MUTT identification

[Haas]

I have a quick question. Is the battery box cover the same on all M151s, or did they change with the models? I found a NOS cover that is being sold as fitting the A1 and A2, and I want to make sure it will fit a straight M151 before purchasing. Thanks for any help you can provide!

[miljeep]

count the latches I think their were 4 on the early straight M151's... Scott O&O

[Haas]

Okay...now I have some more questions about this lid. Unfortunately, I have never seen a M151 up close and don't actually know how the battery box lids attach... The NOS lid I found has two latches opposite each other. Looking at our M151...it looks like it catches on two hooks on one side and has two latches on the other? Does this make sense? I really have know idea what the correct lid is suppose to look like... Does anybody happen to have a picture of what the lid looks like for a straight M151? Can a later model lid be modified to fit without too much difficulty? Forgive all my questions...I feel like I am making this more complicated than it needs to be, but I want to make sure I don't end up with parts I can't use. Thanks again for all the help you guys have given me!

[Haas]

Here of some pictures of what I am looking at...

[miljeep]

I checked my 1960 -10 Operators Manual it shows 4 .....

[Haas]

I checked my 1960 -10 Operators Manual it shows 4 .....

Do you happen to have a picture you could post?

[Mr. Recovery]

This is the best image I could find right now, although it is in a 1973 TM it is of a early battery cover.

[muttguru]

I have a quick question. Is the battery box cover the same on all M151s, or did they change with the models? I found a NOS cover that is being sold as fitting the A1 and A2, and I want to make sure it will fit a straight M151 before purchasing. Thanks for any help you can provide!

Hass, all battery box covers are the same and will fit all models. The difference, as has already been pointed out, is the number of latches. When the original M151s were introduced, each cover had four latches. It was quickly realised that removing and replacing the 4-latch covers was a very difficult, fiddly job. You may find that it is difficult enough to do this with just TWO latches. Before long, EIR's (Equpiment Improvement Reports) started to be sent in by troops to complain about the problem. In December 1961, Modification Work Order MWO 9-2320-218-20/4 was issued. This instructed all organisational maintenance mechanics to remove the right-rear and left-front holddown clamps from the cover, along with some minor widening of the cutouts on the front flange of the cover. So just about every battery-box lid now has two diagonally-opposed latches.

I haven't seen any covers that still have all four latches attached. I'd reckon that they are very rare indeed. If you want your pre-Dec 1961 M151 restored as "factory", you can always find another cover and cut off two latches, then add them to your original cover.
Ken

[rickf]

They ARE a pain with two, I can't imagine with four! I can see sparks flying from metal hitting cables while trying to get things loose and off, they are like fish hooks.

[Haas]

I have a quick question. Is the battery box cover the same on all M151s, or did they change with the models? I found a NOS cover that is being sold as fitting the A1 and A2, and I want to make sure it will fit a straight M151 before purchasing. Thanks for any help you can provide!

Hass, all battery box covers are the same and will fit all models. The difference, as has already been pointed out, is the number of latches. When the original M151s were introduced, each cover had four latches. It was quickly realised that removing and replacing the 4-latch covers was a very difficult, fiddly job. You may find that it is difficult enough to do this with just TWO latches. Before long, EIR's (Equpiment Improvement Reports) started to be sent in by troops to complain about the problem. In December 1961, Modification Work Order MWO 9-2320-218-20/4 was issued. This instructed all organisational maintenance mechanics to remove the right-rear and left-front holddown clamps from the cover, along with some minor widening of the cutouts on the front flange of the cover. So just about every battery-box lid now has two diagonally-opposed latches.

I haven't seen any covers that still have all four latches attached. I'd reckon that they are very rare indeed. If you want your pre-Dec 1961 M151 restored as "factory", you can always find another cover and cut off two latches, then add them to your original cover.
Ken

Okay, that helps me a lot! Thank you so much for the information. Knowing this, I will likely just get a two latch cover. I will probably leave the tabs for the four latch cover if possible, in case I happen to stumble across a four latch cover for it. Again, thank you so much!

[richard]

They ARE a pain with two, I can't imagine with four! I can see sparks flying from metal hitting cables while trying to get things loose and off, they are like fish hooks.

I only have one, because the second has been broken. I have a new one here but not the correct tool for the rivet to repair it.

[Haas]

Hello again, I once again have another question. I was looking through pictures of our M151, and something caught my eye. The rear wheels seem to angle out quite dramatically on it. I was wondering if this is a normal stance for the M151, or does it just sit this way until there are passengers in it to put more weight on the rear? Is this what made them prone to rolling when making a quick turn on pavement? It seems as though most all pictures I find of the M151 show a slight angling of the rear wheels, but nothing quite this dramatic.

[rickf]

The positive camber is perfectly normal on the straight 151 and the A1. They both use a swing arm rear suspension while the A2 uses a trailing arm. As far as the cause of the roll overs, the military would have you believe it is the suspension when in fact it was the gung ho 18 year olds driving them and not reading, or believing the manual. These were OFF ROAD TACTICAL vehicles and needed to be driven as such, They were not designed to be the run around town vehicle that they were actually used for. Pull the exact same maneuver in a M38 as what would cause a M151 to roll and watch what happens, It will roll. They never made a big deal about them did they? Get any short wheelbase, high profile vehicle sideways and the chances are good it will go over.

[Haas]

The positive camber is perfectly normal on the straight 151 and the A1. They both use a swing arm rear suspension while the A2 uses a trailing arm. As far as the cause of the roll overs, the military would have you believe it is the suspension when in fact it was the gung ho 18 year olds driving them and not reading, or believing the manual. These were OFF ROAD TACTICAL vehicles and needed to be driven as such, They were not designed to be the run around town vehicle that they were actually used for. Pull the exact same maneuver in a M38 as what would cause a M151 to roll and watch what happens, It will roll. They never made a big deal about them did they? Get any short wheelbase, high profile vehicle sideways and the chances are good it will go over.

Okay, that makes sense, thanks for the reply!

[Haas]

Hello, again! So, I am home now and had a chance to inspect the M151 closer. Overall, it is relatively rust free aside from a spot by the fuel tank, a small spot in one of the body supports, and a few small spots on the rear panel. I also have better pictures of the vehicle now, and can get more if need be. I do have a few questions though. First, how would I go about finding out who built this particular body? There are no tags and the tag that is supposed to be above the rear of the engine on the firewall is missing. Second, it has a front bumper I have not seen in any pictures of other M151's, but it is really nicely constructed and I am wondering if it is an original.







The bumper does not really appear to be homemade, but I could be wrong. Thank you again for all the help!