USMC M151A1 (or why did I do this?)

[Refit1701]

Purchased this truck the other day from a friend and club member who isn't able to do the work any longer. I thought I was buying a body and boxes of parts I could use on my M151 restoration (three years ongoing). I just misunderstood I guess.

It's fairly eat up with rust but has been fixed up underneath with steel. Not exactly a factory type job but since I know the guys who helped him, I know they did their best as this was done a couple of years before replacement panels were available.

It has all new brakes, new u-joints, and a good powerpack that they tested on an engine stand. It could be running down the road in short order. It'll never be a show truck but it could be a decent driving example for rallies as long as you don't look underneath.

I have the urge to fix the rusted metal but it would be a huge job, removing the patches and re-doing the entire thing. I already have one jeep about to go on my rotisserie.

So strip it or just make it drivable?

IMG_1654.JPG

IMG_1659.JPG

IMG_1671.JPG

IMG_1701.JPG

[rickf]

Well, I have seen much worse repairs but that welding underneath simply will not cut it. It is mostly spot welds and very cold ones at that that are not holding much of anything. It looks like the main body is not all that bad, I would strip off all of the longitudinal underbody supports at bare minimum and replace them with the right parts. The cross members check the welds and reweld as needed and replace if that is not possible.

[m3a1]

...or you could just enjoy it for a while...then decide. Who knows? A better example might come along and then it's only a matter of swapping your goodies over.

Cheers,
TJ

[Refit1701]

I don't know. I already have a straight 151 which we are currently putting the back panel on which will then go on the tank engine rotisserie for further work. I really didn't intend to get another jeep to drive, I thought I was buying his parts. Turns out, he and the others had installed all of them. I guess I'll squeeze it into the garage building with the M37 and finish my own jeep, then we will see. The next project is supposed to be my 1966 Mustang GT.

[Horst]

wow, someone had no idea how to use a welder correctly. I would use it for parts.

[rupert's]

Little trouble was taken to make these repairs.
To take advantage of the bodywork, I would remove all those welds and eaten parts and put the new plates on it, it is a long and expensive process, perhaps it is better to leave it for parts ... Greetings

[acudanut]

Better call Guy !!