FNG: restoring an M151A1

[Anarchy99]

Hello all,
I just moved back to my home town of Millington, TN with the Navy. I'll retire out here in a few years, and then figure out what I'll do when I grow up. Long story short, my dad acquired an M151A1 from a good family friend. The good family friend drove it around the farm for many years and then gave it to my dad. Dad parked it under the shed where it sat for a few years. As soon as I saw it, I started getting the itch to get parts to restore it. The previous owner was a seabee and I believe the story was that some of the workers at his work acquired this m151 some years ago and stichted it back together (cut in half) and did the restoration type work on it. Plan is to restore it back to moatlybwjat it would have looked like originally, but also put my own flair on it from my military years in the Navy. Also have a 416 trailer up on the farm under a shed as well to restore. It has one of those incredibly loud, old military generators in the back of it. It's just sitting in it so I'll probably set that aside for a project later on. Anyways, didnt snag pics of the trailer but we drug the m151 out and pulled the plugs and marvel oiled the cylinders. Turned it over and going to see what we can get done soon on it, yo at least get the ole girl running again.

[raymond]

I think battleship grey would be a great color, one seldom seen.

[rickf]

If that was a cut and weld someone appears to have done a pretty good job of getting back together. How does the underneath look in the center where it was welded? And I have to ask, What is that in the partially collapsed garage? I know what it looks like.

[Anarchy99]

The close family friend owns a massive crane and rigging company that he started after getting out of the service. Could probably guess his name. The "partially collapsed garage" is actually a GP medium tent I acquired, so to speak. It's my overflow storage area until I build my shop at some point. I'm not sure if you see the heavily modified 71 triumph gt6, which is half way through us building a twin turbo LS3 for or the 66 FJ40 tub and hard top sitting there. Itll get built at some point.
Thankfully the M151A1 wont be grey. I've never been haze grey in my entire 20 years thankfully. I should be able to get up more pics up tomorrow. Here's the replica mk43 that's going on the m4 mount.

[rickf]

It would be the Triumph, But I was thinking Cheetah. Even though it looked a little wide it kind of had those lines. And the massive rear under it kind of threw me off of a foreign car.

[Anarchy99]

Yeah, built frame, ford 9 inch, etc... too many projects. I suspect like most on here

[Hambone]

Looks like you have a good one to start with, it will be a fun project, let us know how we can help. Hambone

[Anarchy99]

First question I have is, should the top boss that are on the back side be left like that? The top is on the ROPS so I wasnt sure if it was supposed to be like that or not

[rickf]

No, The top should be on the bows. The bows will be just above the ROPS when in the up position. But since the A1 never came with ROPS it all depends on whether it was installed correctly. Do the rear tubes go down through the fenders or do they end at a plate on top of the fenders? The Canadian ROPS sat on top of the rear fenders and is the one I prefer since it does a lot les damage to the body.

[Hambone]

Like this.

Ford_M151A2_(1970)_pic2.jpg

[m3a1]

What are you doing for a fuel tank?

[Anarchy99]

I got over to take pics of the ROPs system. I definently need to put floor pans in it. They aren't horrible but there are a few rust holes. Pans didnt look too expensive either online. Need some other odds and ends as well like shocks and probably bushings but it looks like everything is all there.

[rickf]

That looks like an original American ROPS that was modified to set on top of the fenders. I would have used a larger plate and curved the corners up so there was no shear point but that will work fine if needed. Much better than huge holes in the body and a ton of damage inside the fenderwell.

[lpcoating]

Hello and welcome. Let me know what you need for body panels when you're ready.

Guy

www.m151bodypanels.com

[Anarchy99]

I definitely will hit you up. Going to get the engine running first before I pull it out to tear the mutt down to parade rest and get it back together. Not a show build, just straighten it up, patch what needs to be patched, new paint, etc.
Break
The gas tank I got awhile back when I saw one show up on ebay. Its pristine inside and just needs a scuff up and respray on the outside.
Break
I agree with the ROPs assessment. I think they probably did it that way when putting it back together for ease of removal similar to removing a hard top.