M54 found while driving around in my Deuce

[Danger Ranger]

Good for him. I don't want to see it parted out anyway. I want to see it saved. If Ferro's is worse (which I suppose it is now that I looked again) then there is all the more reason to save this one. Why does everything have to be deemed parts immediatly,huh? (<--rhetorical)

 

[indy4x4fab]

Well if the front sheet metal and wiring harness are save-able, and the engines not locked up, then I have a cab and soft top and ll the parts to put this truck back together as a tractor, IF IT IS SAVE-ABLE. We will see. when djones gets back in town he said he would take me over there to look at it more closely to see if shes a scrapper of a saver.

 

[DJones]

Indy I still haven't heard back from the owner yet.

 

[indy4x4fab]

No werries I'm still tracking down the last two 1 1/8'' pins for my small tow bar that hold the feet to the tow bar. Wurst case I'll go to fastenal and buy three brand new 1 1/8'' grade 8 bolt with lock nuts.

 

[73m819]

No werries I'm still tracking down the last two 1 1/8'' pins for my small tow bar that hold the feet to the tow bar. Wurst case I'll go to fastenal and buy three brand new 1 1/8'' grade 8 bolt with lock nuts.

If this is a medium tb, it should use 1" pins for the adaptors, both to pin to the tb and to the lifting eyes, if the tb you are using takes 1 1/8" make sure the adaptors will fit the lift eyes and still pivot

 

[indy4x4fab]

Here's the my little tow bar (I call it little cause its smaller then my tank tow bar). She's old but shes solid and she's got a nice new clean paint job, which should last right up to the point when I unload it off the truck. I also included a couple pictures of my tank tow bar. And of the feet to make it fit the m35s, m809s, and m939s.

 

[73m819]

the adaptors in pic #4 will pin up BUT will NOT work on a deuce or 5t, it takes a different style adaptor to allow it to pivot,
the adaptor in pic #2 should use a 1" pin in the big holes and a 3/4" in the small hole

 

[indy4x4fab]

The feet in picture 4 are do fit on to the m35 and 5 tons, I added a picture of them pinned to a m923a2.

 

[73m819]

ok, didnt see the curve

 

[indy4x4fab]

Well went and looked at the m54 and found out a few very nice things about it. It was depot rebuilt in 1970 (found the rebuild tag on the right side of the glove box), front clip sheet metal is all there but really could use new finders. The carb moves freely, and there's no critters nest in the carb. Battery box is gone, but I have a good used box that may need some repair. The bed is scrap steel not fixable, at all. The frames clean, no road salt rust. Dog bones are nice and tight. The farmer said that it ran 7 years ago when they parked it on the farm. I forgot to bring a braker-bar to see if the engine was free. I have sevral ideas for this m54 and all of them I'll be leaving the gasser a gasser. I'm thinking m52 tractor but leave the rear axles where they are and put a rear winch behind the tire carrier, and tool box. I'll be going back to talk to the farmer a week from saturday to talk to him about possibly doing a labor trade for the truck, he wants lights put in his two 30x90 pole barns, which right now have no lights. I told him I would give him 500 for the truck cab and chassis, and he could keep the bed for scrap. I figure 500 dollars and some electrical work and him buying all the materials sound fair to me semi fair, for putting lights in one barn.

 

[123mack]

I think your idea for a tractor is good. Make a headache rack and a winch setup like on a 10 ton M123 with single winch.

 

[indy4x4fab]

I think your idea for a trator is good. Make a headache rack and a winch setup like on a 10 ton M123 with single winch.

I like your idea, I also thought about doing something like powerhouse deuce headack rack.

 

[lew]

I am thinking a case of OD green and she will look good as the day she was parked there. Which was from the looks of it atleast 15years or more! Spray paint party! I'd take the axles though!

WOW! that would be real feat to restore. That being said, a friend asked to store a W C in my yard while waiting for for bodyshop. He brought 2 pcs over and they looked about that bad. He's doing a full restoration.
If you decide to restore it I'll donate a case of Sherwin-william ordnance wash (primer) .
good luck,
Lew

 

[indy4x4fab]

The only way I might restore it is if I actaully made it in to a m41 instead of a m54.

 

[jwaller]

Ran when parked?

 

[indy4x4fab]

Ran when parked?

Ya that's kinda was trying not to laugh when the farmer told me that.

 

[auron]

wow I have shot nicer 5 tons full of holes I cant wait to see this thing done and running

 

[DJones]

Indy have you talked with Mike the farmer any more about the truck.

 

[indy4x4fab]

Ran out of time this pass weekend to have time to talk to him ill try to get out there wed. to talk more with him. Recovered the m818 this pass weekend took three times longer then even I thought it would. Mr. Murffy left us alone for the most part but he sure did know how to eat up the time and slow us down. No major problems just a long trip.

 

[DJones]

Cool, I was just checking. Glad you got to bring your truck home.