AZDeuce
Active member
- 484
- 38
- 28
- Location
- Tonopah, AZ
About 4 1/2 years ago I bought M35A2 from Mark Blair in CA, a few months after that I came down with cancer. The Lord healed me, and I've been cancer free for 2 years now, but still a little weak.
About 8 months ago I was put in touch with a lady (Connie) who had a deuce she wanted to get rid of.......cheap, turned out to be a M135 she and her X-husband used to build their house up in the hills. From her phone description it sounded pretty rough, but she finally emailed me some pictures and it was in pretty good shape. I decided to go for it. When she found out I wanted to restore it and not turn it into a monster truck, she just gave it to me, as in FREE!
Now THAT'S my favorite price!
This meant pulling ALL that maintenance on my deuce that should have been done years ago. I CLR'd the cooling system (made a noticable differance!), installed new hoses, and belts, changed all the fuel filters, and of course the oil and filters, checked and replenished all the drivetrain fluids, and tightened the drive shaft bolts as EVERYONE was loose! Lubed her zerk fittings, and various other little things.
When tightening up the front driveshaft I was able to rotate the driveshaft to get to all the bolts.......I thought "how convienent".....but something in the back of my brain said "this ain't right," but I forgot about it and went on my way. I put my tarp on the bed figuring we'd be spending the night in the deuce, as it was a 400 mile+ drive both ways, loaded up all the stuff i could think of for a retrieval, and called her good.
I have a friend who has a nice 32" equipment trailer that he converted to 12V and 24V so we could use it with military trucks or civilian, so I asked to borrow it, and he had it waiting for me with the tool boxes full of tie downs, straps spares, etc. I work 4-10s and am off Sun-Tues. My plan was to stage the trailer at his place (about 30 miles from my house) and leave the truck there then I'd work Sat, then come home grab a few hours sleep then pull out with the deuce/trailer around midnight.
Sounded like a good plan, but on Friday night when I hooked up the trailer the brake lights weren't playing well with my Deuce, my friend said he'd sort it out in the morning so it would be ready to go Sat night. He did, and it was! My problem was Sat after work I couldn't sleep in anticipation of my first deuce road trip, and all the thoughts running through my mind about what could go wrong, and HOW EXPENSIVE it would be to fix.
My best friend Marc met me at the truck and by 0030 hrs we were finally on the road. Another friend, Bill was going to follow us up several hours later in his deuce, and his friend Jim, in his civilian GMC 4x4 crewcab, as they were going our way, then on up into CO or UT to deliver the deuce to it's new
owner. So we kinda had backup if needed.
My deuce is running 395s and I heard it would be a dog on the hills, it was but not as bad as I anticipated, I figured I'd be in low range 2nd gear at about 12-15 MPH on the steep hills. I did have to use low range several times but was usually in 4th or 5th, and managed around 20 MPH......WOO-HOO! It was COLD up North and snow was predicted, but never materialized, but it was definitely COLD.......well to us AZ desert types anyway. Fortunately my friend while fixing the trailer lights saw that my deuce had no heater (we don't need no stink'n heaters in AZ!), and he duct taped the entire windshield area to keep out the cold, and rain. THANKS!
We got through the Navajo Reservation, and came to a major intersection at first light, Bill supposidly was about 20 minutes behind us at our last fuel stop, but here 2-3 hours later he still hadn't caught up with us, he knew where we were going, and I didn't. Of course on the Res I couldn't get him on the cell, but I did manage to wake up Connie and get directions, she was about 30 miles away.
On the flatlands I was anywhere between 50 and 55 MPH, which with the 395s was probably around 53-58 MPH, considering I was pulling a 32' "aircraft carrier" behind me, we weren't doing to bad (yes I do have a CDL). The coolant temperature stayed right around 170-180 no matter how steep the hill, or how hard we were pulling. That CLR stuff REALLY works!
We arrived at Connies, but had to drop the trailer and proceed up her 2 mile driveway, that I like to call the "road from ****." It was rough with severe drop offs, there was an EXTREMELY tight 90 degree turn, at the end of a steep climb, at the last 100 yards to her place, she said she always had to back up the 135 when they used it. I walked it first and figured I "might' be able to make it in one attempt.
WRONG!
I had the airshift on, and was in low range BEFORE starting up, once on top I had to back up with Marc making sure I didn't back off the 50 yard drop off, and Connie watching the front. I backed up on to the edge, was HOPING to hold her with the parking brake and SLOWLY get on the accelerator, and let out the clutch until I felt them "bite" then let off the parking brake and ease up the hill....all proffesional like and stuff. But it wasn't to be, the parking brake wouldn't hold her at this steep angle, and everything I tried allowed the truck to inch closer to the drop off.
With a no balls no glorry attitude I reved up the engine popped the clutch and with rocks flying eveywhere, it SLOWLY started to grab, and inch forward, once it was moving I backed off on the RPMS and got her up the hill......I'm still pulling canvas seat cusion out of my butt! That was TOO close for my liking!
We worked all day trying to get the M135 to run, it had been about 7 years or so since the last time. We pulled the carb at least 3 times, and Connie was the most help, being a certified A/P on DC-6s up in Alaska! After a LONG day it was a no go, so Connie put us up for the night, and I passed out after being up for over 24 hours. But not before coming up with a Plan B.....actually a suicidal plan.
I did not want to go home empty handed, so I figured I could tie a tire to my front bumper, with my 50,00lbs tow strap wrapped up to give me about 5-6 feet between vehicles. I could pull and push the M135, and hold her back going down the road from ****.......with the M135 in front, and my deuce in the rear with Marc driving the M135.
They all looked at me like I was crazy.......bunch of cowards.
Well about 3AM I woke to the call of nature, and couldn't get back to sleep thinking of all the things that could go wrong with my plan, and how most likely I'd kill my best friend, and when the 135 went over the hill it would be dragging me and the M35 with it. FINALLY common sense kicked in and I decided not to do that!
At breakfast I announced that we would not attempt Plan B and received a hearty round of applause from all involved. They said we'd spend a few hours trying to get her to run, I said I'd give'm an hour, as it was a 9 hour trip back to Buckeye. After playing for an hour with no further success, I said let's pack it up. Bill came up with a good idea, so I ran it passed Connie and she agreed.
We took the carb off, so I could buy a kit and rebuild it, then get all the distributor internals especially a new coil as we had weak spark, when I got everything together I'd send her the parts, and money for 2 batteries, and when she got it reassembled and running she'd call me. Then we'd make a return trip, once we KNEW we could drive her out.
So we packed up, headed back down the road from **** without incident, except at that fist hard 90 degree turn, where again I had to back up, but the truck wouldn't do it, so with Marc out guiding me I went forward with my right front tire just inches from going over the ledge....but we made it. For some strange reason Marc decided to ride the running board down instead of climbing in the cab.
Once down to ground zero, we hooked up the trailer and ran all of our saftey checks, lights and brakes, connections SEVERAL times just to be sure we had it all under control....we did. We said our goodbyes, and all headed to our seperate ways.
About 15 miles down the paved road I was shocked to see that I had left the truck in front wheel drive, I flipped the swich excpecting terrible things to happen, but we rolled merrily along..........it still hadn't dawned on me that the front end had not been working the whole trip, but in the back of my mind I knew something wasn't correct.
We got home safe and sound, with no incidents the entire trip, except for the non working front axle. The truck ran FAR better than I had anticipated, and used less fuel than I thought she would.
Except for having to come home without the M135, and the front axle problem that almost killed me on that 90 degree turn from **** it was a pretty good trip, although being 6'4" a 8-9 hour deuce trip sure gets hard on the butt, and legs.
But I'll be doing it again, as soon as I get a new front axle in my truck, (already on it's way), then getting the parts and carb rebuilt and sent to Connie, once all that is accomplished once I hear the M135 is running, my return trip plans will then be dependent on the weather conditions as there are some severe snow areas between Connies place and mine......and I DON'T do snow! (a man's got to know his limitations)
That was the longest road trip I'd ever done in a MV, even in the Marines! My respect sure goes out to you guys who drive these things across country! Even with the sore butt, and the no-working front axle, and the fact I had to come home empty handed, it was a great adventure....and I WILL be doing a repeat sometime in 2010, as soon as all repairs are made, and the weather will permit me to do so.
About 8 months ago I was put in touch with a lady (Connie) who had a deuce she wanted to get rid of.......cheap, turned out to be a M135 she and her X-husband used to build their house up in the hills. From her phone description it sounded pretty rough, but she finally emailed me some pictures and it was in pretty good shape. I decided to go for it. When she found out I wanted to restore it and not turn it into a monster truck, she just gave it to me, as in FREE!
Now THAT'S my favorite price!
This meant pulling ALL that maintenance on my deuce that should have been done years ago. I CLR'd the cooling system (made a noticable differance!), installed new hoses, and belts, changed all the fuel filters, and of course the oil and filters, checked and replenished all the drivetrain fluids, and tightened the drive shaft bolts as EVERYONE was loose! Lubed her zerk fittings, and various other little things.
When tightening up the front driveshaft I was able to rotate the driveshaft to get to all the bolts.......I thought "how convienent".....but something in the back of my brain said "this ain't right," but I forgot about it and went on my way. I put my tarp on the bed figuring we'd be spending the night in the deuce, as it was a 400 mile+ drive both ways, loaded up all the stuff i could think of for a retrieval, and called her good.
I have a friend who has a nice 32" equipment trailer that he converted to 12V and 24V so we could use it with military trucks or civilian, so I asked to borrow it, and he had it waiting for me with the tool boxes full of tie downs, straps spares, etc. I work 4-10s and am off Sun-Tues. My plan was to stage the trailer at his place (about 30 miles from my house) and leave the truck there then I'd work Sat, then come home grab a few hours sleep then pull out with the deuce/trailer around midnight.
Sounded like a good plan, but on Friday night when I hooked up the trailer the brake lights weren't playing well with my Deuce, my friend said he'd sort it out in the morning so it would be ready to go Sat night. He did, and it was! My problem was Sat after work I couldn't sleep in anticipation of my first deuce road trip, and all the thoughts running through my mind about what could go wrong, and HOW EXPENSIVE it would be to fix.
My best friend Marc met me at the truck and by 0030 hrs we were finally on the road. Another friend, Bill was going to follow us up several hours later in his deuce, and his friend Jim, in his civilian GMC 4x4 crewcab, as they were going our way, then on up into CO or UT to deliver the deuce to it's new
owner. So we kinda had backup if needed.
My deuce is running 395s and I heard it would be a dog on the hills, it was but not as bad as I anticipated, I figured I'd be in low range 2nd gear at about 12-15 MPH on the steep hills. I did have to use low range several times but was usually in 4th or 5th, and managed around 20 MPH......WOO-HOO! It was COLD up North and snow was predicted, but never materialized, but it was definitely COLD.......well to us AZ desert types anyway. Fortunately my friend while fixing the trailer lights saw that my deuce had no heater (we don't need no stink'n heaters in AZ!), and he duct taped the entire windshield area to keep out the cold, and rain. THANKS!
We got through the Navajo Reservation, and came to a major intersection at first light, Bill supposidly was about 20 minutes behind us at our last fuel stop, but here 2-3 hours later he still hadn't caught up with us, he knew where we were going, and I didn't. Of course on the Res I couldn't get him on the cell, but I did manage to wake up Connie and get directions, she was about 30 miles away.
On the flatlands I was anywhere between 50 and 55 MPH, which with the 395s was probably around 53-58 MPH, considering I was pulling a 32' "aircraft carrier" behind me, we weren't doing to bad (yes I do have a CDL). The coolant temperature stayed right around 170-180 no matter how steep the hill, or how hard we were pulling. That CLR stuff REALLY works!
We arrived at Connies, but had to drop the trailer and proceed up her 2 mile driveway, that I like to call the "road from ****." It was rough with severe drop offs, there was an EXTREMELY tight 90 degree turn, at the end of a steep climb, at the last 100 yards to her place, she said she always had to back up the 135 when they used it. I walked it first and figured I "might' be able to make it in one attempt.
WRONG!
I had the airshift on, and was in low range BEFORE starting up, once on top I had to back up with Marc making sure I didn't back off the 50 yard drop off, and Connie watching the front. I backed up on to the edge, was HOPING to hold her with the parking brake and SLOWLY get on the accelerator, and let out the clutch until I felt them "bite" then let off the parking brake and ease up the hill....all proffesional like and stuff. But it wasn't to be, the parking brake wouldn't hold her at this steep angle, and everything I tried allowed the truck to inch closer to the drop off.
With a no balls no glorry attitude I reved up the engine popped the clutch and with rocks flying eveywhere, it SLOWLY started to grab, and inch forward, once it was moving I backed off on the RPMS and got her up the hill......I'm still pulling canvas seat cusion out of my butt! That was TOO close for my liking!
We worked all day trying to get the M135 to run, it had been about 7 years or so since the last time. We pulled the carb at least 3 times, and Connie was the most help, being a certified A/P on DC-6s up in Alaska! After a LONG day it was a no go, so Connie put us up for the night, and I passed out after being up for over 24 hours. But not before coming up with a Plan B.....actually a suicidal plan.
I did not want to go home empty handed, so I figured I could tie a tire to my front bumper, with my 50,00lbs tow strap wrapped up to give me about 5-6 feet between vehicles. I could pull and push the M135, and hold her back going down the road from ****.......with the M135 in front, and my deuce in the rear with Marc driving the M135.
They all looked at me like I was crazy.......bunch of cowards.
Well about 3AM I woke to the call of nature, and couldn't get back to sleep thinking of all the things that could go wrong with my plan, and how most likely I'd kill my best friend, and when the 135 went over the hill it would be dragging me and the M35 with it. FINALLY common sense kicked in and I decided not to do that!
At breakfast I announced that we would not attempt Plan B and received a hearty round of applause from all involved. They said we'd spend a few hours trying to get her to run, I said I'd give'm an hour, as it was a 9 hour trip back to Buckeye. After playing for an hour with no further success, I said let's pack it up. Bill came up with a good idea, so I ran it passed Connie and she agreed.
We took the carb off, so I could buy a kit and rebuild it, then get all the distributor internals especially a new coil as we had weak spark, when I got everything together I'd send her the parts, and money for 2 batteries, and when she got it reassembled and running she'd call me. Then we'd make a return trip, once we KNEW we could drive her out.
So we packed up, headed back down the road from **** without incident, except at that fist hard 90 degree turn, where again I had to back up, but the truck wouldn't do it, so with Marc out guiding me I went forward with my right front tire just inches from going over the ledge....but we made it. For some strange reason Marc decided to ride the running board down instead of climbing in the cab.
Once down to ground zero, we hooked up the trailer and ran all of our saftey checks, lights and brakes, connections SEVERAL times just to be sure we had it all under control....we did. We said our goodbyes, and all headed to our seperate ways.
About 15 miles down the paved road I was shocked to see that I had left the truck in front wheel drive, I flipped the swich excpecting terrible things to happen, but we rolled merrily along..........it still hadn't dawned on me that the front end had not been working the whole trip, but in the back of my mind I knew something wasn't correct.
We got home safe and sound, with no incidents the entire trip, except for the non working front axle. The truck ran FAR better than I had anticipated, and used less fuel than I thought she would.
Except for having to come home without the M135, and the front axle problem that almost killed me on that 90 degree turn from **** it was a pretty good trip, although being 6'4" a 8-9 hour deuce trip sure gets hard on the butt, and legs.
But I'll be doing it again, as soon as I get a new front axle in my truck, (already on it's way), then getting the parts and carb rebuilt and sent to Connie, once all that is accomplished once I hear the M135 is running, my return trip plans will then be dependent on the weather conditions as there are some severe snow areas between Connies place and mine......and I DON'T do snow! (a man's got to know his limitations)
That was the longest road trip I'd ever done in a MV, even in the Marines! My respect sure goes out to you guys who drive these things across country! Even with the sore butt, and the no-working front axle, and the fact I had to come home empty handed, it was a great adventure....and I WILL be doing a repeat sometime in 2010, as soon as all repairs are made, and the weather will permit me to do so.
