M8 Gun motor carriage

Based on the M5, the M8 had an open turret and a much bigger 75mm main gun.

If we said that this thing was rough, it would begin to tell the story of how bad it was.  Retirement was not kind to this one. With the appropriate amount of time, money, cussing, and the 14th's skilled workforce it will live again.

Sure, it may be missing a few parts...

​The M8 project has waited for a while, but it's time has come!  Here it is getting flipped over so the bottom could be worked on.  Needs more welding and metal put in.  Quite a bit of work was done to already prior to documentation.

​

This is the view from inside with the hull upside down.  New metal is identified by rust!

​

The bottom has been sandblasted and primered after the last of the metalwork was repaired.  The wheels were also removed at this point.

​

The turret was severely damaged.  The ring will have to be replaced.  Yeah, nobody has that.  It will be getting a brand new one.  There are also holes in side.  Ouch!

What shot this tank!?!?!?



​

​
Wheels off, sandblasted, and wearing a fresh coat of primer.  Looking good!

The wheels had some repair work done, blasted, and primed.  Some of them will get the rubber changed out.  Not really NOS, more like old used stuff that is in better condition!

​


Getting serious now, this thing has green on it!

​
This is a good angle to see that so far this is an empty hull.  Lot of work done to it already.  

​

Some mounting blocks were added to the rear for the exhaust deflectors.

​inspiration

​


And now for some inspiration.  Above is pictured a fully restored M8 that lives in Europe.  My friend Alexis sent me many photos of his amazing tank.  Including some of the restoration process.  The lorry pictured above is loaded down!  To the right is a nice shot of how to move 17 tons.  Below is a shot of the tank before any work was done to it.  Looks like it burned pretty badly.  Note the road wheels.  
Alexis, thanks for sharing your tank!

​



Here is part of the turret trouble.  Parts of the turret ring are missing.  The lower part of the ring that was set on top of the turret in this picture is slightly out of round. Looks like a lot of missing metal.