1966 A1 A Bridge too Far.... demo an old soldier

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Vzike
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1966 A1 A Bridge too Far.... demo an old soldier

Unread post by Vzike » April 28th, 2017, 1:29 pm

I posted an ad in the Wanted section, and ended up getting a response for someone who had a body (turned out to be a never assembled Titan body, and a 1966 M151A1. I drove up a couple weeks ago, and brought both home.

The previous owner bought the A1 to use as a donor for the Titan body. After a brief inspection, I disassembled it, keep the engine, 3 of the wheels, the diffs and a very few other parts, and scrapped the rest. Here are the pictures of an A1 doomed to the scrap heap.

When I put it on the lift, the two main frame members buckled. The entire frame structure could not support the weight of the vehicle.

The scrapers got $26 for the tub.

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m3a1
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Re: 1966 A1 A Bridge too Far.... demo an old soldier

Unread post by m3a1 » April 28th, 2017, 1:56 pm

The fact that it sits so effortlessly on its four wheels but then buckles under it's own weight when lifted in that manner is quite a testament to the integrated load-bearing design of the body. I will say this...the kit bodies are built like tanks. It's amazing what you get when weight restrictions are lifted and while they don't have quite the panache that the originals have but with some thoughtful tweaking and a few careful add-ons, such as the footman loops and the channel for the door-skins and (in the case of the Titan) excising the rounded cutout on passenger opening of the body, the kit body can be made to look very much like an original.

TJ

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rickf
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Re: 1966 A1 A Bridge too Far.... demo an old soldier

Unread post by rickf » April 28th, 2017, 2:37 pm

You aren't tossing the screw adjust seats and the windshield frame are you?
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Vzike
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Re: 1966 A1 A Bridge too Far.... demo an old soldier

Unread post by Vzike » April 28th, 2017, 4:09 pm

The seats were totally rusted through. You could not salvage the adjustment mechanisms. I looked at them really close. The windshield frame was rusted through at the windshield gasket sealing area all along one side. Not worth messing with.

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rickf
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Re: 1966 A1 A Bridge too Far.... demo an old soldier

Unread post by rickf » April 28th, 2017, 6:42 pm

:roll: :roll: :mrgreen:
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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rickf
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Re: 1966 A1 A Bridge too Far.... demo an old soldier

Unread post by rickf » April 28th, 2017, 6:44 pm

What was the torch cut on the rear fenders? Practicing your demill procedures? Or just felt like burning something up that day. :roll: :lol:
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Vzike
Sergeant Major of the "G"
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Joined: December 27th, 2013, 4:05 pm
Location: Jupiter, Florida

Re: 1966 A1 A Bridge too Far.... demo an old soldier

Unread post by Vzike » April 29th, 2017, 8:35 am

A Friend stopped by to help me scrap it. His idea was to cut it accross the back to get at the shock bolts. He promptly ran out of oxygen, so the torch effort was over. I raised it and used a heavy duty air impact wrench to get the bolts free, then hammered them off.

This body was extremely heavy. If you look close at the pictures, you'll see all the angle iron and 3/16 X 1-1/2 strap welded all over the outside. Plate was welded all over the floors and back. The Bondo was built up to 1/4" thick in places and came off during the tear down leaving gaping holes.

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