Waking up a Texas M151A2

A place to post pics and descriptions of ongoing restoration projects

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rickf
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by rickf » March 29th, 2017, 7:24 pm

:lol: :lol: :lol: Not likely, the front suspension cradle is out of it and so is the rear diff, it was crushed so hard that it bent the frame horns behind the diff and broke the mounting ears on the differential. I thought about it because it was flatter than that, I jacked up the rear fenders so I could pit tires on it and roll it around with the loader.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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m3a1
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by m3a1 » March 31st, 2017, 6:55 pm

Then maybe I should just move forward on the Alley Cat, eh?

As an aside, the weather here is fantastic and I've been very happily running ALL my errands in the MUTT. I've made a file containing the pop music of the Vietnam era and have that on my phone so by connecting that wirelessly with a bluetooth speaker set. I have some very satisfying tunes to listen to while bombing around town. Today, I had to trek up to the local Auto Zone for some fuel line for my lawn mower (which, for some reason, never fails to die when my buddy borrows it no matter how careful he is with it). Anyway, upon leaving Auto Zone it became clear that school had let out and some of the local boys were whooping it up and having a very good time in their civvy Jeep which was stopped at a red light across the intersection. They had the top and doors off their ride had it all the usual shiny stuff hung on it so it was looking very stylish. Well, they got really excited when they spotted the MUTT and I just gave a toot and a wave as I went by with with some Creedence playing. That was a very satisfying moment, I must say.

There's a pretty good website that lists the billboard top 100s for the Vietnam War era for those of you who are interested in doing something similar music-wise and here it is....

http://www.lzcenter.com/Vietnam%20War%2 ... Music.html

Cheers,
TJ

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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by m3a1 » March 31st, 2017, 10:00 pm

Just MUTTing around..

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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by m3a1 » April 9th, 2017, 1:10 pm

I have a little update on what's going on with my truck which started with a very unhappy sounding rear differential. The most obvious problem turned out to be a loose yoke on the left side which is not to say that there aren't other problems as yet undiscovered!

For more on how we came to discover this problem, go to Technical Discussion - "Noisy Differential" at http://www.g838.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10746

The new yoke arrived in the mail yesterday and I'll soon be back at the job of resolving this particular issue.

Here's the new part as I received it.
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by fergrn37 » April 10th, 2017, 10:54 am

What's up with the hex hole in the center? Looks like it has been stressed in the corners.
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Mr. Recovery
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by Mr. Recovery » April 10th, 2017, 11:18 am

fergrn37 wrote:What's up with the hex hole in the center? Looks like it has been stressed in the corners.


That plug will screw out if you put a allen wrench or bolt head in the hex. :o


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1960 M151 Run 1
1963 M151 Willys DoD 10-63 in Baltimore
1989 Alley Cat. "work in Progress"
NRA Life Member
American Legion Post 275 Fl
US Army 6 years 2nd Armored Cavalry Bindlach Germany
Colorado Army Nat. Guard 5 years
Md Air Guard 15 years active duty on C-130's

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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by m3a1 » April 10th, 2017, 7:16 pm

Curious, ain't it?

In other news, I have a brand new title for my truck. Came in the mail today!

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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by fergrn37 » April 11th, 2017, 8:54 am

For my title I think I'm going the Vermont route. Le$$ and fewer questions.
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by m3a1 » April 14th, 2017, 10:36 am

At the grocery store....a small island of green in a sea of BORING!
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by fergrn37 » April 14th, 2017, 6:07 pm

m3a1, what do you do for vehicle security while out in public?
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by m3a1 » April 14th, 2017, 9:03 pm

Nothin', really. I have a power cut off in the tool tray (courtesy of the military) and if I'm somewhere where I'm concerned about it, I'll use it. The tool tray has a military padlock on it.... but generally, I don't take it to those kind of places. It's a very small town and this is the only MUTT around. Cops would be all over it if they didn't see me behind the wheel.

New hand cut bumper markings today...replicated from the real assigned numbers with the stencil and sponge method. Quite a change, I must say!
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by m3a1 » April 16th, 2017, 2:22 pm

Gave the MUTT a bath and took it to the local street rod show yesterday. Had a great time and (sorry guys :roll: ) didn't snap a single picture. I had Mermite can full of ice and soda (Yeti and Polar Cap brands ain't got nuthin on Mermite cans!), a bag of roasted peanuts, a couple of chairs, a three ring binder with stuff about M151s, a notional American Forces Vietnam Radio playlist playing and I brought along some military gear so the kids could dress up and have their picture taken. Did I mention I had a great time? :lol: :lol: :lol:

I also met a lot of great people, Most notable was another MUTT owner who, as it turns out, is local, and a couple of old guys who were former Army motor pool men. One of those fellas went so far back that he remembered when the M151s came out. Naturally, neither of those guys were terribly excited about my truck in particular, having spent so much time working on them over the years which, understandably, kind of takes some of the allure out of it. But they were glad to see that Mutts were still around and they had nothing but good things to say about M151 series as a tried and true work horse.

As a point of interest, both spent time stationed in Germany (and both participated in Exercise Reforger, 1988 which would have kept vehicle maintenance guys extremely busy). They both mentioned that the use of full doors was absolutely forbidden but plywood or other half-doors were allowed in their respective units... so if you have some unexplained holes on your truck's body... :lol: . One of them said hard tops, which could be obtained, were also forbidden. Of course, Reforger exercises were about military readiness and that also meant tactical readiness, so no surprise about the limitations placed upon tops and doors.

Both also mentioned that home made heaters utilizing civilian automobile heater cores (and occasionally even blower fans if they could be scrounged) were common and were placed between the front seats. Nothing fancy, either...because heat rises. You would simply put a piece of canvas, like a shelter half, over your lap and over the heater core and that was pretty much it. I talked to these guys separately and they both brought that up.

Another thing one fella brought up was lubrication. He said they would lift the front of the M151s with a wrecker and hand the assigned drivers a pneumatic grease gun and make them lube their own trucks which, as we know, isn't really that big of a job. The mantra he quoted to me was, "Universal Joints-Universal Joints-Universal Joints" (which was meant to include axles) something I am dealing with at present. Apparently, in his outfit, drivers were expected to be fairly well involved in the maintenance of their assigned trucks and in this way, it was enforced. Such a system, he said, really paid off.

So all these guys have an open invitation to come visit me whenever they want! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Happy Easter, guys.
TJ
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by Mr. Recovery » April 16th, 2017, 6:29 pm

:) Great report TJ thanks, and yes it was the "drivers" job to lub the drive shafts and prop shafts.

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1960 M151 Run 1
1963 M151 Willys DoD 10-63 in Baltimore
1989 Alley Cat. "work in Progress"
NRA Life Member
American Legion Post 275 Fl
US Army 6 years 2nd Armored Cavalry Bindlach Germany
Colorado Army Nat. Guard 5 years
Md Air Guard 15 years active duty on C-130's

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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by m3a1 » April 17th, 2017, 8:23 pm

Perfect day for errands in the MUTT ....a perfect excuse to take it out for a stretch. Still under threat of rain. Will I ever get to the business of pulling the rear differential?

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Cheers,
TJ
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Re: Waking up a Texas M151A2

Unread post by rickf » April 17th, 2017, 9:21 pm

Yup, When it goes up in smoke. Worked for me.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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