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M35A2 buying advice for a newbie?

navyninja

Member
33
1
8
Location
Springfield, Missouri
I'm wanting to get a hold of a 67-71 M35 or even an M54 for my first monster of a truck, any advice the you grizzled vets have to offer would be great!! I'd like to have a standard and would prefer to avoid the Allison automatic.
 
219
1
18
Location
new smyrns beach fl
if the budget is lean ,iwould stay away from the a3 because of the costs of parts. yellow engines are expensive to maintain , i am told the costs of a rear eheel brng is 600.00 ,dont know havent bought one , anyway welcome from florida and good luck :driver:
 

Lex_Ordo

Member
539
6
18
Location
Long Island, NY
I recommend an A2. The M35A2 will give you the multifuel engine which is pretty simple in it's design, and can be worked on rather easily. The truck is also not chopped and slapped back together as the A3 is, to accomodate the larger CAT engine. The hood needs to be lengthened, and widened, which also requires the whole nose to be closed up to make room for the radiator, oil cooler, and tranny cooler that accompanies the automatic transmission.

I wanted a '71 soft top, no heater and found one close by which was cash & carry. No waiting around for auction paperwork and release from GL. (which can take months)
The truck on delivery, was as it left the military, and was complete in fit and function.
I updated what I felt needed to be replaced, and spent the money to restore it and make sure I would have a really fine looking truck. I wanted it to be prototypical and look as if it was currently in use.
I am glad I did. It runs great, and likes to be driven. I hope to have it for many years to come.

I had no illusions of speed. It will drive on the Expswy at 55mph, but it is slow around town, and loud.
I LOVE IT!
 

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camoyj7

Member
927
18
18
Location
wonder lake IL
M35a3's have the allison auto's.The M35a2's are all stick shifts. With winch or without a stock truck or a bobber? Try to buy one that has everything you want on it because it can be cheaper that way in the end.
 

stampy

Active member
1,321
22
38
Location
Henderson. NC
m35a2 That will be the cheapest .if you want to camp out in it you might look at a m109 that variant has a box on the back and guys make offroad campers out of them. Preview the auction vehicle if you are going the GL route and like it was said above get one that has everything you want on it. ie: winch, heater...etc. Some a2's go up into the 1980's. I have a 1982 model myself.:driver:
 

KsM715

Well-known member
5,149
142
63
Location
St George Ks
Welcome to SteelSoldiers.

Best advice is to get some coffee,tea,glass of milk, what ever you like and sit down and spend a day reading the "deuce" forum.

67-71 are all going to be M35a2 trucks. The a3 didnt come around till early 90's.
A2's are all manual trans. A3 have the autos.

M35's are 2.5 ton trucks hence the deuce-and-a-half nickname. The M54 is a 5ton and there quite a few differences between the two field of trucks.
 

RealCavDog

New member
579
12
0
Location
Joplin, Missouri
Welcome to SteelSoldiers.

Best advice is to get some coffee,tea,glass of milk, what ever you like and sit down and spend a day reading the "deuce" forum.

67-71 are all going to be M35a2 trucks. The a3 didnt come around till early 90's.
A2's are all manual trans. A3 have the autos.

M35's are 2.5 ton trucks hence the deuce-and-a-half nickname. The M54 is a 5ton and there quite a few differences between the two field of trucks.

Jeff is right, lots of research work is easily done on all the various aspects, right on this site by using the search function ! No need to go anywhere else !

Also, if a bobbed winch truck ends up being your choice, rumor has it there is a pretty nice one available a few hours away from me over in Kansas !
Already half painted, depending on your choice of tan or green ! :beer:

I opted for the A3 due to the low production numbers, but that can be a double edged sword ! I still want a bobbed wincher A2 myself, but need to let the cashflow catch up to my wants ! My only real regret about my A3 is not being a multifuel, but other than a wheel seal leak, it has been an absolutely perfect truck !

AND . . . welcome from the Joplin area, was in Walnut Grove for Christmas Eve !
 
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KsM715

Well-known member
5,149
142
63
Location
St George Ks
Jeff is right, lots of research work is easily done on all the various aspects, right on this site by using the search function ! No need to go anywhere else !

Also, if a bobbed winch truck ends up being your choice, rumor has it there is a pretty nice one available a few hours away from me over in Kansas !
Already half painted, depending on your choice of tan or green ! :beer:

There is? Where?


:whistle::lol:
 

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mcmullag

Member
919
13
18
Location
Colorado Springs, CO region
the journey begins....

My first deuce was a '70, was a good truck, now I have a '87 and it is the same except for dual air packs brake system and dropside bed.
You gain a lot if you can find someone in your area that owns one and you can talk to them for hours and ask questions and see one of these up close and drive it. That is how I got started, met someone on here, bought my first one from him, and he is still helping me out with detailing my latest one. I would say, don't worry about getting it perfect the first time, you can sell the first one and get a better one as it comes along. If you do google searches for questions you have about the truck, it brings up threads to this site. Keep reading. Best of luck. :beer:
 

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navyninja

Member
33
1
8
Location
Springfield, Missouri
Thanks everyone, I have done a lot of research on them and I would like to have a heater in it most definately. Also, I would prefer a hard top as opposed to a soft top, had problems with jeeps with soft tops. Now, I am going to be going to basic in July, so would my family and girlfriend be able to have a somewhat user friendly truck? Where if need be they could use it to do something in.
 

dittle

Well-known member
1,582
72
48
Location
Albia, IA
Unless your family and girlfriend are familiar with bigger vehicles there isn't a user friendly MV for the inexperienced. These bigger trucks regardless of model require more to operate them safely then just jump in, start it, and go.
 

Goose2448

New member
1,500
28
0
Location
TEXAS Hanover, Pa/Bokeelia, Fl
First off Welcome to SS!

Second, A2 all the way. Heat, HT,W/W, Drop-side, is the way to go if you can find one.

Its only user friendly if you know what your doing. Yes its easy to jump in and drive, but with manual steering, Large blind spots, slow speed, noise....I would be best if you taught them how to use it. Or maybe just park it to be safe.
 

navyninja

Member
33
1
8
Location
Springfield, Missouri
My dad is familar with these old trucks as he used to be a mechanic in the National Guard in the 80s back in Oklahoma. My girlfriend has driven just about everything with wheels due to her dad. What are the best configurations or best things on the A2? Like is keeping the duals on the rear better than switching to HEMMTT tires and wheels?
 

3dAngus

Well-known member
4,719
101
63
Location
Perry, Ga.
If you are about to just go in the service, don't even buy a motorized VW beetle and let it sit around.

Save your money, wait until you get out or in a PCS with your own home or property, then buy.

You'll always be able to buy one of these things, and better to buy it when you use it on a regular basis, rather than dump your problems on someone else. Every day, its something different with a 40 year old vehicle. It costs coin. You never stop working on them, but it's a labor of love.

If you're not there to baby it, there's no love to be given, and it is just a burden to anyone else. So don't think for a minute you're doing the girlfriend or your Dad or family any favors. You're NOT!

My apologies for the "Real World" and straight forward answer. I know it can be hurtful to hear the real truth. Good luck in your service.
 

navyninja

Member
33
1
8
Location
Springfield, Missouri
No! Not at all, I just threw it out there. I really do want to find a truck. That's why I went through the trouble of making a profile. I habe to sell the hummer in order to get an MV..
 

gem1410

Active member
525
44
28
Location
TOMS RIVER NJ 08527
Bid on a M35a2 from GL--Scrap value is around $1300 as of jan 2012--Bid up to $2500--You may get something great or loose $1200--Have some real fun--you could get lucky
 

leroygreen

Member
49
0
6
Location
Mt. Vernon, IN
Welcome, The most important thing you can get is information. Do your reasearch. In Springfield Mo. make sure you get a heater. Have fun and take your time and check your truck out from top to bottom esp the brakes. Make sure you have some extra cash on hand after you buy for brake work and oil and any other basic maint. Good luck and have fun.
 
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