DoctorCheney223 Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 She's FAR from pretty and it will be quite awhile until she runs again but here she is. Most of the rocket holes (Russian B40) have been filled since I initially took the picture but the welder will be returning next week to fill the rest. Right now I am in discussion with a gentleman that repairs and restores armor from the state of Washington. I told him that I have no desire to it restore to original condition but to bring her back to life with as many modern updates as possible. I want a Cummins diesel engine and an Allison transmission at the very least but also want modern lights, a mount for a M3HB, front and rear cameras, air conditioning and any other creature comforts we can think of. A little history behind her is that she was rescued over forty years after being put to rest on a target range. Some of the "operatives" were practicing with a B-40 prior to deploying to Southeast Asia. On the second day of practice, they overshot the backstop/berm and a rifle round hit a commercial fisherman in the Virginia River. The range went cold that day and remained cold until the mid-2000's. Three Sherman's were rescued and this was probably the worst of the lot. I paid WAY too much for her but she's mine and I was able to obtain a SF-97 (a form of a US government title) that assured that I legally owned this vehicle. She stands as guard at our range one block from the Las Vegas Strip until we figure out our next step. V/R Ron M Cheney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Pearson Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Very nice indeed. Mark....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 That looks very good. Some of the range wrecks are wrecks indeed, this looks very complete and minimally damaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Isaac Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Nice score Ron, A lot of work but the end result will be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shane.c Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Very nice keep us updated with pics. :thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mash Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Nice, can't blame you wanting aircon in her where you are living. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Lovely !!! when you primed us up with that introduction and said she was the worst of the choice on the range???... I was getting ready to see a veritable swiss cheese carcass of a Sherman !.then I scrolled down and !!!!!!!!... she's gorgeous mate !!! Very envious over here mate .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Packhow75 Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Nice. Looks pretty good on the outside...What's it like inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_bish Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Very nice, and an interesting back story. I have been to that range a few times, great fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorCheney223 Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 Nice. Looks pretty good on the outside...What's it like inside? It's a rusted mess on the inside. The turrets were open for forty plus years so you can imagine what it looks like. The one positive thing I can say is that the breech block is still intact. The barrel has been demilled but I can get a new barrel and send in an ATF Form 1 and make the weapon live again (that's the plan). V/R Ron M Cheney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebBrady Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Nearly crashed my rental when i noticed this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 maybe a daft question but .....I take it you've given her a blow over paint wise ? or is it really such gorgeous weather in Nevada all year round that she's stayed in such good condition ? anyways... I think you're exceptionally lucky to have found her in such a 'complete' state... .......over this side of the water we're more accustomed to the average 'range wreck' looking like a right knackered bag of scrap ........and missing just about anything that can be either blown off by explosives damage or taken by engineers from musuems seeking bits to complete their exhibits with .........and if they don't have a go at anything sitting on a range???.... then there's always the usual opportunistic 'scrap man' who is seldom worried about what damage he may be doing to an historic vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datadawg Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I am amazed you got an SF97 title. AFAIK, every state accepts SF97 as a legitimate title, so you can now get a regular title from Nevada and with some creative form filling, get this registered... perhaps as a farm implement(?) If I were you, I would do that and contact the casinos on the strip. I am sure they would pay dearly to use this to transport some nutty VIP. The limos and such are all stale, but arriving in a tank... now that is only for those who rule the world. Might have to buy a lot of donuts for local LEO though, but imagine the PR this would have... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watson Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Kudos for saving a bit of history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorCheney223 Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 Hi Folks, I thought I would give you guys a little update since the last post. I found the running gear to include all of the VVSS suspension, bogies, rear idlers, front sprockets, final drive and even the tracks. We will be installing a Detroit Diesel 8V92 along with an Allison transmission to keep things simple. Guests will be able to driver her around the property (we purchased 162 acres) and I need this vehicle as easy to maintain as possible. Here are some of the pics.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_bish Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Nice progress. I was in Vegas for the fight and did intend to pop in and visit your business... events didnt turn out like that though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Isaac Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Looking good, you must be spending a lot of time on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toner Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 It will be good to see the old girl up and running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozzaboy Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Did I see a Wessex helicopter and Abbot SPG in the background too???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorCheney223 Posted August 30, 2017 Author Share Posted August 30, 2017 (edited) Here's an update only a year or so late :blush: We've managed to get new suspension with new road wheels and a replacement transmission. All of the 40mm rocket holes were filled with 40mm diameter steel bar cut to fit, pounded in place and then welded in place. Because this Sherman will be used for guests to drive around the property, we fitted a Detroit 8V92T that's mated to a Allison automatic transmission. My guys fabricated a fuel cell for the left-side rear sponson and the right-side rear sponson will house the batteries and air filter assembly. Also, because of the Las Vegas heat, we are installing air conditioning and fabricated a custom cooling system. The A/C was a brand new unit that was made for a MRAP and we pulled two of the huge cooling fans from M113's. This will be FAR from an original restoration as it was so far gone and I wanted this Sherman to be much more customer friendly with creature comforts of automatic transmission and air conditioning. Here are some more pictures of the progress.... Edited August 31, 2017 by DoctorCheney223 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorCheney223 Posted August 31, 2017 Author Share Posted August 31, 2017 Having issues with pictures loading for some reason but they did load this time. V/R Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 (edited) Whether or not its historically correct isn't really important considering your goal. Your making it so it can be enjoyed by a lot of people which is cool (figuratively and literally). So, well done so far. Edited August 31, 2017 by Enigma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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