Looking for my First M35A2

[Merc1973]

You guys have a great forum!

I'm looking for my first M35A2 to share with my Father in law. I do not have experience with them but I have a nagging feeling that I Must Get One!

I have prior mechanical experience with modern vehicles and older Benz Diesels even though I'm A Chiropractor, so working on one of these rigs doesn't scare me (too much). BTW, I am a maintenance freak with my vehicles.

http://www.easternsurplus.net/deuce.html is where I was looking to by one since its in driving range (Western Maryland and Baltimore area). Are their prices too high? I was told they range from $7500 to $9500. Should I go with a Private seller instead? Are there any other places I should look?

Thanks!

 

[Heath_h49008]

Buy the truck from Eastern completely checked out, cleaned, painted, and ready to go.

The small savings buying private will evaporate with a paint job and "just some minor maintenance" being required. With Eastern, you know it was done right, and you can go after them if something is wrong.

 

[Merc1973]

Buy the truck from Eastern completely checked out, cleaned, painted, and ready to go.

The small savings buying private will evaporate with a paint job and "just some minor maintenance" being required. With Eastern, you know it was done right, and you can go after them if something is wrong.

Thanks for the input. I do like the fact they will perform inspection and drive-ability checks.

 

[Heath_h49008]

...and they will paint to order....

 

[Adrian A]

I have that in my truck and it still needs paint.

 

[clinto]

1. If you have mechanical experience, they will not present any difficulties. They're just like a '65 Chevy pickup, except bigger.

2. I think (and this is no slam on Eastern) if you're going to pay full retail prices, you need to get trucks that are 100% serviced. All hub/drums pulled, everything cleaned, adjusted, bearings repacked, all filters and fluids replaced, new batteries, everything greased, everything adjusted, everything works, etc.

3. If you're going to pay extra for paint, make sure they aren't doing a sloppy, quicky resale paint job. I don't think a lot of these resale trucks get very good prep.

There's a good document about buying a deuce here: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...an-M35A2-at-GL&p=400539&viewfull=1#post400539

 

[ducer]

One thing I have found is after a good day of working on my truck I need a goor chiropractor!

Denny

 

[DieselBob]

You guys have a great forum!

I'm looking for my first M35A2 to share with my Father in law.

When you say this what do you mean. Just something that you can jump in and take a ride or do a show or parade or more like a project that you can both enjoy working on. If the former Than a ready to roll already serviced truck like one from Eastern would be the way to go. If you choose this direction than be sure to verify exactly what has been done in the way of a complete service. If the case would be the latter than a good condition unit from a private seller might be the way to go. A good condition vehicle from a private seller would have a lower purchase price but as stated above you will need to to all the service and checkout yourself and that can lead to some parts expense. I personally like working on vehicles and anything mechanical almost better than just driving around in them but that's me. Also there is no better way to learn the in's and out's of a vehicle than doing the maintenance and repair yourself. If you know which end of a screwdriver to hold and have a decent tool set than you can repair everything on one of these trucks. Yes some of the parts are large and heavy but a brake drum is a brake drum a transmission is a transmission. The only odd system is the electrical because of the regular and blackout systems intermixed. One extremely important aspect of these trucks is they are a 15000lb vehicle (empty) that has a single circuit drum brake system. You do not cut corners or take short cuts with the brake system.

 

[glcaines]

Working on these trucks can be intimidating for some due to the size, but as others have said, they are relatively easy to work on and a very simple design. If you don't mistreat them, they have minimal problems and are fun to drive. Also, they seem to run much better if driven regularly. As DB stated, make sure the brakes are in good condition. The brakes on these trucks is more important than anything else! Don't buy one of the first trucks you see - look at several. If you have never driven a deuce, I would recommend that you locate a deuce owner in your area and see if they will let you take a test drive. However, be aware that once you drive one you will want one even more.

 

[wreckerman893]

Be aware that a deuce is a "gateway drug" into Military Vehicles. Once you have one truck you will want something to go with it.....a trailer or maybe another deuce. Remember, deuces are herd animals. They spent their whole lives confined with others of their kind. They dont like being alone and will seek out their brethern. If you get one be kind to it and take it to rallys so it can be with it's brothers and sisters. You will find the brotherhood of Military Vehicle Addiction to be filled with kooks, characters and mostly good folks (with a stinker thrown in once in a while). Welcome to the Green Iron Addiction, don't say we didn't warn you.

 

[Merc1973]

I appreciate the excellent info! Keep it coming! We are looking for something that that is already somewhat drivable, not high mileage, with a turbo (whistler) and not a "fixer-upper" and not rusted throughout. I already have one of those that is going on the back-burner (73 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible with 351CJ, C6,9" rear) that needs rust repair and stroker rebuild. However I'm not afraid to do maintenance like hubs, brakes, upgrading oil & fuel filter system, adding more aux. lights, perhaps larger tires/rims in the future.

There is also TNJ Murray but Im not sure those run or are inspected?

I am already infected with BRD (Black Rifle Disease) and I fear it's terminal. I dont doubt many of you guys are as well. Not sure I can survive another addiction along with Jeeps, CB radio, LOL.

BTW, anyone wanting to help work on the truck gets free spinal adjustments!

 

[two.fiveM35]

Be aware that a deuce is a "gateway drug" into Military Vehicles. Once you have one truck you will want something to go with it.....a trailer or maybe another deuce. Remember, deuces are herd animals. They spent their whole lives confined with others of their kind. They dont like being alone and will seek out their brethern. If you get one be kind to it and take it to rallys so it can be with it's brothers and sisters. You will find the brotherhood of Military Vehicle Addiction to be filled with kooks, characters and mostly good folks (with a stinker thrown in once in a while). Welcome to the Green Iron Addiction, don't say we didn't warn you.

So true,shortly after getting my deuce, it wanted a trailer to play with, so i got it one. Then the trailer wanted a smaller brother to hang with when it wasn't being pull around, so I got it one. Now the deuce got jealous because he was the odd one, so I got him a 5 ton to play with. It arrives next week. God help us all...

 

[steelandcanvas]

I hope you have a Dr Backcrack Buddy to provide you with an spinal adjustment after pulling the drums on a Deuce. Welcome to the insanity. I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but these Beasts are 24 Volts, not a big deal, just something to put in the memory bank. Download some of the Deuce TM's (available under the Technical Manual Tab) and start to enjoy some exciting night-stand reading. The 209 Series are for the older Deuces, the 361 Series for the newer. Start with the -10 (Operator's Manual) and work your way up through the -20, -24, -34, and -34P. Unless you have something specific your working on, a general perusal through these will be sufficient to provide you with a good familiarization. Enjoy!

 

[Merc1973]

I hope you have a Dr Backcrack Buddy to provide you with an spinal adjustment after pulling the drums on a Deuce. Welcome to the insanity. I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but these Beasts are 24 Volts, not a big deal, just something to put in the memory bank. Download some of the Deuce TM's (available under the Technical Manual Tab) and start to enjoy some exciting night-stand reading. The 209 Series are for the older Deuces, the 361 Series for the newer. Start with the -10 (Operator's Manual) and work your way up through the -20, -24, -34, and -34P. Unless you have something specific your working on, a general perusal through these will be sufficient to provide you with a good familiarization. Enjoy!

Luckily I married a Chiropractor!


I will start reading the TM's, thanks!

 

[jatonka]

Drive a little further north and see my deuce that I have for sale, ready to go and licensed in NY , transferable registration. Excellent cond with all the racks, bows and cover. heater, turbo. great tires. PM me for directions. I might deliver it too. JT

 

[Heath_h49008]

I can't say I have heard a bad word about TNJ Murray yet... and that in and of it's self might be an endorsement. I would strongly suggest you go with a dealer. The 351 Cleveland Cougar story says enough. Get a good truck with a solid completed body and driveline then throw some big tire on and you will be a happy man.

If you had said "I have a basket case Cougar I have to get done first" I would say buy from a private seller.

Make sense?You don't need another half project... you need a solid truck you can customize. (Just translating what I think I hear/read.)

 

[Sephirothq]

Heath,
Not to call you out here but you seem to be under the impression that the private sellers trucks always are in some kind of need of repairs, have something wrong with them or they are inferior to a dealer's product.
Also you seem to be under the impression that the dealers completely take the trucks apart and rebuild them from scratch. I have not heard of any of the big boys doing this. I have heard they get rebuild trucks from the auctions every once and a while and they will advertise that truck as rebuilt, but they don't do it themselves.
Alot of the trucks they don't do anything to other then check and top off fluids, they don't replace all the fluids right off the bat. A quick paint job on these trucks doesn't cost that must and hides alot of sins.

Read the posts of people buying from dealers and have problems before they even get them home.


Don’t forget that the private seller and the dealer both got their trucks from the same place. Government Liquidations, there is no special dealer only place that sells better stuff to the dealers. There is no magic here. Just more overhead the dealers have to pay for, that the buyer has to pay for.

 

[Heath_h49008]

I'm in no way running down the quality of a truck from ALL private sellers. Many of the trucks for sale right here are lovingly restored and meticulously maintained.

My only point was if the choice was between a truck from a mudder, or that has had no work on it since it was purchased from GL... and a reputable source at a higher price.. go for the better truck. The $3000 rustbucket with bad brakes and a weird shifting issue is no bargain.

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I simply mean he would not be well served with a "fixer-upper" from his description.

 

[glcaines]

I can't say I have heard a bad word about TNJ Murray yet... and that in and of it's self might be an endorsement..)

I've bought a lot of parts from TNJ Murray, but no vehicles. My only issue with them was an incorrect part shipped and they made it good immediately.

 

[Merc1973]

There are many out there WO/W that look to be in decent shape. Would it be better to find one W/W or install a winch later on? So what is the average $$ markup "Dealers" use on their GL purchases?