You know I'm thinking I heard somewhere that there is a safety reason behind the reverse-threads, something to do with loosening by rotation.
Anybody know the story (IF there is one)?
As M37 owners probably know, the brake drums (which include the studs) are interchangeable front-to-back. My M37 in 1/11th Artillery had them switched around so that both front wheels had right hand threads and both rear wheels had left had threads. What do you suppose that did to safety in a hard stop? Also do you suppose an M37 with its wheels locked would have an issue with loosing a nut?
I too am halting work on my M109 as an off-road camper.
With regard to the transmission, the deuce was originally set up for a gasoline engine which could turn 3500 RPMs easily. To put a diesel that could only turn 2200 in them without going to different axle ratios, they put in an overdrive transmission. That's why it has such a strange shift pattern. What used to be 5th gear is straight through. They took what used to be 4th gear and changed it to a ratio of less than 1 to 1, making in an overdrive. What they didn't do was beef up the transmission.
This is what makes re-powering a deuce difficult. If you put in a different engine, you have to use the transmission and clutch that match it. A diesel that is limited to 2200 RPM will only push that deuce at about 40 MPH because of the axle ratios. Don't believe that? Drive your deuce in 4th gear, which is straight through. Going to a gasoline engine that can rap up to 3500 RPM might be a workable combination.
The overriding issue is the weak engine, a non-turbo LD-465-1 and the difficulty of replacing it. I bought an M923A1, but there are issues there, too, but the major components are civilian and not so hard to find. I am pushing ahead with the M923 and am planning on putting the box off of the M109 on it, after bobbing it.
I admire you guys that will take the time and effort to fix up a 45 yr. old truck, but I'm just not sure that my '66 Kaiser-Jeep truck will ever be trustworthy enough to take way back in the woods, even if I get a better engine in it. A couple of years ago it cost me $375 to have my M923 and the M101 trailer it was towing hauled 16 miles, and that was from a Walmart parking lot.