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The Adventures of Zor

Quetzal

New member
6
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0
Location
Middle of Nowhere / AZ
I got it in my head I wanted a big weird truck to build a house on. I have a couple friends who have m35s and gave me the rundown.

Bad:
1) Loud
2) Slow
3) Smells like diesel
4) Breaks a lot

Good:
1) Runs on whatever
2) Cheap
3) Usually cheap and easy to fix
4) Looks ****ing awesome

I decided the good outweighed the bad, bought this guy for $3500 south of San Diego (where I was living at the time) and brought it home.

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I piled all of my belongings into the back, grabbed my puppy and took along my good friend and experienced Driver of Big Old Weird Stuff, Ed.

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He taught me to double clutch and how to get going again without rolling backwards if you stall on a hill. He let e drive in the easier areas, and took on the wild city traffic and short highway bursts as needed.

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We drove for 4 days on the dirt and byways between southern California and Southern Arizona

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Camping out in the open air on my loft bed in the back.

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One of my front tires was wearing unevenly and quickly, so we swapped it with one of the rear duals. It hasn't had this issue since, although I swear it looks a little toe-in when I stare at it from the front. . .

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Things start getting greener as we near our destination.

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At last we have arrived to the place where I grew up.

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I mentioned buying the truck to my sister and she laughs. "Don't you remember when we were kids? Dad would talk about driving deuces in the army and how he always dreamed of making one into a go-anywhere camper?" Holy ****, I do remember. I had forgotten and somehow thought I came up with this on my own. Good job planting the seed, dad. So now you are totally going to help me build this right?

Yup. :)
 

Guyfang

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
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Location
Burgkunstadt, Germany
Young Lady, you will do, to ride the river with. Thats living the dream. Every once in awhile, you need to let loose. And you picked a winner. Nothing is more fun then buzzing around in a M-35. It the vehicle I learned to drive a stick in. I drove from one side of Germany to the other, from Bad Tolz, to Bremerhaven. It's the only truck that never left me standing on the street corner. Yeah, the brakes are not for the faint of heart, sometimes. But still, you CAN drive it with no breaks!. Thank you for this look into your road trip. Keep on truckin!

Guy Wiltfang
 

Quetzal

New member
6
0
0
Location
Middle of Nowhere / AZ
My truck is notably running like **** on arrival. Before leaving I did six SIX radiator flushes on my truck, it still looks like rust water.

The motor has a weird hiccup/hesitation. My dad shows me how to crack each injector and watch for changes in the exhaust. We both agree there doesn't seem to be an obvious cylinder not doing its share, despite how it sounds.

We do the FDC bypass.

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I talk LowTech into coming to visit. I like working with him (and my dad for the same reason) because he'll tell me what needs doing and maybe even how to do it, but doesn't just do it for me. He hands me a print out from the manual. "Adjust your valves."

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I adjusted the valves and changed the fuel filters. It sound a lot better, but still not 100%. I get side tracked trying to fix my flame heater pump, but am never able to get it to work. The spark plug sparks, but the pump seems to be rotating the wrong way and sucking air no matter what we do. Oh well, back to throwing gasoline on the air intake.

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We weld up the very obvious exhaust leak and I add in a muffler. I haven't welded since college art classes and it shows.

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LowTech stays on for a while helping out. We have a white Christmas and take his truck out for a drive in the snowy mountains.

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gimpyrobb

dumpsterlandingfromorbit!
27,786
755
113
Location
Cincy Ohio
The flame heater is a source of trouble for lots of folks. I would delete it if I were you. First thing I would recommend is to pull your injectors and have them tested/adjusted(when i pulled mine they were WAY off). It made a huge improvement in mpg.

Also, you can clean your cooling system with cascade dishwasher soap. Lots of info on the net if you don't believe me.
 
Last edited:

silverstate55

Unemployable
2,075
872
113
Location
UT
The flame heater is a source of trouble for lots of folks. I would delete it if I were you. First thing I would recommend is to pull your injectors and have them tested/adjusted(when i pulled mine they were WAY off). It made a huge improvement in mpg.

Also, you can clean your cooling system with cascade dishwasher soap. Lots of info on the net if you don't believe me.
Anything GR says is worth its weight in gold. Literally.

When you add the Cascade, go run the engine hard for awhile to get it good and warm, then flush it out....your best bet for coolant is the green, LOW-SILICATE type; chain stores like Auto Zone and O'Reilly usually don't carry it, you'll have to go somewhere like NAPA or Tractor Supply to get it.

After bypassing your FDC, it's a good idea to turn your fuel rate down, using the screw with the 2 locknuts under the tin cover between the FDC & hydraulic head. There are plenty of GR-approved threads on the proper way to do this.

(Hey Chris, how's my verbage now? rofl)
 

gimpyrobb

dumpsterlandingfromorbit!
27,786
755
113
Location
Cincy Ohio
Sh1t man I just try to help where I can. I'm no grammer nazi and I don't believe I have all the answers. Its good to know I've helped others as I've received so much help here myself.
 

Guyfang

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
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24,080
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Location
Burgkunstadt, Germany
Gimp,

Thats what SS is all about. Or my take on it anyway. Sometimes, when I open up a thread, I am astounded by how many smart people there are in the forum, and how freely they give of time and wisdom.
 
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