Re: [MV] Weight of an M35a2 bed? And general road driven deuce questions

From: Greg (czechsix@cox.net)
Date: Fri May 14 2004 - 13:41:37 PDT


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Robert Ternes
  To: Military Vehicles Mailing List
  Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 9:50 AM
  Subject: Re: [MV] Weight of an M35a2 bed? And general road driven deuce
questions

> Hey Folks,

> Thanks for giving the spinning wheels in my head
> another whirl - honestly, thanks heaps for the
>replies. I've been flipping this whole idea in my head
>over and over, and based on the input from members
>here, I think I'll Single out the rears, throw some
>11x20's on there (or some recentered or redrilled
>22.5's), and look for a beefier tranny with a lower
>overdrive (and hopefully keep the driveshafts within
>critical speed!). The costs for an aftertranny OD box
>are prohibitive, and anyway, that would leave me with
>precious little room for a driveshaft back to the
>tcase (last thing I would want to do is have to move
>the tcase!).

  Not to mention that singling out the rears will improve off roadability in
certain conditions. That being said, I'm going with dual 11.00's to keep
better stability. Once some other priority items are dealt with, I'll be
toying with the idea of getting a rollbar on it too - just a single frame
mounted hoop. I don't fancy the idea of having to dive under the dash during
a slow speed tipover, as the top of the cab crushes down to the top edge of
the tub.

  The 22.5's are an interesting idea - keep us posted on what you find.

>This mod would also let me keep both rear axles as God
>intended-conjoined twins, which I agree would be a
>major sin (and a bloody operation) to seperate. I
>might single screw out the rear tandems and dummy the
>rear axle, but that's yet another screwball idea
>floating around the aether.

>And yes, if you knew what I intend to drive with this
>thing (highway as well as trail), you'd know it would
> be driven as intended. Already I've had this thing in
> the rocks and it's better than I had expected. Also,
> I've driven heaps of big trucks and even more slow and
> quirky offroad contraptions in conditions exceeding
>sensibility, so I'm setting my highway expectations
>low and hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

> Followup Question 1:
> By the way, speaking of annoying the neighbors, I have
> to put a muffler on this thing. Any suggestions? As
> much as I LOVE the rumble, I think a 3.5" muffler will
> keep my neighbors giving me their standard bemused
>stares, instead of the eventual angry roundeye I'll
>get for having a big windowrattler.

  There are several ways to do this, from going with one of the standard low
slung mufflers from the M35A1 to a standard stack muffler. For mine, I went
with the stack muffler. Not much of a reduction in sound, but it's
noticeable. I've posted details in the past, but let me know if you want the
skinny on it and I'll email you some pics separately. Give you a better idea
as to what it looks like and what it entails - it's only a one banana job.

>Question 2:
> Any suggestions for a bigger turbo? Making an adapter
>plate for the intake interface is no problem.

  Why do you need a bigger turbo? The unit was matched to the engine for
emissions purposes, but it did help with a bit more torque too. Remember,
(and I know I'm preaching to the choir here...) - increase fuel flow, get
more power, need bigger cooling system!. The Deuce cooling system, from what
I've seen on mine and others, is pretty close to optimum for the engine
package, which is as it should be. To increase the power, you're going to
have to get rid of the heat somehow - the LDS engine is similiar, with some
internal mods to help with the heat, but uses a much larger radiator. Folks
that run the LDS, or mod the LDT to LDS levels have to keep an eye on the
pyro and engine temp. Not a big deal if you don't mind messing with that,
after all, it's your truck. But also consider that running in this more or
less detuned state, everything lasts longer. If you don't have any local
buddies with a 5 ton or deuce to tow you out of those....ermmm...interesting
areas that you can get into and break down, you don't even want to see the
bill for an off road tow for a big vehicle. And trail side wrenching always
sucks :).

BTDT on other vehicles, Unimogs included (anyone want to buy a U-1300 bed,
BTW?)

>Finally, I fabbed up some dummy "lockout hubs" for the
>front axle that act like big dust caps for the wheel
>bearings, and turn the front hubs into spinners. I see
>some fairly expensive ones available (although they do
>have Torrington bearings in them and are admittedly
>much prettier), but mine were lowbuck (cost of scrap
>pipe/plate and shop materials) and hold a ton of extra
>bearing grease. I'd be happy to take some measurements
>and pics and put up a writeup for these. Any halfway
>decent fabber with a cutting torch, a 1/2" transfer
>punch, a drill, and some scrap can put these together
>in a few hours. Of course, for me, those "few hours"
>were the hours between 10PM and 1AM the night before I
>flew to pickup, but with more leisure time, you could
>do a much better job than I did. :)

  Good idea for those of us that are willing to do it. Why not post a
webpage with the details?

  Regards,
  Greg

>By the way, I would have never guessed that the bed
>only weighs 1300! I made a MUCH SMALLER (10'x6'), wood
>planked bed (no sides or gunwales) for a Mog a few
>months ago that tipped in at about 800!

>Cheers
>Bob

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marc Strangfeld" <curlyjoe98@yahoo.com>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List"
> <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 3:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [MV] Weight of an M35a2 bed? And
> general road driven deuce
> questions
>
>
> > Bob,
> >
> > I'll comment on a couple points.
> >
> > 1.You have already proved that you have a long
> > distance truck even though it doesn't go 70+.
> Just
> > remember it's a slow truck in a fast paced world
> and
> > take some safety precautions.
> >
> > 2.The multifuel matched 5 speed is already an
> > overdrive tranny so an auxiliary box may be
> required
> > to get more speed. Also don't overspeed the
> > multifuel. I personally don't run mine over 2200
> but
> > others run theirs at 2600 with no problems (yet).
> >
> > 3.I am planning to put super single 11.00X20.00's
> on
> > mine. With them you have all three axles tracking
> the
> > same and get a little more speed, less rolling
> > resistance, etc. You'll need to turn the hubs on
> the
> > rear axles around to get the wheels inline. Most
> > people use the standard deuce wheel but I found
> some
> > with a little more offset to get a wider stance.
> >
> > 4.I believe taking one of the rear axles off
> should be
> > outlawed but it's your truck do as you wish.
> >
> > Good luck
> >
> > Marc Strangfeld
> >
> > PS Don't forget to buy some lock out hubs and
> power
> > steering.
> >
> > PPS Read through all the archives-lots of good
> info on
> > there.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- Robert Ternes <racecadet@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > Hi Folks,
> > >
> > > I just bought my (first?) M35a2 a few weeks
> back,
> > > and
> > > I'm already planning some mods for it. I have
> been
> > > active a little on the Steel soldiers site, and
> they
> > > have been helpful, but I'm looking for someone
> who
> > > has
> > > been aggressive in modifying their deuce, and I
> was
> > > wondering if you folks could help out. I've
> searched
> > > the website extensively, but haven't really
> found
> > > the
> > > info I need.
> > >
> > > My goal is to turn my deuce into a long range
> Car
> > > Hauler for an offroad project (incidentally also
> > > using
> > > deuce Rockwell axles!), and I am looking for
> some
> > > info:
> > >
> > > 1. Weight of a standard M35 bed, non dropside. I
> > > would
> > > guess this weighs more than a standard JerrDann
> > > aluminum bed. :) I am thinking of fabbing up a
> > > "catamaran" style bed, open center, that I can
> drive
> > > a
> > > vehicle onto.
> > >
> > > 2. Any writeups on turning up the fuel screw,
> upping
> > > the boost or otherwise getting some more top end
> > > ponies out of a Herc multifuel? I have no
> intentions
> > > on burning pistons or exhaust, so any mods I do
> are
> > > going to be coupled with boost, pyro, and tranny
> > > temp
> > > gauges.
> > >
> > > 3. Has anyone done any "advanced" axle swaps
> (like
> > > doing single rear axle) or modifications to fit
> very
> > > large tires on a deuce to extend its MPH range
> into
> > > the low 70's? Another idea is to swap a tranny
> with
> > > a
> > > higher range into it - I guess these use the SAE
> nš2
> > > bellhousing, which hopefully also denotes a
> standard
> > > splining and flexplate? I want to keep the
> double
> > > reduction axles and high axleshafts - I've
> turned
> > > enough driveshafts into pretzels to not
> appreciate
> > > those.
> > >
> > > I'm enchanted with the deuce, and I love its
> offroad
> > > prowess and overall feel. I love driving this
> thing,
> > > but I have a vision of it being more roadworthy
> in
> > > general. I'm also stoked to have a mild recovery
> > > vehicle, capable of getting far into trails to
> get
> > > either my Jeep or my Chevy projects, and if the
> idea
> > > of high speed carhauler is a bust, I'll still
> > > cherish
> > > this thing as the ultimate cool pickup. I drove
> this
> > > thing back from Detroit for 36 nearly straight
> > > hours,
> > > and I loved every minute of it. :)
> > >
> > > Any insight is appreciated.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > > Bob in Boulder CO (total gearhead)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________
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> > >
> >
>
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> > >
> > >
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