Wisconsin Deuce Recovery

[UPFINN]

After much searching and research over the past year, my dad and I have finally found a good m35a2 for a decent price.

Going to look at it this weekend, and if it is as good as the pics look and the seller says then we will pick it up.

350 mile trip from Michigans U.P to Minneapolis, then back.

Working on getting together a emergency kit in case something goes wrong.

-10 ton bottle jack
-Jackstands
-Breaker bar
-1.5 inch lug/bud nut sockets
-Impact wrenches
-Air hose
-Air hose adapters
-Homemade brake bleeder
-Brake line fittings if I can find any
-Various sockets and wrenches

Seller said truck had been driven 500 miles recently and it has low miles, so it should be alright but it's nice to be prepared. Hopefully the deuce makes the perfect mix of a camping, offroad, and work vehicle. As for future maintainence I have made contact with a guy who could try shipping smaller parts to me via mail.

As for insurance quotes we have got anywhere from $800 to $2000 a year from local insurance agencies and Progressive. My dad was thinking of trying USAA because he was in the air force, but they just direct you to Progressive. Ripoff. They wanted us to get a commercial policy. Going to try State Farm, Geico, Gulfway, and maybe Farmers. Tried Hagerty but they wanted it garaged with strict restrictions. Probably not going with our current insurance company because they would probably charge an arm and a leg for the deuce just like our other vehicles.

How do others get these things insured for under $400 a year with no restrictions!?!

Registration as private pickup truck over 8,000lbs gvr is suprisingly only $155 a year in Michigan, even if you got customized plates with ham callsign or phrase on them.

We would be picking up the deuce on Sunday and driving it back while one of us escorts with the Ford. We are just concerned about getting temporary insurance at the last minute (Sunday morning) for the trip back. If we have to buy tempory insurance beforehand we don't want to do that in case the deal dosn't work out. Can not make two 700 mile round trips to buy truck then pick it up after we get insurance.

Hopefully it all works out and we get the truck...or else we will likely have to buy an old flatbed/dumptruck or do a winter recovery from Dennis in the northern Lower Peninsula.

I will keep updates and hopefully have pictures come late tomorrow or Sunday.

 

[eagle4g63]

So are you going to Wisconsin? IF so than I am in North West corner of Indiana just of 80-94......I can help if you need anything.......even have a large tow bar just in case to pull you to safety.

If you want my number just PM me and I'll shoot it to you.

 

[59apache]

take fuel and oil filters with you. and a flashlight. and some welding rods or other quality wire. I cross my fingers for you!

 

[m-35tom]

forget about it having 'low miles', you never get to know the truth. speedos and tachs are swapped, condition is everything. if it has no blowby when hot and no leaks, that may be the best you can hope for.

 

[tie6044]

Is the guys name Jeff who has the truck?

 

[UPFINN]

Is the guys name Jeff who has the truck?

Yes

 

[mattyboy]

well im curious if jeff is a angel or the devil as i assume OP wants to know as well.

 

[tie6044]

Jeff is a great guy to deal with, he has bought parts from me and I bought a deuce from him also.

 

[UPFINN]

Well we looked at the truck. Sheet metal is rough and the bed is pretty rusty, but the frame is really nice. Engine is nearly new, with only around 5000 miles. Transmission and transfer case seem good too. Just a little grease and transfluid on the bell housing, but never drips. Axle seals and wheel cylinders are not leaking. Axles and diffs look real clean. Tire rims, bud nuts, and lugs have a good bit of rust. Front tire wear is low but the rears could use replacement here soon, or regrooving. Air pack and master cylinder look great and brakes work perfect. Winch works good too.

 

[UPFINN]

Picking it up tomorrow.

 

[UPFINN]

 

[tie6044]

If you need any parts let me know, I might be able to help you out.

 

[UPFINN]

The 350 mile trip back home went flawless! My dad drove it back while I followed with the support vehicle.

M35A2 with D turbo, winch, soft top, heater kit, bows, troop seats, and cargo cover for $4800. Almost bought the hardtop from another truck for $400 but Jeff didn't have any spare tops, so that would have left him "topless" and therefore the higher price. The truck was titled and everything. Even came with the manual, rebuild papers, and other records. Jeff in New Richmond WI was a great, honest guy. He had a few more trucks for sale also. He had a non winch deuce with a perfect paint job, and 11x20s with good tread. I'm quite sure it had a recently rebuilt engine and other components.

Truck got a solid 10mpg doing between 50 and 55mph at around 2000-2300rpm.

We thought we had a problem when shifting into 2nd gear from 1st. It just didn't want to go. It was easy to shift to 2nd from neutral or 3rd. Found out you just got to press the clutch harder.

Parking brake was stuck, but we found the cable tension nob/lock on the end of the handle was too far out. Backed the nob in and the brake worked, with a little power lube in the cable tube.

The engine, transmission, transfer case, drive shafts, axles, air pack, master cylinder, and brake drum assembly look flawless. No leaks at all!

Around 6000 miles since factory rebuilds, inspection, and new engine. Around 40,000 miles on the truck in total (hopefully).

The fuel compensator has been bypassed, for whats claimed to be better fuel economy on diesel. Adventually when I get a WMO filter system together perhaps I'll put it back to get the most efficientcy out of the oil.

Main issue right now is combating the developing rust on the sheet metal. Planing to do a few touchups on the drivetrain components and frame also. Bed is pretty rusty and adventually I'd like to strip and repaint along with adding rubber matts. Windows are rusting and the seals leak so that will have to be fixed. Going to locate the zerk fittings and grease those along with backing out some rusty bolts, adding anti stick gel, and retorqing. Rear ndt tires could use replacement or regrooving soon, but should be good for a year or two. Will keep an eye out for 9x20s or something better nearby. Would like to redo the driver and passenger seats. Otherwise it is mainly just keeping track of fluids, air leaks, electrical issues, brake shoe wear, etc.

In the future I would like to rebuild the brake system to be safe, maybe get another air pack and master cylinder to make a split brake system. Looking into getting the dump bed kit, air o matic steering, electric wipers, tool box, muffler, sound system, rear winch, slide in camper, cargo ramp, snowplow, 2nd fuel tank, etc. Will take lots of $$$. Maybe someday.

Overall we are quite happy with the truck and it really spins some heads when driving through town.

 

[HASSON1911]

Dont know about Michigan but I got state farm and pay LESS than a $100. Only restriction is like 1000 or 2000 miles, cant remember. But with diesel these days, cant afford much more than that anyways. That and now me owning a 5 ton! on her. Give them a try might have to put collector plates, but then you save money at the DMV. Good luck too!

 

[Diecorpse]

I had state farm and I paid 107 a month. They didn't tell me about any restrictions, but then again, nobody in the office even knew what it was. I got plates labeled as log farm which was $120 with tags. This was when I use to live in Big Rapids MI. I bought my truck from General Jims in Claire MI. Glad to hear all went well. Have fun driving your Deuce!! They always seem to attract a lot of attention.

 

[UPFINN]

It's home

 

[UPFINN]

All our local insurance companies want like 800-1000 a year for insurance. Dad tried calling State Farm but nobody answered so will try Gulfway, Farmers, etc.

Oddly farm and log plates are about $170 according to the secretary of states online calculator. 10 or $20 more than personalized plates.

 

[airbornebandsman]

Gulfway is good. There are restrictions, but I paid $186 for a 1 year policy on my M915A1.

 

[porkysplace]

I had state farm and I paid 107 a month. They didn't tell me about any restrictions, but then again, nobody in the office even knew what it was. I got plates labeled as log farm which was $120 with tags. This was when I use to live in Big Rapids MI. I bought my truck from General Jims in Claire MI. Glad to hear all went well. Have fun driving your Deuce!! They always seem to attract a lot of attention.

Farm/log plates are only good within a 150 mile radius of the farm along with alot of other restrictions.

 

[UPFINN]

State Farm was even more expensive, at $1000 a year for full coverage. They won't let us just get liability. They said you must have full coverage. Perhaps it is just the insurance agent we are dealing with.