Stripped body $$?

[Refit1701]

Since I have access to rusty bodys with nearly all the parts, would it be feasible to find a stripped body with less rust and transfer the parts? Or are these jeeps getting rare enough that finding a usable body would be hard?

I don't mind doing the sheetmetal work on a rusty body (al'a the two I looked at the other day), but is that a good use of resources? How many of you guys have taken a jeep, down on it's luck, and turned it in to a reasonably nice jeep? I'm not looking for show competition quality, just one I can take to the meets and have fun with on the trails.



I have considered getting both of the aforementioned jeeps and combining what's left to make one jeep. I'd still need replacement sheet metal, but hopefully would wind up with an uncut jeep.

[mrdibbles]

John-
My thoughts on this are that its really not all that hard to find an M151 that is relatively rust free. If not almost entirely rust free. It is however pretty darn hard to fine one completely rust free. If you're looking to buy an M151 though you're doing so in one heck of a buyer's market. With the economy down and people needing $$ you're in a good position. If you can be patient I think you'll be rewarded.
Matt-

[gpready]

Based on the photos you posted, I would say that you have a "significant" amout of metal work to do. With that said, you may be OK with that... but I would strongly concider taking a second look at those mutts. Take a small hammer or screwdriver to the metal you visually see as good...and I will bet that you will find more rust than you originally thought. If you have the means (i.g., funds, equipment, time, labor, etc.) then anything can be restored to a certain extent. But I think a better find is out there with less headache.

On the other hand those mutts you are concidering are pre A2's! I would assume that these are becoming more rare these days. So there is some good.

Joe

[Horst]

John,

Based on your signature you seem to know what you are doing. If it would be however your first vehicle you want to restore, I would second the recommendations so far given and not try any of those M151 pictured but start with something significantly better and complete. The 151 can be a nightmare rust wise and you need to have really good metal fabrication and welding knowledge. A MB Jeep or comparable is significantly easier to handle with it's body and frame compared to the 151's unibody. That's my personal opinion of course. My first MV I did was the M201, it came out ok, but when I did it again 15 years later I realized how much of a beginners work it was. I would not spend 500$ on any of those 151s you posted pictures if that would be the first project.

[raymond]

TNJ Murray occasionally sells reconditioned bodies. They are pricey, but at least you know what you are starting out with. I wish he had an A1 body at the time I was restoring mine a few years ago. I would have been money ahead by buying a reconditioned body tub.

[Refit1701]

What I am trying to do is get a sense of what the average 151'er starts out with. Not all trucks are moderately rust free. I am a sucker for a basket case!

I'm still thinking about things, asking questions and learning. Shopping around a little, most trucks seem to be from 3K and up for even a "unrestored" specimen. I try to guage what the difference is in terms of expense between a rusty truck and one which may be unrestored but was under shelter for 30 years.

All good advise and all taken seriously.

[mrdibbles]

I paid about 10K for my Mutt and then tore it down nearly completely and rebuilt it. I paid a little more than I think I should have because I had to "pry" it from a local seller's hands. He was also local so this saved me shipping/transport fees.

In retrospect I would have:

1.) Bought a lower dollar rust-free Mutt to tear down (or at least tried harder to... patience is a virtue?)
2.) I would not have bought a ROPS mutt because I later learned that I didn't want ROPS. Some love 'em and some don't... your experience may vary. If you have never driven a Mutt I urge you to drive both a ROPs and a ROPS-less Mutt. Removing my ROPS made my Mutt feel like a Corvette Them ROPS is heavy! I certainly would not buy a Mutt without ROPS and later add ROPS. That would be a PITA. Removing ROPS is a PITA too.
3.) I would have had a better and clearer vision for what I wanted my Mutt to look like 2-3 years down the road. I have added things and removed things that I added. Doing that will drive you and your spouse to the bottle. It is also not free.

This is my free advice. Take it accordingly
Regards,
Matt-

[Refit1701]

I don't think I could get the War Dept. backing to spend 10k on a truck.

After looking a quite a few trucks in person and on the interwebz, I like the basic jeep, no ROPS, no radios, with a top. I sat in one which had EVERYTHING on it and was quite nice but too busy for my taste.

I have to find a combo pricepoint/condition that suits me. I don't mind buying a $500 well worn soldier and starting from scratch. These jeeps SEEM fairly simple. BUT, if I spent $1500, could I get a body with no engine or such and not have to spend three weeks with the MIG?

So far, there aren't many terribly cheap trucks out there. I'm still looking, though. I must finish my 53 AF M37 before I can embark on a Mutt. If I found what I was looking for, I'd try to get it.

[mrdibbles]

Well good luck with your $500 Jeep then. Please post pictures and show your progress. We're here to help

[Cobra5]

I must finish my 53 AF M37 before I can embark on a Mutt

That's funny! I'm just the opposite, I have to finish my mutts and than start on the 51 M37.

[Refit1701]

Well good luck with your $500 Jeep then. Please post pictures and show your progress. We're here to help

Sounds like you've given up on me already. I haven't bought anything yet!?!

If the minimum investment to get into the club is $3000, then I have found the wrong club!

[Ralph Fuller]

If you find a $500 MUTT don't tell anybody about it until it is in your garage.
Here are the current military vehicles for sale on Ebay. I check it several times a day. I have seen MUTTs offered and sold within just a couple of hours.
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Military-Ve ... Z1QQ_dctZ1

This is another Ebay site for military vehicles.
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/Cars- ... 37QQ_dctZ1

[Refit1701]

If you find a $500 MUTT don't tell anybody about it until it is in your garage. (snip)

Well, I found two but I doubt anyone is in a footrace with me to buy them!

[moose53]

When you get into major body repairs like those two needed most of us would consider them parts vehicles. Maybe not for you, as I know there are guys that enjoy bringing something that far gone back to life etc. but body work of that sort is beyond most of us. So most of us look at it as you can pay now for a good tub, or pay later getting a poor one fixed. The thing thats different between restoring a GPW or MB and the M151 is that there are sooo many WWII jeeps around you can get a decent one cheap. But then parts are scarce after 60 odd years so you spend a fortune restoring them. M151's are the opposite. The jeeps themselves are scarce, especially the A2 models due to the gov't crushing or cutting up most of them so the initial acquisition price is higher. The relatively small numbers of remaining jeeps works in your favor though because the stockpiles of parts are extensive with not much demand making mutt parts cheaper than most other military vehicles. So, yes it may cost a bit to start but in the end its not that expensive. If it were me, for example, I'd buy the one thats for sale right now for $3000.00 with an excellent tub, but missing a bunch of stuff, and I'd buy those two you found for parts, and chances are thats all you would need to get a nice complete and running mutt. You'd have about $3500 in it, and it'd be worth almost twice that. Just food for thought. Don't get the idea we're giving up on you though, we all support any attempt to save a mutt and I'm sure if you decide to just work with those two you'd receive a lot of interest and support...

Jim

[salt6]

I've got a titled A1 that's needs to be finished.

http://g838.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=833