Anyone ever restore s Sherman tank?

[Ghoste]

Have any of you ever been involved in a tank restoration?  Is there a parts network out there for the guys involved in this kind of thing?

[c00nhunterjoe]

Yes, we have the largest restoration shop in the states at work. They handle lots of outside owners tank restorations. the guys in the shop typicly make their own parts from scratch based on photos. Its amazing to watch.

[Ghoste]

Are the engines difficult to find?

[Indygenerallee]

There was a show on the BBC I watched once and there was a scrap yard over there in Europe somewhere that had a bunch of tanks (for obvious reasons) And it seemed like it was no big thing to restore them, Imagine the crane you would have to have to lift the turret out of the dang thing!!! Gotta be real rich to afford to restore or buy a tank.

[c00nhunterjoe]

They are out there. Might get lucky ad score a brand new one. Scoure the army auctions, old turnins come in from time to time.

The crane needed for a sherman isn't very large. They were light. I use a 40 ton overhead to pull the turrets on the abrams.

[Ghoste]

Odd you mention BBC because my inquiry is being driven by a friend in the UK.  If there is a yard with parts somewhere in Europe it would be a lof more advantageous for whatever he is up to.

[FJ5WING]

Ive caught a couple of different TV shows documenting the restoration of WWII heavy armored vehicles.

Think of it as a car restoration but the parts are 10x as heavy. definetly not a one man operation.

did you Google?

[Ghoste]

Not yet.  When it comes to mechanical googling, this is where I go first and I'm rarely disappointed, it's often quicker and more up to date.

[Todd Wilson]

There has been a few different links over the years on Shermans restoration. One had the big Ford engine and another had the big chrysler flathead rotary setup. Better have some heavy equipment if you are going to restore one. Hopefully its all there as locating pieces and parts can be difficult and expensive.


Todd

[Homerr]

'Tank Overhaul' was on the Military Channel and the BBC.

Here are some pics from another Sherman restoration:
http://www.shermanrestoration.com/page1/page1.html

[Dino]

I've restored a lot of things, some were pretty odd, but never a tank!  I wateched a few of those tank overhaul shows on the military channel and it's pretty impressive.  Their rotisseries can hold a few chargers at once!

[areibel]

I get a mad called "Military Vehicles", I have an old Dodge M37 to keep the Charger company!
They list a couple places-
http://www.militaryvehiclesupply.net/
http://www.site.ww2mv.com/
http://militaryvehicleweb.com/
http://www.flmv.net/

Kinda cool stuff, if you can find a MV show it's really interesting to see how painstakingly they restore their toys- just like us with Chargers!  And there's a network of guys that aren't on the net, but if you get to know a few of the guys they can give you names and numbers of guys that have been hoarding stuff for years, they don't advertise but they have stuff for sale.
Good Luck!  I thought doing a Charger was hard (and expensive), sounds like you're in for a treat!

[twodko]

There is a guy in Portola Valley, Calif. Who is an avid collector/restorer of all kinda military vehicles especially tanks. There is also a small restoration company in Santa Rosa, Calif. who specialize in jeeps. Both of which would be a solid source for parts and info IMO. Google them.

[ChgrSteve67]

Shame the US Government doesn't allow the civilian world to posses M1 Abrams tanks. I would love to take one for a cruise in my neighborhood.

Here is the museum in Protola
http://www.mvtf.org/

Very cool place to visit. They have a  M1 Abrams prototype and a few Scud Missiles.
Here are some pictures from my visit
http://home.comcast.net/~67chgrss/MCCMT2252012/index.html

The owner died a few years ago and the foundation is currently running it however they are not working on any current restorations and the family members are still trying to figure out what to do with the facility since they were not happy about the collection in the first place.

Back to the point of the thread
I'm sure if you contacted them and talked with some of the volunteers they could give you some insight into the restoration community. They might even have some parts to sell since they have tanks they take parts off of in the yard.

Never hurts to ask.


.

[twodko]

You da man Steve!

[c00nhunterjoe]

Shame the US Government doesn't allow the civilian world to posses M1 Abrams tanks. I would love to take one for a cruise in my neighborhood.

Here is the museum in Protola
http://www.mvtf.org/

Very cool place to visit. They have a  M1 Abrams prototype and a few Scud Missiles.
Here are some pictures from my visit
http://home.comcast.net/~67chgrss/MCCMT2252012/index.html

The owner died a few years ago and the foundation is currently running it however they are not working on any current restorations and the family members are still trying to figure out what to do with the facility since they were not happy about the collection in the first place.

Back to the point of the thread
I'm sure if you contacted them and talked with some of the volunteers they could give you some insight into the restoration community. They might even have some parts to sell since they have tanks they take parts off of in the yard.

Never hurts to ask.


.

M1s are a blast to drive. The old phrase "rideslike a tank" doesn't apply. They are extremly manuverable, glide over bumps, even when airborne they land nicely. 

I'm extremly interested in the prototype you mentioned. I couldn't find any photos in the link. Number 0699 looks like an xm model. I know a lot about the history of the project when they were pv models, then xm, the m1's. Most of the pv's were cut up for scrap and I only know of a few xm's in existance, gm ad chrysler. The european competetor's model doesn't exist at all to my knowledge. Any more photos of it are greatly appreciated

[ChgrSteve67]

I can't find the picture if it.
Unfortunately it looked like a pile of junk that had been sitting lost in the woods.

I would not have known what it was if the tour guide had not told us.

It needed tons of work and with the current state of the foundation its not very likely it ever will.

[lloyd3]

Didn't Shermans use 1941 345 cu. in. Caddy engines?

[Ghoste]

No idea.  They likely used a variety of engines?

[Ghoste]

Apparently its the rotary one my buddy is looking for.

[John_Kunkel]

Chrysler built some of the Sherman tank engines (and the tanks), the A4 and A57 engines featured a bunch of flathead sixes arranged in a circle.

[John_Kunkel]

Rear view.

[Ghoste]

No common crankshaft then but a common drive of some sort?

[ACUDANUT]

Quote : "Shame the US Government doesn't allow the civilian world to posses M1 Abrams tanks. I would love to take one for a cruise in my neighborhood"

You cannot own a M-60 tank (1965-1985) either.  It is a shame because the local National Guard has one, and I want it. They use it for towing only...Let me explain...The Truck drivers in the Guard learn how to handle a 60 ton load.

If anyone knows of a private party who owns a M-60 tank, it would be the first I have ever heard of it.

[daveco]

No common crankshaft then but a common drive of some sort?

Gear drive. http://www.autospeed.com/A_112613/cms/article.html