Useful Internet Websites for Military Vehicle Owners
Participants in the Mil-veh Military Vehicles Internet mailing list have compiled the International MV Roadside Help List. This community effort lists contact information for people willing to help if you are on the road and your MV breaks down. The list is international and growing.
Other Useful Information
Buy Classic Cars. In many ways the needs of owners, buyers or restorers of Classic Cars are similar to those of military vehicles. At this site devoted to the Classic Cars, you will find all the major Classic Car clubs in America and rental agencies for classic cars or bikes. You can read the latest Classic Car Magazines on-line and even check a dealer's credentials. They tell you who to contact if you get ripped-off and everything you need to export a classic car legally and safely including phone numbers for all American Ports and US Customs.
How Stuff Works The How Stuff Works website is an encyclopedia of descriptions of mechanical and other systems that you need to know about. For example, their sections on auto electrical systems, brakes, batteries, stabilizer bars, etc. provide basic technical information and links to more.
Off-Road.Com is your guide to material about off-road driving, tech topics, product guides, trails and events, clubs and more. Includes coverage of military vehicles with interesting histories and other fact sheets. Good all-around resource.
Oil and lubes. There are always a lot of questions about oil and lubrication, many of them answered on this website.
Tire Facts and Links. Tire Tips Fact Sheet is a guide to proper care and use of motor vehicle tires. For your MV, don't forget MV tire specialty dealers such as Coker and others listed in our Military Vehicle Dealers database.
If you want to understand all those numbers on a radial tire sidewall, go to "How to Read a Sidewall" for the answers and here for a diagram of tire construction. And this site provides further technical information on how the older tire size systems work, such as the numeric sizes found on military equipment (e.g. 9.00-16).
Restoration Equipment, Tools, Supplies, Classic Cars. The Eastwood Company is your best source for unique, high quality automotive tools, specialty coatings (such as do-it-yourself powder coating) and supplies for restoring or customizing vehicles. Serving the automotive hobby for twenty years.
Empire Motors Inc. specializes in metal casting for impossible to find parts. When the part no longer exists, they can help create a quality replica.
Restoration Specialties & Supply, Inc was started in 1974 as a small antique auto parts supplier and has grown into one of the world's leading suppliers of window channel, weatherstripping, clips & fasteners (including convertible top fasteners), finishing screws and other hard to find antique auto parts.
Finding 24V or 6V lightbulbs in a mainly 12V automotive world can be a pain. Many of the surplus parts dealers on the Olive-Drab database have them (search for "electrical" on the Dealer Search page), but there are also commercial sources. Try bulbman.com or electriciansupplies.com. There are many more possible sources on the Internet -- use your search engine.
Caswell Plating has plating kits which can put a black or OD rust-resistant finish on metal parts.
Classic Tube is an industry leader in the manufacturing of original and custom brake, fuel, transmission, and vacuum lines. They can reproduce any specific tube product or can sell you the raw materials. (Thanks to Nelson Dionne for this suggestion.)
Imperial Restoration, Inc. is the source for POS-15, the specialty coating which bonds to rust and forms a tough, non-porous finish. Catalog. 800-576-5822.
Kano Labs is the maker of Kroil, a superb penentrating oil which is highly recommended for loosening tough bolts and nuts as often found on older vehicles.
Kanter Auto Products. World-wide supplier of new mechanical auto parts and supplies for antique 1930 to 1986 American cars and trucks including many hard to find items which may help with your MV.
Old Engine is for the discussion of older engines, including, but not limited to, aircraft, automobile, stationary, and steam engines. There are many useful pages within this site, many on-topic for military vehicle restoration or conversion. For example, take a look at this page on the GM 10SI alternator. (Thanks to Sam Hamilton for this suggestion.)
This site provides information on the Ford Flathead V8 with this engine identification chart. (Thanks to Raphael Bauduin for this suggestion.)
Stripeman Custom Graphics can provide any lettering or other graphic you may want for your vehicle. Their custom services can be based on your computer graphics input.
Antique Electronic Supply has tons of knobs, tools, paints and chemicals, and other items which can take care of specialized needs for electronic equipment or related jobs. (Thanks to Steve Johnston for this suggestion.)
Fasteners. Getting the right bolt, nut, or lockwasher is often very frustrating. The following companies are good sources for hard to find parts of that kind. First, try Barnhill Bolt's Fastener Warehouse for all types of fasteners and washers, including Mil-Spec, easily available via their web site. And for military style external tooth washers, try this page from American Fastener. J.P. Ruklic Screw Co. has specs for many kinds of fasteners and can do custom machine work to reproduce anything if you have the budget. Aaron's has military screws, hex cap screws, machine screws, machine nuts, machine washers, aerospace fasteners and other AN, MS, NAS, and MIL fasteners and hardware. (Thanks to Alan Bowes for many suggestions about fasteners.)
Locks and Keys. Key Prof Luke provides many locksmith services like getting a key for a lock with none, rekeying to a master key and so on. Located in the Netherlands, but will do all services by mail. Click on the UK flag for English.
Speciality Products. KoolMat provides heat and sound barrier materials based on NASA developed insulation. Use this to line your fire-wall, hood, or other surfaces to create a heat shield or sound deadening effect.
Tools. Harbor Freight has an ever changing collection of tools, automotive shop equipment, painting gear, and more based on odd-lots and special purchases. Good source for quality tools at great prices, if you can find what you are looking for.
Electrical Conversion and Chargers
The question often comes up about running 12v civilian accessories (like a radio or CB) on a vehicle with the military 24v electrical system. This article discusses the problems and solutions for getting 12v out of a 24v system. And this article has a diagram of the proper method of charging two 24v batteries from a 12v charger, part of a larger collection of interesting FAQs on battery and electrical technology. Chargetek has military quality chargers that treat each battery independently; their web site has good explanations of the electrical facts involved.
A source for 24v to 12v converters is Automated Business Power; they have a high-efficiency, low capacity unit that is designed for military systems and will be just right to run a few accessories for you.
Winches and Hubs. Warn Industries is the leader in front axle disengagement hubs and vehicle recovery winches. Their winches are available in 24V models for use with military electrical systems (their winch was used on the HMMWV originally). Their web site offers technical info on various topics relating to winches and hubs. Also check out Superwinch a major competitor to Warn. Mile Marker, Inc. makes hydraulic winces which are driven by the power steering pump. According to their web site, "MileMarker has been selected to replace the battery powered Warn winches for the US Military Hummer."
