What to look for when buying a M-151

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muttguru
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What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by muttguru » February 2nd, 2018, 11:53 am

When potential buyers have contacted me asking for advice about buying an M151-series vehicle, I have invariably sent the guidance you see below. Unfortunately the urge to buy a vehicle is sometimes so strong that the "mandatory" thorough checks are either rushed or forgotten about. Rick....I'd like to see this advice added as a "sticky note" on this board.... or maybe other owners can chime in and add to it.
Ken
=====================================================================================================
ADVICE FOR NEW BUYER: Updated 05-Feb-2018
Please be careful before you buy your Mutt. So many people have bought one without knowing exactly what they are getting, then discovered that they have bought a whole bunch of problems. Here's some brief advice (come back for more at any time !!!)......

1. Which model is it? Be careful about dataplate information....... there are lots of Mutts running around with a reproduction data plate (or one from a different model).......Is it an M151? or an M151A1, or an M151A2?. Get a Technical Manual and read it thoroughly first.

2. There is no chassis on the Mutt, so the underbody condition is CRITICAL. The box-sections underneath are HIGHLY PRONE to rusting. Check and double-check the condition. Ex-USMC vehicles are notorious for rust-through....you can guess why !

3. From around 1969, all Mutts were subject to demil / mutilation prior to release. The early regulations insisted that the vehicle be cut into two. Many have been re-welded. Some have been cut into 4 (an X-cut). I'd be very wary about buying an x-cut vehicle.... but a half-cut vehicle can be very good if the re-weld has been properly done. Is this a re-weld? Make certain.
Check thoroughly before purchase and remember... an uncut example is ALWAYS worth more than a re-welded version.

4. As there is always some "cloud of doubt" over whether the Mutt was legally released, make sure that yours has a VALID title. If it doesn't have a title, you may have trouble getting it registered in some States.

5. All models prior to the M151A2 have peculiar handling characteristics that can cause real problems when operated by drivers who don't know about the vehicle. An M151A2 is a much safer truck altogether.

6. On the "plus" side (yes.... there is one !!!)........ parts are cheap and plentiful (but beware of some poor-quality offshore-made parts)...... many excellent replacement body panels have now become available with more to follow..... the vehicle is the best-looking one since the wartime jeep....... it is easy to work on, and a good example holds its value. They are becoming increasingly collectible.

If I were you, I'd go look at a few (at Military Vehicle shows etc) and talk to the owners. No doubt you will get their unbiased advice and help!!!

***MOST IMPORTANT*** I cannot stress this enough !!!
Read the Technical Manual (get hold of the Drivers manual, as a start... TM 9-2320-218-10).
The other relevant TMs are:-

TM 9-2320-218-20 Organisational Maintenance
TM 9-2320-218-20P Organisational Parts List
TM 9-2320-218-34 Direct and General Support Maintenance
TM 9-2320-218-34P Direct and General Support Parts List
LO 9-2320-218-12 Lubrication Order

The -20-series manuals generally cover regular maintenance tasks.
The -34-series manuals generally cover major rebuild (electrical items, carburettor, engine, transmission etc)

Now, how to go about finding one? First off, get hold of the two magazines which have dozens of military-vehicle classified ads....the two I suggest are:-

1. Supply Line
2. Military Vehicles Magazine - USA
3. The G503 "M151 For Sale" notice board
4. And of course the "For Sale" board here on the G838
5. If you have a local "Craigslist", M151s do turn up for sale. But please use caution and common sense when buying.
6. For those of us in Europe, Milweb.net has a classified ad section and regularly has M151s for sale.
Ken
=====================================================================================================
Last edited by muttguru on February 5th, 2018, 10:43 am, edited 3 times in total.
Kind regards....
Ken

Always wanted - Details and pictures of M416 Trailer data plates & M151 data plates & body-tags for my research. Thanks!

Contact address - - muttguru@aol.com

Note for 2023..... Ken..."Less Stress - More Exercise!"

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rickf
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Re: Advice on how to buy a M-151

Unread post by rickf » February 4th, 2018, 3:31 pm

Added by suggestion of Surveyor.

While this webpage covers after purchase i think many of the things stated are also what should be looked at prior to... maybe worth an addition to his thread?

http://www.militarytrader.com/military- ... its-a-mutt
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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muttguru
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Re: Advice on how to buy a M-151

Unread post by muttguru » February 4th, 2018, 4:46 pm

rickf wrote:Added by suggestion of Surveyor.
While this webpage covers after purchase i think many of the things stated are also what should be looked at prior to... maybe worth an addition to his thread?
http://www.militarytrader.com/military- ... its-a-mutt
Rick....agreed !
As a special bonus for potential mutt buyers....and for owners too..... here's the "Be Your Own Inspector" from PS Magazine. TACOM also issued this as a booklet in black-and-white, but this is the color version.
Enjoy......
Ken

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Kind regards....
Ken

Always wanted - Details and pictures of M416 Trailer data plates & M151 data plates & body-tags for my research. Thanks!

Contact address - - muttguru@aol.com

Note for 2023..... Ken..."Less Stress - More Exercise!"

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Re: Advice on how to buy a M-151

Unread post by Mark » February 4th, 2018, 7:25 pm

The 1st thing I did was look underneath to see if it had been cut in half/rewelded.I didn't pay attention to holes/rust damage on the channels!!This was on the 151.Of course I was very much a novice mutt man, back in 2009, of course I was a little excited as you didn't see mutts in my part of the country.
mark


1968 m274A5
1960 m151
1981 m151A2
1964 m416
1971 m416

lpcoating
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Re: Advice on how to buy a M-151

Unread post by lpcoating » February 5th, 2018, 7:15 am

We have plenty of body parts on the shelf and more coming out. :D

Guy
M151 Body Panels - http://www.m151bodypanels.com/

'68 A1 - Under full resto

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muttguru
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Re: Advice on how to buy a M-151

Unread post by muttguru » February 5th, 2018, 10:29 am

lpcoating wrote:We have plenty of body parts on the shelf and more coming out. :D Guy
Hello Guy....

Me and Rick discussed this very point. I explained that although this summary was accurate at the time, things have changed....certainly as far as the scarcity of body panels is concerned. We also discussed other updates such as "How to pay for a vehicle" and "How to avoid being scammed". These additions may be included later but I can update the "body panels" section right now ! Thanks for reminding me. :D
Ken
Kind regards....
Ken

Always wanted - Details and pictures of M416 Trailer data plates & M151 data plates & body-tags for my research. Thanks!

Contact address - - muttguru@aol.com

Note for 2023..... Ken..."Less Stress - More Exercise!"

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Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by rickf » February 5th, 2018, 11:32 am

I want this to be a STRICTLY what to look for thread. I don't want duplicate posts or personal experiences. Just what to look for. Once we start getting the inevitable run on I will lock the thread. This one is going to be for info only, we have all the others for our usual banter and running on of threads. This is for the new guy looking for basic info.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by submariner2 » November 11th, 2018, 1:12 pm

Thank you for this infofmation on the M-151 I can't registar my M-151A1 here in Oregon because of the data plate missing numbers . I am goin g to try and get my money back for selling me a vehicle without the right documents..

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Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by mrdibbles » January 7th, 2019, 8:41 pm

Here's another version of the "Be Your Own Inspector"... which I am biased of. It's been on YouTube for 5 years and has been seen 1,500 times. I love the song so easily 1,400 of those are me viewing my own post 8)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWvWpVlx2OI
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Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by SEABEE62 » January 8th, 2019, 10:38 am

I understand the comic version very well.... :o .Thanks, Seabee
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Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by Orchardhouse » March 1st, 2019, 9:20 am

Thank you for this information on the M-151. I am going to try this. I'm new here from the UK. Looking forward to this group.
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Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by rickf » March 1st, 2019, 9:58 am

Welcome to the forum and you may not have noticed but the original poster of this thread is one of your fellow countrymen. Ken the Muttguru.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

acudanut

Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by acudanut » December 9th, 2019, 3:20 pm

1951 to 1959 Ford had the development contract for designing & building the M151.

1960 to 1962 Ford has the contract for delivery of the M151.

1962 to 1964 Willys Motors won the contract to build the next batch of M151s During that contract, the Military amended the contract with Willys Motors so that the model A1 could be built. Part-way through that contract, Willys Motors was subsumed by Kaiser Jeep.

1964 to 1971. Ford won the next contracts to build the M151A1.
By 1967 Ralph Nader was campaigning for auto-safety and was targeting the M151A1 as "Inherently Unsafe". The Military reacted to this by asking Ford to develop a safer version of the M151A1.
Ford considered various options and in 1968 produced test-versions of the safer model (which would become the M151A2). Defense Sec Mel Laird insisted on thorough testing of the pilot vehicles and the M151A2 was finally approved for production in December 1969/January 1970. Ford stopped production of the A1 model near the end of 1969 and changed over to production of the A2 model, producing the now type-approved M151A2 with first deliveries to the military in March 1970.

In 1971, the M151A2 contract renewal came up for bid but Ford lost the new contract to AM General, who produced the M151A2 into the early 1980's.

Kaiser and Willys never produced the M151A2, but Kaiser was subsumed into American Motors Corp in 1970 and AMC at that time was re-named AM General.

Credits go to Sir. Muttguru.

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Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by Dumbdog » May 12th, 2022, 8:48 am

To be clear , on last post that ,ford only produced 151a2 for one year ?
Quite rare to find ford 151a2?

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Re: What to look for when buying a M-151

Unread post by rickf » May 12th, 2022, 10:08 am

Ford produced the A2 in 70-71. In 1970 they had the strange front fenders with the straight across design and after that they went to the design that has stayed with the A2 ever since.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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