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 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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