M135 from Salmon, Idaho, continued under new ownership!

[Thoudius]

I purchased the m135 from Merle only a month or so ago. He had most of the work complete with just a few things not finished. I will admit that the idea of returning it to original sounds great.... but I am a bit more on the lines of make it functional. I have been removing the components that are not functioning and finding a little more modern replacements. Saving the originals to maybe stumble across the functional parts later.

Thus far the original generator and or regulator was non functioning. I found a 24v self-regulating alternator on google that I built a custom bracket for and had to drill and tap the shaft but easily bolted the pulley off the generator to. A little bit of alignment adjustments and it works great.

I have a difficult time finding a new 24v coil and resistor, cap, rotor, and of course shielded plugs new. So unfortunately until I can get those the civilian distributor plugs and wires with new points and condensers went back in for now.

Replace the air compressor and found that the brake booster needs a rebuild. so it was bypassed for all manual brakes. Works well enough.

The original wiring is shot. crumbling apart. Does anyone know it they is someplace to get a replacement? I have been disconnecting what I need with as much lead as I can and replacing the wires for the basics.

It is up and running now. I have basic lights. Had to put turn signals and brake light on it to move it after dark. (mounted them where the rear reflectors use to be)

Had to put a muffler on the stack as I could not even have a conversation with a passenger at 35 mph even yelling haha

I am taking all the wheels off tomorrow and checking all the brakes and slave cylinders as one stuck on me yesterday.

I am open to Ideas and or comments of how what I did is all wrong haha. I have been trying to find a way to blend old with new and have a great usable vehicle. I work with it most days and even tho it is slow I don't believe they built much of anything better!!!

I will get some pictures up here in the next couple of days.

Have a great day!

 

[USMC 00-08]

Welcome to the forum. That's great you got the truck up and running! Definitely looking forward to seeing pictures and YouTube videos of the truck running and driving.

Vintage Wiring of Maine can build new wire harness for these trucks. I will probably be ordering from them soon as well.

Memphis Equipment should have all of the distributor parts you need.

I'm interested in seeing the modern replacement parts you used. Can you tell us the part numbers when you have time?

When you go to rebuild the brake booster or AirPak, here is a good link to show you what to do. 1944MB and I both used this method and it works very well.

M220 AirPak rebuild.

Rebuilding the 200 series AirPak is possible with the 800 series AirPak rebuild kit. Two seals are different between the two series of AirPak. Of course the two seals that were bad in our AirPak. The meat of the matter is the power piston seals are smaller in the 200 series AirPak. We had an...

www.steelsoldiers.com

Here is the thread from when Merle owned the truck so we can follow everything more easily.

M135 from Salmon, Idaho

Been doing a lot of reading on Steel Soldiers and the TM's. Joined Steel Soldiers in May of 2015 when I got my Deuce. Decided I had better start my thread. She is not to bad physically, but a mess mechanically. Engine is partly tore down, the head was redone and put back on, the valve train...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[Merle]

Welcome to SS Ed, there is a ton of good enfo here.

 

[Mullaney]

I purchased the m135 from Merle only a month or so ago. He had most of the work complete with just a few things not finished. I will admit that the idea of returning it to original sounds great.... but I am a bit more on the lines of make it functional. I have been removing the components that are not functioning and finding a little more modern replacements. Saving the originals to maybe stumble across the functional parts later.

Thus far the original generator and or regulator was non functioning. I found a 24v self-regulating alternator on google that I built a custom bracket for and had to drill and tap the shaft but easily bolted the pulley off the generator to. A little bit of alignment adjustments and it works great.

I have a difficult time finding a new 24v coil and resistor, cap, rotor, and of course shielded plugs new. So unfortunately until I can get those the civilian distributor plugs and wires with new points and condensers went back in for now.

Replace the air compressor and found that the brake booster needs a rebuild. so it was bypassed for all manual brakes. Works well enough.

The original wiring is shot. crumbling apart. Does anyone know it they is someplace to get a replacement? I have been disconnecting what I need with as much lead as I can and replacing the wires for the basics.

It is up and running now. I have basic lights. Had to put turn signals and brake light on it to move it after dark. (mounted them where the rear reflectors use to be)

Had to put a muffler on the stack as I could not even have a conversation with a passenger at 35 mph even yelling haha

I am taking all the wheels off tomorrow and checking all the brakes and slave cylinders as one stuck on me yesterday.

I am open to Ideas and or comments of how what I did is all wrong haha. I have been trying to find a way to blend old with new and have a great usable vehicle. I work with it most days and even tho it is slow I don't believe they built much of anything better!!!

I will get some pictures up here in the next couple of days.

Have a great day!

Welcome to the Green Disease. It is far less compromising that our "current mess" happening in the news. This one doesn't make it hard to breathe - but it definitely attacks your wallet

Sounds like you are well on your way to having a fun truck. Being able to ride a little, then work a little makes this hobby SO much more enjoyable! As asked for above - pictures would be great.

One more time: WELCOME!

.

 

[SCM35A2]

Welcome to the site!

 

[Thoudius]

Ok a couple pieces. 24 VOLT UNIVERSAL ALTERNATOR 1-WIRE 40 AMP HEAVY is what I typed into google. I works on a John Deere 992D 88-93. Item Number: ADR0152 at DB electric.

The exhaust muffler was from less schwab. It is an actual muffler built into the size of a glass back. Oh my I can actually hear while driving wooohooo!!!!

I did not give a close up of it here but you may be able to zoom in. I mounted a sediment bowl on the side of the cab directly above the fuel tank. I have dropped and cleaned out the fuel tank as much as possible. There is a division in the center and it stopped me from getting the rest. Now it is breaking down into small enough pieces to clog up filters quickly. I also have a fuel filter after the electric fuel pump for what ever else is missed. I have to stop and get an inline fuel pressure regulator as the electric pump now with full flow over pressures the carb. fix one thing create 2 more lol.

Yesterday I went to drive it hit the brakes and they locked up and would not release. So crawled it back in low range and began taking every wheel apart and changing out the slave cylinders. Thanks to Merle I had them on hand. Changed out the two worst tires and almost cried when I found the price of new replacements..

I have been doing some digging for tires and have found a few places to get some. I have also found what appears to be what the military is using now. The size is still used but the tread pattern is different. Since I am using this almost every day would it not be prudent to put on the tires being used today? At least they are available at almost half the $$$

I found a list of part that you all had compiled of everyday part numbers before but I am having trouble finding it again. Could you point me back to it please?

Does anyone know when they changed out the wood for metal on the rack and the sizes they used?

thank you again all!

 

[m1010plowboy]

G749 Parts List

Here is the link to the parts list that several of us have been working on for the G749 series. We will continue to update it as new part numbers are discovered. Please let me know of any additional part numbers you might come across and I will add those to the list for everyone to use as...

www.steelsoldiers.com

When a mouse clicks on "forums" then scrolls down to "Early Deuce", the parts list is in the first couple of threads at the top.

My kid tore down our seats and bought pre-cut Ash so I'll dig up those measurements

That's awesome you were already driving it. Getting them running, driving, shifting......then stopping...... is order of operations for most of us. 2-3lbs of fuel pressure is all the 302 needs so a regulator is a must if you can't rebuild that tank pump.

I paid $50.00 each for tires so be real patient when you're shopping. I found my first tire at a swap meet in San Diego then 6 more showed up from the East Coast when a good soul brought a truck from the U.S. Let's go rubber shopping!

I'd be real interested in seeing how the brake diagnosis turns out. Is it just sticky pads and weak return springs that didn't allow the pedal to return or something else? Even with the air tanks dumped and no air pressure the brakes should work. Once you're at the air-pak port to bleed it, think about putting some air tool oil in the rear of the air-pak. I'll grab a picture later but there's a tube to the back of the cylinder piston that can be removed for oiling. The tech recommends an oil called OHT. We had air tool oil on the shelf but a fella should really find out what this OHT oil is.

Real nice to see that original star on the door. Beautiful truck.

 

[USMC 00-08]

Yesterday I went to drive it hit the brakes and they locked up and would not release. So crawled it back in low range and began taking every wheel apart and changing out the slave cylinders. Thanks to Merle I had them on hand.

With your brakes locking up like that, you need to check your master cylinder spring. If it has this check valve on it, you have a problem. The check valve is in the Airpak and should not be in the master cylinder.

 

[Thoudius]

Thank you USMC 00-08 I will be checking that today. I had two master cylinders and I put in the newer looking one. They were not the same. now after looking at the manuals and pictures I think i put the wrong one in lol figures. 50 50 shot and i do the wrong one hahaha. Got the fuel parts sorted just had to put an inline fuel pressure regulator in and set the out put at 1.5 psi and bingo! Runs, starts without flooding! thank you all very much for the feed back!

So if the brakes workout today on to a few gauges and finding a hard top (or build it) for the m135. Any ideas not even sure where to start looking for one?

 

[USMC 00-08]

I have a new master cylinder part number that I have not added to the parts list yet. It is O'Reilly number NMC11251 and is very reasonably priced. It appears to have the same specs as the Napa number we have on the list. If you decide to get it, you might take that extension with you and make sure it will thread into the top of the master cylinder. You will want that little bit of extra capacity.

Military hard tops can be hard to find. You might reach out to some of our Canadian brethren and see if they have any for sale. The US military didn't use as many hard tops. They look really nice though.

 

[Mullaney]

I have a new master cylinder part number that I have not added to the parts list yet. It is O'Reilly number NMC11251 and is very reasonably priced. It appears to have the same specs as the Napa number we have on the list. If you decide to get it, you might take that extension with you and make sure it will thread into the top of the master cylinder. You will want that little bit of extra capacity.

Military hard tops can be hard to find. You might reach out to some of our Canadian brethren and see if they have any for sale. The US military didn't use as many hard tops. They look really nice though.

View attachment 817194 View attachment 817195

That is a NICE looking pair of GMC trucks! Amazingly clean. Somebody took (is taking) really good care of them.

.

 

[Thoudius]

the old master cylinder needs a rebuild it doesn't pump at all lol put the other back on for now re bled the lines. Had a little more air in the line then I thought so may have not bled them well enough last time as well. Might be just an idiot and didn't get them good enough last time. Added the vent tube to the top of the master cylinder so fixing more stuff. Found the valve cover is leaking a little so going to repair that today or tomorrow. I oil leaks drive me nuts so I will be totally crazy soon I am sure haha.

I should have replacement gauges in the next few days. Not originals but will all work.

Will have to get a speedo cable as well as the pto cable for the winch. Have any of you found replacements for those yet?

Have a great day!!!!