Making a Deuce a (better) highway vehicle?

[Marauder_Pilot]

A project I've wanted to do...well, for **** near ever is to build a camper/expedition vehicle out of a M109. Something that could take me camping pretty much wherever I want to, tow my Jeep to and from some of the more famous trails, hit up paintball scenario games, things like that.

However, obviously, the Deuce isn't exactly known for speed on the highway. While I know they'll cruise quite happily at about 50-55 MPH, is there any way, short of swapping the entire drivetrain with that of a heavy truck designed for highway speed (Since I know that, if I swapped the engine, I'd probably have to swap in a new transmission, transfer case, maybe axels and so on...), of getting a Deuce to, at the very least, cruise safely at the average 60 MPH limit?

Any input would be much appreciated!

 

[KsM715]

Bigger tires or pony up for some pricey (very pricey) ring and pinion sets for the axles.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/43715-anyone-wanting-more-speed-your-deuce.html

 

[m16ty]

The deuce accually does better around 45mph. You can run 55 with a stock truck but they seem to come apart sometimes at that speed.

Easiest way to get more mph out of the truck is with bigger tires. You may want more power then though. That would require an engine swap. I'd go with a 6BT Cummins. If I was going to mod much more than that I'd look for another truck. You could replace the whole drivetrain but that's going to cost some big bucks.

 

[73X]

Get a different truck. The Deuce we all know and love has limitations and we accept them as such. Part of the joy in driving one is going slow enough to enjoy the scenery and to see things you would otherwise miss.

 

[Marauder_Pilot]

What kind of power loss would we be talking about with bigger tires, and how big are we talking? I'm not too concerned about losing off-road performance (There's a long way to go there, and, like I said, more of a highway vehicle that is also incredibly awesome then a wheeler).

EDIT: 73X, any recommendations in that area as well? While I'm a bit of a MV geek, I've always been more into Jeeps then the larger trucks, so I'm not all that educated in the area-hence, why I'm here.

 

[southdave]

make somthing like this

 

[velociT]

M16ty speaks the truth.

My currently stock truck does not like much more than 45mph.

 

[m16ty]

I'll be honest with you, if you're planning on making long trips in the deuce it may not be the truck for you. Some poeple love the long trips but it can wear on you. They are loud, cold in the winter, hot in the summer, not a whole lot of leg room if you are tall, and you get wet when it rains. I'm not trying to discourage you but am trying to make sure you know what you're getting into .

 

[tm america]

i run mine at 65-69mph all day ......but i have 15.5s on mine if you turn the fuel up a little it doesnt seem to hurt to much with the bigger tires

 

[panshark]

On a quick note, when I got my duece I aired the tires up to highway spec, and got a 5 mph increase over what the previous owner got. Makes sense...proper air pressure=less drag, which let's you go faster. That 5 mph increase was with a load of wood in the back, too.

 

[Marauder_Pilot]

Well, I drove a Mitsubishi J-series Jeep about 3000 KM, and drive a Jeep TJ every day, and on numerous highway trips, so I've got a high tolerance for road abuse.

That said, I only went to the Deuce at first simply because that's the only one I have anything resembling real knowledge about. Are there more modern trucks that are better suited to camperizing and long highway trips that are conceivably available for us to buy?

 

[73X]

Give these a look see.

Turtle Expedition

 

[tm america]

if you put 395s or 15.5s on there you can cruise at 60-65 without having it sitting on the governor and it will do all better offroad then it does now

 

[m16ty]

MP, Just a quick question. Is your location a typo? I've never heard of a location with an abbreviation of "YT".

 

[tm america]

and i would put a muffler on there to it makes a big difference .i have a dynomax bullet style on my truck it is a 3.5 inch full flow muffler .also as said before running more air in the tires is a great idea for the highway it gives you better mpg to

 

[Marauder_Pilot]

MP, Just a quick question. Is your location a typo? I've never heard of a location with an abbreviation of "YT".

Nope, it's correct. Stands for 'Yukon Territory', that sparsely-populated wedge of Canada between Alaska and the Northwest Territories, where bears outnumber humans and you are required, by law, to own at least one strange vehicle.

(Although I'm actually in Windsor, ON right now, just north...well, south, technically...of Detroit, finishing school)

EDIT: TM, thanks for those points, they're definitely something to consider. I'm not looking for something that'll blast down the highway at 100 MPH all day, just something that doesn't run the risk of dropping under the minimum speed limit...

 

[73X]

Good luck on your quest, TM is telling it the way it is. Muffler, tires and fuel. Just watch your EGT's.

 

[baxter]

If turning up your fuel I highly suggest a pyro so you know where you are at on the EGT's good luck.

Vaughn

 

[DUECE-COUPE]

does some one have pics of the injector pump and where you "turn up the fuel"

 

[tm america]

i will take some pics for you tomorrow if it's still light out when i get home from work.there is a triangle shaped cover that is held on with two 7/16 headed 1/4 bolts that go from the top to the bottom.then the adjustment is right there look in the tms for throttle stop plate adjustment