Re: [MV] M35A2 info and truck wanted (long rerun)
DDoyle9570@aol.com
Tue, 9 Nov 1999 21:27:03 EST
Back about 6 months ago, some one else asked the same question, and this is
the answer I wrote:
>
> Hello fellas,
> Yes, my wife thinks I have a yard full of deuces, but I don't intend to sell
> any of them.
> As I told a fellow who came to the door once and asked if I bought and sold
> army trucks, "No, I just buy them!". Now when I'm dead and gone my wife
will
> probably bring a whole new meaning to the term "Yard Sale."
>
> BUT, like everyone else, I do have opinions on these things, and here goes.
>
> I have several running deuces with multifuel turbo engines (LDT-465)
> I have one running deuce with gas (Reo OA-331)
>
> (You might be redneck IF you list vehicles in your yard in the running and
> not running catagories!)
>
> I have fooled with my dad's M-37's, Jeeps, and 5 ton (gas).
>
> I have fooled with other guys vehicles of various types on trips,
>
> Based on all of this, I come to the following opinions.
>
> If there is a DRMO site anywhere remotely close to you, get on the bid list
> and start looking at M35A2 trucks. The descriptions leave a lot to be
> desired. I bought a "used. poor condition" truck, replaced the dented hood,
> drove to a MVPA National Convention and won first place in the motorpool
> class for its size with that truck. Oh yes, I did wash it. If you are
> CERTAIN that this is going to be a long time hobby and city and wife zoning
> isn't too bad, don't get too excited over going over the trucks with a fine
> tooth comb. These trucks are CHEAP. I've seen them go fairly regularly in
> the 1000 dollar range, and the most I've ever paid was a little more than
> twice that.
>
> Now think about this... for say 3000 dollars you can get two trucks (I say 2
> because 2 haul on 1 18 wheeler, and the freight thus on 2 is not that much
> more than freight on one). If you have reasonable mechanical skills,
between
> the two you can make one good running truck almost without doubt. Probably
> two. You probably won't need to buy a lot of parts, nor will you have to
> de-civilianize the truck. Compare this to the going price of Jeeps, M37,
> M715. Just a few posts earlier some one mentioned 3000 was reasonable price
> for a solid M715....(Plus you're getting a lot of iron here..)
>
> For your 3 grand you will NOT have a factory class winner, you probably
don't
> want to even think about doing a frame up restoration. (Remember, there's a
> lot of iron here)
>
> What you will (probably) have after a few hours spent checking it over, a
few
> bucks spent on little things (seat covers, light bulbs, canvas tops (unless
> you pick out a hard top version), lug wrenches, fuel and oil filters) is a
> truck that will start EVERY time, usually in less than an engine revolution,
> will comfortably run 45-50 down the road (although I've had some of mine at
> 60+ without trouble). It will look as good as whatever is at the local
> armory. You will more than likely have a vehicle with low mileage (My
highest
> mileage truck is a 52 with 36000 miles on it, how many miles are on the
> vehicle you drove to work today?), and that has been VERY well maintained up
> until recently.
>
> Yes, tires and brakes are more expensive than say a Jeeps or an M37, but I'm
> talking about your being in a running military looking vehicle in a matter
of
> weeks.
> How many people do you know that have bought an ex-military jeep or an M37,
> 715 etc and not had to spend HOURS (and $$$) sanding, painting, replace
parts
> that the forest service or whoever took of and threw away? I guess my point
> here is that while operational expense is higher than a smaller vehicle, the
> initial investment in time and money are SO much lower it more than
> compensates for it.
>
> I recommend a vehicle from the M35A2 family (more properly M45A2 family)
> rather than M35 or M35A1 family for the following reasons:
>
> re M35A1 I was at a sale looking over one of these with the multifuel 427,
> when a good friend of mine from Memphis Equipment walked up and said, "you
> know we have hardly any parts for that engine". Well I've spent a lot of
> time a their place and they've got a LOT of stuff, and I figure if they
ain't
> got the parts for this baby, I don't need it. (no, he didn't buy that truck
> either)
>
> M35 with gas I've got one of these type chassis under my LeRoi compressor,
> and although the engine is whisper quite and smooth running, I've always
> thought the truck was very "sluggish", for a year or so I've blamed this on
> the compressor bed bringing the vehicle weight up to 16700 lbs, several
> thousand pounds more than my empty M35A2 and M36A2 cargo trucks. "Heavy
> truck moves slow" was my thinking, well a couple of weeks ago my local MVPA
> chapter took a trip and a friend of mine, who is a good truck driver was
> driving this gas powered truck of mine up a grade, and had to get down as
low
> as third gear, I was following him in my class 530C fire truck (M45A2
> multifuel chassis based), and could have pushed him over the hill. I was in
> 5th gear. The fire truck weighs 18625 lbs. So much for the "its the trucks
> weight" theory. Buy a truck with the LDT-465 multifuel engine.
>
> Things you won't find a multifuel deuce owner posting on this list:
>
> Questions about points, plugs, distributors.
> Questions about trailering their vehicle (or the expense of buying a trailer
> or tow vehicle).
> Questions about how to keep the rain from splashing in the doors.
> Questions about making it go faster.
> Questions about carb rebuilding or adjusting.
> Questions about intermittent problems in the ignition system.
> Questions about lead additives.
> Questions about swapping in a civy engine for more
power/speed/torque/mileage.
>
> By the way, I like all things OD, regardless of size, vintage or powerplant,
> and think that you should buy what YOU like. I happen to like driving and
> showing more than working on and buying parts to complete, and I've found
for
> me at least, that this is the way to go.
>
> Probably more than .02 worth,
> David Doyle
>
> ===
===
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