1970 A2. One of three current projects

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Vzike
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1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Vzike » November 15th, 2015, 2:04 pm

I now have 5 & 1/2 of these trucks. Two are running, and I've started the resto on the two A2s. Not sure what I want to do with the A1.
The 70 A2 is pretty solid, but someone took the back corners off with a torch. I believe I can fix those. Here is the vehicle up on the lift.
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Last edited by Vzike on April 2nd, 2016, 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Vzike
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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Vzike » November 16th, 2015, 10:05 am

On inspecting the underside I found something that is a mystery to me. Take a look at the pictures and note the two bars, welded to the frame and to the rear suspension. This essentially locks the back suspension in place. The front had similar bars that had either been cut off or broke off.

Does any one have a clue what these were for?

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Last edited by Vzike on April 2nd, 2016, 4:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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rickf
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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by rickf » November 16th, 2015, 10:22 am

The ULTIMATE rollover solution. :roll:
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Horst » November 16th, 2015, 10:36 am

static display somewhere? Driving it with the bars in place would be no fun
Horst

1972 USMC M151A2 w/ROPS (ex Barstow) and M416
1962 M201 and trailer
1966 GTO,1982 E350 Skoolie, 1987 SJ413, 1987 911
Gone: 2xM35A2c, Unimog 404S, Hanomag AL28, DKW Munga

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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Fil Bonica » November 16th, 2015, 12:15 pm

Thats scary!
They should be on your list of things to remove before you drive it

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Vzike
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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Vzike » November 16th, 2015, 12:17 pm

Everyone at the garage was scratching their heads over that one.
Vin Zike

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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by halftracknut » November 16th, 2015, 5:48 pm

I've seen alot but I've never seen that :shock: :?
slowest mutt east of the missippi..

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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Hambone » November 16th, 2015, 11:00 pm

They had to stiffen it up to make it ride like a jeep. :lol:

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Vzike
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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Vzike » December 21st, 2015, 1:38 pm

Ok, removed the suspension and cut off the mystery rods. One mechanic came by and said they did that on demo derby vehicles. This truck was not used for that, despite some of the visual evidence..

I looked over the tub and am very surprised to find the metal is in excellent shape. Lots of bent and dented metal to fix, but the floors are rust free as are the frame members. Only the front cross member shows rust damage. I'm away for the holidays (and freezing my Florida butt e off in the frigid northeast!). When I get back I'll post some pictures as I get the body restored.. I've already rebuilt the engine and have it on the test stand.
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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by rickf » December 21st, 2015, 3:33 pm

You call this frigid?!It's in the 40-50 range heading back to high 60's. This is spring weather.
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: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Vzike » March 24th, 2016, 1:48 pm

Still making progress on this A2.

I have the engine rebuilt and on the test stand. converting the fuel pump to a 1966 Dodge pump (current manufacture) and having the fuel pump rebuilt with current manufacture seals and Diaphragms, compatible with regular fuel. I've been running my two other daily driver mutts this way and they are much better. Regular, even mid range fuel (ethanol), is much cheaper than rec90.

I've sandblasted and started rebuilding the suspension parts, and bought a commercial Rotisserie to do the body. The engine is rebuilt and on the test stand. I'm rebuilding or replacing every part of this one.

The only really tough body work I have is the two back quarters and the lower parts of the sides. Guy is making parts for the back quarters. I already have the fender tops and fender supports from him, and the two side panels. Body work should be a lot easier now that I have the MIG welder dialed in and have a spot welder for some of the sheet metal.

pictures to come.....
Vin Zike

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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by muttguru » March 24th, 2016, 2:06 pm

Vzike wrote:............ and having the fuel pump rebuilt with current manufacture seals and Diaphragms, compatible with regular fuel.
Vin, am I reading this correctly? You are having the original mechanical fuel pump rebuilt?
The reason I ask.... I have a spare fuel pump with an ageing diaphragm and despite my best efforts, I can't persuade Airtex to sell me just the diaphragm. Is yours being tailor-made for you or is it an off-the-shelf diaphragm?
Thanks
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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Vzike
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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Vzike » March 24th, 2016, 3:12 pm

Not a rebuild, Ken. It's a new pump for a 1966 Dodge Dart, slant six. The contact angle is slightly different, and the pump pressure is a bit less. It seems to work fine, and costs under $20.
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Vzike
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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Vzike » March 29th, 2016, 10:16 am

Finished rebuilding the second engine. This one was a "NOS" engine someone removed from the packaging and removed some parts (like the carburetor and distributer). I've heard all the nightmare stories about these engines, so I opted to break this one down and go through it. The first thing I noticed was a high water mark, in rust, on the back of the flywheel and engine block. That was worry some. There was no wear marks on the flywheel or teeth. Once apart, I was pleased to find there was no water in the engine. Still, I tore it all the way down, had it dip cleaned, and reassembled it with new hardware and a new gasket kit. Fired it up yesterday, and it ran great.

Now I have two rebuilt engines for my projects.

Next, I took the A2 body off the rack, and put it on the new Rotisserie I just bought. This work is going to be a lot easier than the last one.

Here are the pics.

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Last edited by Vzike on April 2nd, 2016, 4:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Vzike
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Re: 1970 A2. One of three current projects

Unread post by Vzike » March 29th, 2016, 8:12 pm

Here is some info for Ken on this thread......

I have a sense that the data plates I found might actually be the real ones, and match the tub. The A2 was nearly complete when I got it, and looks like it came right out of government property books to the civilian sector, but was never disassembled. The suspension was oddly welded to defeat the springs, as you can see in earlier pictures. The head was off the engine, but the engine plate appeared to match a 1970 production run. The engine was shot. water got in and made a serious mess of it. The tranny was also rusted up.

So, I'll post pictures of the data and markings. Let me know what you think of this.

First is the body. The Budds # is on the tag, centered on the upper fire wall.

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It appears ROPS was added after delivery. The light switches were relocated to the right, and the original hole was covered with a plate. That plate covered the location of the original data plate, so it was relocated under the passenger grab handle. It was attached there with phillips head sheet metal screws, and had the short "ROPS" data plate placed over the top, as shown in the next picture. The vehicle serial number on the data plate is 02 HV82 70 33781 The bold letters were stamped on the plate. The others were printed or acid etched. Note the date of mfr as 10-70

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Once I removed the data place, I found the next pictured marking under it. The 02HV827 seems to match the first part of the serial number on the data plate.

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Finally, the serial data plate matches the spec data plate, in that it was attached the same, and has specs which include the roll cage.

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Last edited by Vzike on April 2nd, 2016, 4:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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