Alley Cat 151

A place to post pics and descriptions of ongoing restoration projects

Moderators: rickf, raymond, Mr. Recovery

Post Reply
User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 11:21 am

In Rust We Trust

Image
Last edited by m3a1 on May 11th, 2018, 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 11:48 am

I've read that dealing with the master cylinder is widely regarded as the most heinous of jobs with the M151s and is no different with the Alley Cat…

Unless there just happens to be a large chunk missing from the body! It was a snap. So, for your consideration, here are some before and after pics of the pedal assembly.

As it came out - covered in brake fluid, west texas soil, rust, and multiple coats of paint and whatnot…

Image

After a trip to the car wash and straightening out a bent pedal with a torch and BFH…

Image

…and a visit to the blast cabinet…

Image

…and after primer and paint. What looks like a brand new part!

Image

Cheers!
Last edited by m3a1 on May 15th, 2018, 7:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 11:50 am

I know you'll ask so, YES, that is a half track in the background.

The M2 is just another denizen of The Last Chance Garage.

User avatar
rickf
General
General
Posts: 19738
Joined: November 26th, 2007, 1:28 pm
Location: Pemberton, NJ.

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by rickf » August 8th, 2014, 12:10 pm

I can see HTN drooling now. :lol: :lol: :lol:
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 2:09 pm

So, if you're wondering why a guy would cut a rather large chunk out his vehicle here is why -

Image

I removed the fuel tank for the purpose of inspection and cleaning. Keep in mind the vehicle had been sitting for a long time and I've no doubt no one ever cleaned out the gas tank well. At a little Texas dirt and some occasional H20 and some good Texas heat and you have the perfect breeding ground for rust. The Alley Cat body is constructed of 11 gauge sheet metal (1/8" thick) and it just rusted and delaminated over and over until it was swiss cheese.

My solution to this problem is going to be the elimination of the forward bulkhead in favor of a square steel tubing to support the front of the driver's seat. The gap created between the floor and the seat mount will facilitate air flow under and around the tank along with an ability to rinse out the area under the fuel tank.
Last edited by m3a1 on May 15th, 2018, 7:28 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 2:24 pm

Image
Last edited by m3a1 on May 12th, 2018, 3:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
rickf
General
General
Posts: 19738
Joined: November 26th, 2007, 1:28 pm
Location: Pemberton, NJ.

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by rickf » August 8th, 2014, 2:30 pm

1/8"!!! That is not sheet metal, that is plate. That vehicle must weight close to 4,000 lbs.!
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 3:17 pm

1/8" is meant to last….unless your gas tank well is a poor design that happens to hold on to dirt and water like it was gold !

You might also notice that the space between the seats is also rusted through. The previous owner had a miserable looking gun rack there and between having two metal sheets in close proximity to also hold dirt and moisture, there is also a muffler under there to add heat to that mix. It's the perfect storm for rust.

Image

So that panel also has to be excised and replaced (God bless the man who invented the plasma cutter!) and I may just get to that yet this weekend.

And before new metal can go in there I'll have to do two things - install a heat shield of some sort, and look into fabbing up subfloor bracing for the MG mount.
Last edited by m3a1 on May 12th, 2018, 3:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 5:17 pm

Here's a shot of the renewed pedal assembly after the parts were reassembled. It came out pretty well, I think.

Image
Last edited by m3a1 on May 12th, 2018, 3:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.

halftracknut
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2064
Joined: December 11th, 2007, 2:28 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by halftracknut » August 8th, 2014, 7:26 pm

Did the tank well have a drain hole? I would put a couple of drain holes...
slowest mutt east of the missippi..

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 7:36 pm

While I was under the dash I pulled the starter switch housing as I had purchased a new starter switch.

Here's the way I found it -

Image

…and afterwards -

Image

…and now the bad news - notice how close the terminals on the switch are to the back plane of the mounting bracket?

Image

The back side of my new switch is just a tiny bit taller than the original, meaning the terminals would actually be in contact with the floor unless the whole thing was shimmed up by about 1/4". I'll run a circuit test on the old switch and hope for the best. For now it stays unless someone comes forward with a NOS switch.
Last edited by m3a1 on May 15th, 2018, 7:32 pm, edited 4 times in total.

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 8th, 2014, 9:12 pm

Yes indeed, HFN, it did have a drain hole but with the inevitable dirt build-up, moisture would remain… and you could bet no one ever cleaned the well out.

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4027
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » August 9th, 2014, 9:27 pm

Went to the hot rod show this evening when the heat of the day finally broke a little. Really good stuff there and everything from soup to nuts.
Their level of commitment to their hobby is no less than amazing. I cannot fathom having a vehicle that is as nice. I'd lose my mind worrying about belt buckles, blue jeans with studded backsides and feral children. Give me combat-ready quality any day.

When I got home I pulled the transmission cover and I noticed the transfer case lever had no resistance when I moved it. Upon closer inspection, it just came off the shaft. Have no idea what keeps it up against the push-rod so it's time to mine out my TMs which went to storage while I was overseas. I love the Manuals option of the site but I love pawing through ink and paper.

On the other hand, it's not a bad thing. The lever needs a visit to the blast cabinet and then needs to be recoated before it goes back on.

halftracknut
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2064
Joined: December 11th, 2007, 2:28 pm

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by halftracknut » August 9th, 2014, 11:52 pm

big washer and cotter pin holds lever in place
slowest mutt east of the missippi..

HILLBILLY-06
Sergeant Major of the "G"
Sergeant Major of the "G"
Posts: 704
Joined: July 22nd, 2013, 10:36 pm
Location: Piedmont Alabama

Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by HILLBILLY-06 » August 10th, 2014, 8:46 am

halftracknut wrote:big washer and cotter pin holds lever in place
Yeah what he said, mine was missing the washer, and would often come off, until I figured out why. A good washer and cotter pin is all you need.
"FAMOUS LAST WORDS".... "HEY YA'LL, WATCH THIS"

Post Reply