I've finally made it over to this Full-Size-Jeep forum.
I've had 1 of 2 M-715's since May, 1995 in storage with plans to restore or to get them driveable. The 2nd M-715 was the parts truck for the 1st M-715.
The 1st driveable M-715 was sold 4 months after buying it from the Humboldt Water District, when I blew my original Buick 350v8 engine in my 1970 J-3000 Gladiator truck, my daily driven truck.
The second M-715 currently doesn't have the engine/trans so I plan to install a Buick 455v8 mated to the T-18 trans or TH400 trans. to the divorced T/C.
The cab is in rough shape, rotted in outdoor storage, R/F fender bent, still has the 8K winch attached and amazingly the tires are still holding air. I still have the wooden crew bed seats and the snorkel /exhaust kit plus a full parts and other vehicle manuals.
I need to get the gas tank flushed and a new rubber inlet tube. Also would like to get the drivers hood light and bracket. plus new seats and canvas tops.
Any help locally would be helpful, maybe i need to join the MVPA too.
Thanks, Mac
Memphis has new fuel inlet hoses. Be prepared for sticker shock. They also make new windshield to cowl gaskets. Both are made with modern rubber to resist todays fuels.
Cruise the classifieds here and on the Zone for some of your other part needs.
Oh, the M715 has a T98 transmission with an extrememly long input shaft. Finding adaptors to mate it to a Chevy is expensive. Your price will probably be outrages going to the Buick. Go with a Buick mated transmission and a huge cooler is my suggestion.
By the way, I love that big Buick 455. Looks like a small block and blows big blocks away with that massive torque.
__________________
"If you didn't build it, you can't call it yours."
We did a couple with the small block Chevrolets and Novak mounts/adapters. Their package works very well and with the M715's deep gearing, a 305 Chevy will either go or spin the tires trying. I cannot imagine what kind of power a 396 or 455 must have in one of these old beasts. I ran 36" and 38" tires on mine, my brother had 38s and 40s for his.
Barrman, what did that NV4500 do for your ground speed? We felt 55 on tall tires was pushing ours pretty hard. That was running down the highway at 55, the transfer cases would always get too hot to touch, so we normally ran around 50. Glen
__________________ My name is Glen and I have an addiction....
48 mph indicated is 54 mph actaul ground speed with the 11.00-16 XZL tires. That is what I call "warp speed" since it is my max for long runs. The transfer case will still hit 220-240 case temps at that speed. That is right at 2,000 rpm with the NV4500.
I will tell you that faster speeds vastly increase fuel consumption and wind noise. I get 12-13 mpg running Warp Speed with just the truck empty or loaded on long highway runs. 8-10 around town. Add another M715 on a trailer and I still get 10-11 at warp speed. Running 65-70 mph just to see what the transfer case would do made too much noise to talk and gave me about 6 mpg. You can only push a brick through the air so fast. 280 plus on the t-case.
Look at a NP203 or NP205 if you want to run faster than 54 for any length of time.
__________________
"If you didn't build it, you can't call it yours."
My '68 M-715 has been in storage for years.
