From: Paul A. Thomas (pt@jaxkneppers.com)
Date: Tue May 14 2002 - 20:40:08 PDT
I flirted with buying an old Deuce fire truck a year ago, and subscribed
here to get some idea of what I should be wary of/search for.
I didn't get the truck then, and now may have a chance to get an actual
cargo version ( M35A2(C)). Could I poll current users on their
thoughts?
1: I see mention of the front end: Air Shift? Whatever I end up with
will/should be
6X6, thus I'm curious about the options available for the front
axle.
2: Do all cargo Deuce's come with a trailer hitch?
3: Most of the cargo trucks I worked on in the Army were the C variant,
drop side.
Other than using it as a base for a float in a parade, why would I
want drop sides?
4: I remember reading here about axle conversion kits ( for all axles I
believe ),
which allegedly got the top speed of the truck up to about 65
without damage
to the drive train. Do I recall correctly? What cost is this type
of conversion?
5: How much help is the 'Air' seat? None of the trucks when I was in
had it
( 78-81 ). I remember putting dents in the hard tops from time to
time, and would
sort of like to avoid that at my advanced age and condition. <g>
6: Can anybody point me toward a good site for getting tips on doing
body work,
welding a plate in, etc. I've done bits and pieces in the Army and
would like to
do some or most of my own work, but have holes in what I recall...
and also feel
some things are done differently today.
7: Do people in Ca/Nv/Az ever just get together with their trucks for a
weekend
rally/get together?
8: Roughly what does a set of batteries ( 4 as I recall ) run today?
9: Specific question: If I end up getting the fire truck, it has an
original Gas engine.
It was running when driven in two years ago. Would I be best
advised to have
the valve head replaced with 'hardened' ones as we no longer can get
leaded
gas? Or would you just run it until it needed a rebuild then look
at it then?
Thank you for your ideas.
Paul A. Thomas
Bay Point, Ca
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