M35a2 dilemma

[peter34668]

Last month I purchased 3 military trucks from an construction equipment dealer. He was sitting on them for a long time so I made him an offer and he took it. What I purchased was a 1965 M123, 1970 M52a2 and a 1968 M35a2. The M123 was converted to a forestry truck with a massive push bar and roll cage as well as a tank sitting in what I believe is a M35 cargo bed. I removed the tank, painted green and its now the biggest vehicle in my collection.

The M52a2 arrived not running and w/o brakes so yesterday I thought I would fire it up. Sure enough after sitting for 7 years it started right up with only a jump.

Now that brings me to the point of the story. The M35 had been sitting with him in a back lot since 2003. It looked sad and i thought I would buy it for a parts rig and to take out the winch and put it on my own M35. Before I started hacking it up I figured I should at least see if it runs. I went and removed all the mice nest, checked the fluids and sure enough it fired up with only a jump. The problem is I really could use it as a parts rig but it seems like such a shame to dismantle a good running old military truck. I know these are not rare and there are a few things beyond the winch i could use off it but it wrong to take it apart. So the question is what would you do? Its not rusty at all however it does look like its spent some time playing in the woods.

I have attached 2 pics. One si the machine I'm talking about here the other is the M25a2 that is already in my clooection.

 

[General Mcgregor]

I would say it depends on how much you need the parts vs weather or not you want another runner in your collection, or if you can flip it and make some of your money back.
Where in NH are you?

 

[doghead]

I think I bought 7 trucks before I got a "parts" truck.

 

[peter34668]

I would say it depends on how much you need the parts vs weather or not you want another runner in your collection, or if you can flip it and make some of your money back.
Where in NH are you?

I am about 20 miles north of Keene.
I don't need another runner so similar to what i already have and it would take more money than its worth to bring it up to a level of something I could be proud of. Perhaps I could swap out what I want from it then put an AG plate on it and use it as a woods machine.

 

[peter34668]

I think I bought 7 trucks before I got a "parts" truck.

This is military truck number 8 in my yard. My neighbors are sure i'm nuts.

 

[Jeepsinker]

Parts trucks are trucks that can not be titled or are rusted beyond saving/ missing lots of parts.

 

[General Mcgregor]

I would take the winch and sell the truck whole as a runner, you may be surprised by what you can get for it.

 

[peter34668]

I spent a few hours with the pressure washer today. The truck cleaned up nicely but I am still unsure if it would be worth the money to bring it back to nice. here are some pictures...

 

[whatadeuce]

Do not dismantle truck #8. There is a motor pool in heaven and when you get there the angelic yard master will ask you about that truck!

 

[cattlerepairman]

First off - it is your truck, you paid for it, you can do whatever you like. But, since you asked...

This is too nice a truck for parts. Congrats to the score!
I agree with the poster that said to take the winch and PTO if you need them and then sell the truck as-is to make some money back. You need to spend some $$$ on the M123!
If you do not need the winch, sell the truck as a w/w and you can ask even more for it. No harm in bleeding the brakes and checking fluids; you may be able to sell it as a runner with little effort.

 

[Flyingvan911]

I agree. It looks good and won't take a lot to get it back to great shape. I wouldn't part it out. It has many good years left in it.

 

[wb9btz]

The owner of a vehicle always has the privilege of doing with that vehicle whatever he or she sees fit to do.

That being said, I can hear it saying "Number 8 (sic) is alive! ... No disassemble!"

I wouldn't have the heart to part it out... I'd sell it (if I didn't want it) and use the money to get whatever parts I wanted/needed for the truck I plan on keeping.

Nevertheless... it's your truck... do as you see fit... Just my ...and then only because you asked

 

[Recovry4x4]

If you have parts truck money invested in it, might be worth considering a sale. Winch is an easy removal and I'm sure there are plenty of folks that dream of finding that diamond in the rough that they can afford up front and tidy it up as they go. But, as others have eluded to, it's your truck and solely your choice.

 

[todds112]

Looks alot nicer than a parts truck! What is the odd hub cover on the right rear axle?

 

[wreckerman893]

As stated above, it's your dog and you can whip it if you want to.

If nothing else it's a good base for a radical custom. A bobber, a deuce rat rod or anything that comes into your mind.

I'd use it as a parts truck as a last resort. I've parted out a lot of trucks and it takes a long time to get rid of some of the stuff.

 

[FloridaAKM]

I'm in agreement with the guys who say not to part it out, do the PM's on the fluids & filters, plus anything else & sell her to another new SS member or someone who has no truck as a running truck. If there were thousands of these trucks left on the bases, it might be a different story, but there are few left & they are true parts trucks! It's your truck, you get to make the final decision!

 

[wheelspinner]

Looks alot nicer than a parts truck! What is the odd hub cover on the right rear axle?

That is a low-tech reversing alarm, when the truck goes in reverse there should be a weight inside there that falls repeatedly and rings the bell. I love those old tech ringers.

 

[swbradley1]

I have a good running winch truck that needs more paint than that one and I'm asking $6k for it. Might not get it but they aren't making any more of them, rare or not.

 

[todds112]

That is a low-tech reversing alarm, when the truck goes in reverse there should be a weight inside there that falls repeatedly and rings the bell. I love those old tech ringers.

Seriously?! I was looking at it and thought, "That looks like a bell."

 

[wreckerman893]

Seriously?! I was looking at it and thought, "That looks like a bell."

Many years ago I would take our commercial trucks to a Freightliner dealership in Jackson, MS, to have them worked on. They had a huge boneyard in the back and I'd spend a lot of time rummaging through the dead dinosaurs.
Back when trucks were just getting air brakes the low air warning consisted of a little red flag up in the cab that would drop down and ring a bell to let you know you were low on air.