Weird project 151

a place to discuss anything of interest to owners of M151 jeeps

Moderators: rickf, raymond, Mr. Recovery

Post Reply
terratek
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 62
Joined: January 29th, 2019, 5:36 am
Location: San Antonio, TX & Terlingua, TX

Weird project 151

Unread post by terratek » January 29th, 2019, 6:56 am

Hello everyone, my name is trin, and I just picked up a strange toy.

I am not new to MVs in general (this one will make my 4th if you count the trailer), but I am new to the M151. I recently picked up an M151 based sand rail at auction for the staggering sum of 275 bux.

Loading it was a bear of a job as all 4 tires were flat, transmission is stuck in gear (shifter moves between detents), it was dragged to it's loading position with the front axle engaged. I disengaged the front, and they used a tractor to lift the rear and roll it into the trailer.. Once home, I dc'd the rear drive shaft, and we rolled it to it's current resting place. The only data plate I could find is the one on the engine, if I read the engine casting correct, I believe it is May 19th 1967. It basically looks like a rolling chassis with part of an old vw sandrail welded and bolted onto it. No firewall, no transmission hump, no floor pans, and the gauges look like an early cj5 cluster. So yeah, an m151 with no body whatsoever.

Right now I am working on the 2 bikes that will be replacing my other 4, so probably won't get much work done on it until spring or summer.

1) Is there any way I can date this thing or get a serial number for it?
2) Failing that, should I just go with a repro data plate and use the engine number?
3) I am not a fast driver, but do plan to use this on dirt roads, jeep trails, etc. Should I add some limiting straps to keep the tires from tucking under?
4) Any ideas on where to start troubleshooting the transmission? I was leaning towards bent or broken shift fork since it is stuck in gear but the shifter actually moves.

I'm sure I will have more questions once I get started on it. And I already grabbed the tech manuals, just wish I could find copies of TM 9-2520-218-34 & TM 9-2520-231-34P

Here are some pics: http://s253.photobucket.com/user/g0th/library/m151
Image
1967 United Tractor CN-40-A
1972 M109A3
1987 M105A2
19?? M151 Sand Rail (passed on to the next victim)

User avatar
rickf
General
General
Posts: 19740
Joined: November 26th, 2007, 1:28 pm
Location: Pemberton, NJ.

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by rickf » January 29th, 2019, 10:17 am

Well, Can't say I have ever seen one of them. The transmission could be as simple as the shifter has come out of the forks. Take the top off of the transmission and line up all of the shift forks with a big pry bar and then put the top back on and it should be good assuming the transmission is not full of water and frozen solid. Those transmissions are not all that hard to find. There was just a guy on here selling a whole bunch of engine/transmission combos cheap. The frame is home built since the M-151 is a unibody and has no frame. Limiters for the rear suspension would b=e a good idea since the suspension stop right now is probably the shock absorber. I can assure you that you will never find a serial number because even complete M-151's did not have a real S/N.
Where are you located?
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

User avatar
rickf
General
General
Posts: 19740
Joined: November 26th, 2007, 1:28 pm
Location: Pemberton, NJ.

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by rickf » January 29th, 2019, 10:31 am

Here are those engines, I don't know if you are close.

https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=304240
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

fowlercal
Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
Posts: 302
Joined: November 25th, 2008, 10:54 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by fowlercal » January 29th, 2019, 1:41 pm

Terratek,

The Manuals you are looking for are on this site already. Go to the top of the page and look under G838 Manuals,
In the Depot Maintenance Section. Correct numbers are TM 9-2320-218-34, & 34-1, &34P.

Cal

acudanut

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by acudanut » January 29th, 2019, 1:44 pm

Did you say the engine turns over by hand ?

terratek
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 62
Joined: January 29th, 2019, 5:36 am
Location: San Antonio, TX & Terlingua, TX

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by terratek » January 29th, 2019, 2:24 pm

rick: Thanks for the info, and I am located in San Antonio, TX for the foreseeable future.

cal: I have those, but thought that the 2520's were just dealing with the transmission rebuild and parts?

acudanut: Nope, I haven't even tried turning over the engine yet.

The updated plan is to get it up on jack stands, remove the tranny cover and see how bad it looks inside. If it's not a block of rust, check shift forks, if it is a block of rust... maybe fill it with evaporust or kk rust remover and let it sit for a while *shrugs*. If that fails, pull tranny, then start going over the engine.

No hurry either way, I have enough projects to keep me busy for a while during my rare down time.

-trin
1967 United Tractor CN-40-A
1972 M109A3
1987 M105A2
19?? M151 Sand Rail (passed on to the next victim)

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4029
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by m3a1 » January 29th, 2019, 5:53 pm

PM me if you want to do a face to face on this. I live in Boerne, just up I10.

hate to be the bearer of bad news but you aren't going to get anywhere with this if you're thinking of getting it titled as an original vehicle. You'll just have to jump through some hoops to get it titled as an assembled vehicle.

This actually looks like one of the more interesting projects I've seen.

Cheers,
TJ

User avatar
rickf
General
General
Posts: 19740
Joined: November 26th, 2007, 1:28 pm
Location: Pemberton, NJ.

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by rickf » January 29th, 2019, 6:49 pm

I figured you might want to help with this one but I did not want to throw your name out there. This is right down your ally. :lol: :lol:

Trin, you may want to take TJ up on this, he is just full of it when it comes to these kinds of projects.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4029
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by m3a1 » January 29th, 2019, 7:16 pm

Might be quicker than a lot of back and forth here....and I have spare ignition stuff for troubleshooting.

terratek
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 62
Joined: January 29th, 2019, 5:36 am
Location: San Antonio, TX & Terlingua, TX

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by terratek » January 29th, 2019, 7:36 pm

sorry for the semi-late reply, have been meeting with a contractor to get a quote on finishing my dad's sah grant work. the previous contractor left us in worse shape than before work started.

m3a1:
I was actually reading your thread last night & today (waking up a texas m151a2). I'm game if you are, only thing I can say is I am up all night plus a good portion of the day, and saturdays are pretty much the worst day for me to get anything done due to scheduling conflicts. First thing i need to do is get some jack stands under it and a couple batteries, the existing ones are beyond dead. Am going to shoot everything down with pb blaster this evening and let it soak.

rick:
yeah, sounds like a plan. I could definitely use some insight when it comes to this.

Main reason I bid on it was the listing:

Wyllis Jeep Sand Rail / Buggy - 4 Cylinder 4X4
made from US military Jeep frame - engine - etc / has been sitting /
tow bar / oversize generator for multiple 12V battery / Mad Max
Anyone?

I didn't look closely and thought it was a jeep, which I have more experience with. On the plus side... 4x4 irs/ifs sandrail!
1967 United Tractor CN-40-A
1972 M109A3
1987 M105A2
19?? M151 Sand Rail (passed on to the next victim)

Hambone
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2495
Joined: October 1st, 2010, 12:19 am
Location: El Dorado, Arkansas

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by Hambone » January 29th, 2019, 8:27 pm

Now that's cool, does it have m151 rear independent suspension? A1 or A2?

terratek
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 62
Joined: January 29th, 2019, 5:36 am
Location: San Antonio, TX & Terlingua, TX

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by terratek » January 29th, 2019, 9:09 pm

Hambone:
Rear is an a1 suspension, I went ahead and updated the pb gallery with all the auction photos and some that i took last time i was outside messing with it.
http://s253.photobucket.com/user/g0th/library/m151
1967 United Tractor CN-40-A
1972 M109A3
1987 M105A2
19?? M151 Sand Rail (passed on to the next victim)

terratek
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 62
Joined: January 29th, 2019, 5:36 am
Location: San Antonio, TX & Terlingua, TX

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by terratek » January 29th, 2019, 9:12 pm

I'll try to get some better photos tomorrow and redo the gallery
1967 United Tractor CN-40-A
1972 M109A3
1987 M105A2
19?? M151 Sand Rail (passed on to the next victim)

User avatar
m3a1
Lt. General
Lt. General
Posts: 4029
Joined: August 7th, 2014, 6:36 pm

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by m3a1 » January 30th, 2019, 12:15 am

Well, by appearances, someone had this running and driving as it looks very much like a complete vehicle. It will be interesting to find out why they stopped using it. Often times it's the simplest things that wear people down. I am not a transmission guy but there are plenty of resources on this website and this is little more than a tractor transmission.

My recommendation is to begin at the time-proven starting places. Check fluids and see if there's any glaringly obvious telltale signs of trouble, remove the plugs and lube up those cylinders with Marvel Mystery Oil. Drain the fuel tank and blow out the fuel lines. Give her a snort of starting fluid and see if she'll pop off. Check the carb for any obvious signs of trouble.

If it's going to sit for a while until you can get around to it, that's the best opening checklist I can provide. Costs almost nothing to do and far better than throwing good money at a project before finding out if it's going to be some good news, or more bad.

Your project of course and you are the boss but I can assure you, I've been in these waters before. We'll see if we can get a pulse and go from there.

I can assure you, the guys are going to be mighty interested in this one.

Cheers,
TJ

terratek
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 62
Joined: January 29th, 2019, 5:36 am
Location: San Antonio, TX & Terlingua, TX

Re: Weird project 151

Unread post by terratek » January 31st, 2019, 7:05 pm

http://s253.photobucket.com/user/g0th/l ... t=9&page=1

Had a few minutes to spare, so picked up oil, oil filter, more pb blaster, some crc electrical parts cleaner, and some mmo.
Sprayed the bolts/screws/fasteners i need to remove with pb, and am letting most of it sit.
Sprayed the generator with crc until it was running clear.
Managed to get the bottom seat cushion off, and 2 retaining screws, 3rd one will probably need to be cut.
Took off one spark plug wire at plug just to see how tight the plugs are, and... they are tight. So sprayed the plug wells with pb.
Will probably just cut the chain holding batteries in place.
Gas tank is welded into place.
Removed most of the old pics from gallery and uploaded new ones from today.
I have 1 good battery that I use for testing, put the gt60 battery on the charger as well so I can have a 24v source without spending a load of money.

Sprayed pb on the shop crane/hoist I picked up, figured may as well since it is also going to be fixed up eventually.

TJ:
When I picked it up, a head gasket was sitting on the seat... No clue if it goes to this or not, as I haven't fished it out of my zj.
My plan for now is to get the plugs out and get some mmo in the cylinders, thread plugs back in lightly, then let it sit for a while... will probably use a syringe so i can get a good splash around them. After it sits for a day or 2, try to crank it just to see if the engine is free, and if it is: oil and filter change, check coolant, disconnect gas lines at tank and carb, and try to start it with starter fluid.
Pretty sure starter needs to come off to take the top of the tranny off, so will leave that until after I see if engine is free and if it has spark.

So that's the update for now, will post more once the troubleshooting moves forward a bit.
-trin
1967 United Tractor CN-40-A
1972 M109A3
1987 M105A2
19?? M151 Sand Rail (passed on to the next victim)

Post Reply