jpg


    Double ouch :( :(

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_3.jpg


    Notice how the pile of rust on the floor just keeps getting bigger & bigger.

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_4.jpg

    More ouches.

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_5.jpg

    I did amazing well disassociating nuts from bolts. I was a little confused at first as to why the bolt heads were SAE but the nuts were metric. :crazy: Turns out that the nuts were wasted enough that I had to drop down to the next smaller metric size to get a grip on them.

    Some were worse- these are the drivers side & passenger side shock mount nuts.

    One of these things is not like the other :confused:.

    This floored me (literally I was on the floor, well I was on the floor anyhow but you get what I mean...). The passenger side came off with a wrench, I got the drivers side loose with a pair of vise-grips ans a little leverage. o_O

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_6.jpg

    Also amazingly the shocks did not put up a fight sliding off the studs.

    More to come.
     
  2. Dec 29, 2021
    Zoomer

    Zoomer eJeeper (walking)

    Minnesota
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    1,088
    I hate rust!!!!

    Luckily you got things apart without collateral damage!

    Nice trailer!
     
  3. Dec 29, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    A little paint and those spring packs will look like new!
     
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  4. Dec 29, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
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    Some more progress today. The bolts continue to surprise me, I expected the hangers to be a pain so I took the cutting disk to remove the nuts- three of of the bolts proceeded to slide right out, one took a little persuasion, one took a lot of persuasion & # 6 isn't cooperating at all :( I see a drill bit in it's future.

    Got the tongues off, they appeared about ready to fall off anyhow.-

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_8.jpg

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_9.jpg

    The ring assembly is remarkably heavy

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_10.jpg

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_11.jpg


    Removed a lot of bits & pieces & the pile of rust continues to grow. I seem to have all varieties- Chunky, Crusty, Granulated, Bitties and Finely Sifted.

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_12.jpg

    That's it for today.
     
  5. Jan 3, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
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    Continuing onwards:

    Upsie Daisy. This thing is remarkably heavy, I thought I was going to be able to grab one end & tilt it up but ended having to use a come-a-long. :(

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_14.jpg


    There's black stuff on the bottom, nothing seems to touch it- not solvent, not acetone, not gas. All ideas are welcome.

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_13.jpg

    More rust issues, in a couple of spots it's scaling & pushing pieces apart-

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_15.jpg


    Same thing with the tube cross member, there were bumps in the floor from rust forming on top of it. Trying to hammer them into dust did not have the desired results :(

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_17.jpg

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_18.jpg


    The channel looked fine until I spotted a couple of pin holes & started tapping with the hammer-

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_16.jpg

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_19.jpg


    While wailing away at the high spots with various sizes of hammer up to & including the FBH I got, out of absolutely nowhere, the thought to try the air hammer- stuff came flying out of the swelled spots shooting every which way, did a perfect job of cleaning out the crud. :)

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_20.jpg

    I found it also did a dandy job of taking the dips out of the floor by massaging the runners & dents :D


    I must say I am a bit disappointed in the quality of consumables these days, they just don't make cutting/grinding disks like the used too :(

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_21.jpg

    I don't know where they went but those pieces sure did leave in a hurry. :confused:


    I must be accomplishing something though, the other day that furnace filter was white. :whistle:

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_22.jpg


    That's it for now, apart from the black crud removal it's time to start making fixes. In the meantime I'll have to decide what to do about the springs & electrical- the Packard connector rubbers are falling apart , the spring clips are shot & neither appears to be available anywhere right now.
     
  6. Jan 3, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    Nov 24, 2019
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    1,765
    Is it possible it could be an undercoating product? Be careful it might have asbestos in it. Or possibly a lead based paint of some kind? :confused:.
     
  7. Jan 3, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
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    That's what it is for sure, my concern is whether or not paint will stick to it- I'm assuming not. :(

    Supposedly CARC paint- I'm not concerned too much about that, I'm not doing this for a living. Besides I have no intention of removing any paint that's still adhering well; mostly the bad patches are coming off in sheets anyhow, the wire wheel really doesn't do any more than scuff it up a bit.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  8. Jan 3, 2022
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    Nov 24, 2019
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    Is the black material hard like really dry paint or does it have a soft rubbery surface? If it is hard I would bet you could clean it with something like acetone and paint right over it.
    I have used a product called ''Flex Seal'' on the bottom of my camper and really like it. It comes in a qt can, brush on, stays a bit rubbery like swimming pool paint but seals out water. Might work well over the coating on the bottom of the tub.:shrug:. Get it at home improvement stores.
     
  9. Jan 3, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    You might try a propane torch and a scraper. Sometimes heat softens things up enough to scrape them off.

    I've been really impressed with the durability of Benchmark Abrasive's cut-off wheels. https://benchmarkabrasives.com/collections/cut-off-wheels They seem to last 3-4 times longer than anything I've gotten at the big box stores.
     
  10. Jan 4, 2022
    Desert Runner

    Desert Runner Member 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hickory, Pa
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    Sep 11, 2005
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    :gaah:I have so much fun to look forward too, .... at least i have already replaced my springs and installed a new 3500lb axle
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  11. Jan 5, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    What did you use for springs?
     
  12. Jan 5, 2022
    Desert Runner

    Desert Runner Member 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hickory, Pa
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    early CJ5 axles, 50 thru 65 or later they bolted right in.
    The trailer were designed as the same time so parts are interchangeable.
     
  13. Jan 23, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
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    ] Making progress, but as per usual once you dig deeper the more reasons you find that you need to dig deeper :)

    I have found a solution for cleaning the undercoating off the bottom- cup brush on a grinder to take it down, xylene to clean off the residue, wash, rinse, repeat.
    And repeat again.
    And again.
    After going at it for about two full days it's not all off yet but the rest can wait until I've completed some floor repairs.

    Trailer Rebuild_Dissassembly_24.jpg

    I pulled off the front re-enforcement plates, I had previously removed the rear ones when I put in the tailgate way back when and I knew they had issues.

    That's removing a lot of the added strength of the M101 cdn variant but the rear ones had some wasteage underneath and I was concerned about the fronts, I've found some bulging from rust forming in a few spots & I wanted to know what was going on under there.

    Trailer Rebuild_wastaage_3.jpg

    Trailer Rebuild_wastaage_6.jpg
    Trailer Rebuild_wastaage_4.jpg

    Also found rot hiding behind the tie-down flanges. :(

    Trailer Rebuild_wastaage_2.jpg

    Trailer Rebuild_wastaage_1.jpg

    I've never used the tiedowns & I've never liked the look of them anyway so they're not going back on.

    Holy Sheet Metal Batman!

    Trailer Rebuild_Patches_1.jpg

    I've had this piece of 18 gunge kicking around for 15 years, was part of the donor tub I had to rebuild Tonk, never knew what to do with it until now.


    Those fit pretty good for a first effort & using something that looked about the right size to mark the template :D

    Trailer Rebuild_Patches_2.jpg


    OHHHHH!

    Some packages showed up! Can't wait to unwrap them & see what I got !!

    Trailer Rebuild_new parts_2.jpg

    Its Tires & Springs & Tubes & Bump Stops Oh My!!!
    Trailer Rebuild_new parts_1.jpg

    Just can not find the 2" spring packs anywhere- ended up getting the MB/GPWCJ2/3/M38 1-3/4" packs for thoroughly reasonable price. :)

    That's it for now.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2022
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  14. Jan 23, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    The more you dig the more anxious to see if you put surge brakes from rear 11" drums on it.

    Was anyone else surprised those were tires and springs?
     
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  15. Jan 23, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    I don't know of an 11" plate that will bolt up to a trailer axle flange; I have in the past added hydraulic brakes to 10" trailer backing plates using 70's Ford truck parts. Either way as much as I'd like to have surge brakes I can't figure a way to make them work with the pintle hook.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2022
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  16. Jan 24, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Bolts are overrated when you have a mill.
    Assuming the spindle spec never changed on the trailer you should be able to treat the axle the same as a full float dana axle allowing dana hubs with 11" drums. You would need to mill a few flanges to replicate the top of the spindle flange.

    Hitch would simply need robbed from a m416-a1
     
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  17. Jan 24, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    It's a standard 3500 lb trailer axle setup, these were built to be used with the Iltis, not jeeps so there was no driver to use jeep compatible hubs.

    Trailer Rebuild_Axle_1.jpg

    I once devoted a lot of thought as to how to fit Dana jeep hubs to this thing & concluded it was not practically doable so I caved & bought Standon 5 on 5.5 replacement drums to replace the Iltis VW pattern, at least this way I've got the spare on the jeep available if needed.
     
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  18. Jan 24, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    So...the universe hates you.:(
    :cry:

    Dangit Canada:canflag:
     
  19. Jan 24, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
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    Ideedily Doodily :(

    Yeah I hate those Hosers :censored:
     
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  20. Jan 30, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
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    Making some tangible progress :)

    The wheel offset is way different between jeep rims & the Iltis/VW units so the axle needs to be narrowed by about 4". Rather than just cutting out a section in the middle I did things a bit differently, splitting it down the middle and cutting in from opposite sides at the end of the splits.

    Trailer Rebuild_Axle_2.jpg

    Trailer Rebuild_Axle_6.jpg

    I chopped the 4" off each piece & back together they go-

    Trailer Rebuild_Axle_7.jpg

    Trailer Rebuild_Axle_8.jpg

    Still working on the paint, should be finished next weekend.

    Trailer Rebuild_Axle_10.jpg
     
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