Found in the woods

[BillF]

if you do get it keep it stock, they are not to hard to find parts for. Midwestmil.com carries just about everything. here is one he has for sale 1942 WC 51 For Sale

 

[citizensoldier]

You should have no problem finding a set of axles.. If you were not on the other side of the country I have a set here off a WC 51. My is restore it to original.. It would be worth much more that way and they are nice tough rigs stock.. I am not sure exactly but I think the WC's were geared higher than a M37 but I could be wrong on that..

 

[tymbom]

Hmmmmm I might sneak over and inquire at the Forest Service office after the 4th of July.

 

[grizcty]

My father was out exploring in he woods and found a truck. He called me all excited trying to figure out what it was. He emailed me some pics and I was able to identify it back in 2006. I was recently visiting him and he took me up to where the truck sits. I would love to drag it home and give it some TLC but its on Forest Service land. Its actually an old mine. Has anybody ever recovered a vehicle from Forest Service lands before?? I thought about going to the local office and asking, but I didn't want to in case they decided to haul if off for scrap or make an auction out of it.

I do these recovery's all the time.
I use my M 29 or 601 to drag them out.
Load them up and go.

I just bought a M936.
And plan to use it.
To recover abandoned equipment, in a logging area.

Hells Bells,
You could probably get then to pay you to remove it!

 

[tymbom]

Here in the Peoples Republic of California, I wouldn't do anything like this without putting forth some effort to locate an owner. Especially since the truck is on Federal land. Its not like the mine is in a park, I just don't want to end up in prison for stealing a truck from the Feds. I imagine in Alaska you can get away with a little more. In California there is a watchdog group watching watchdogs.

 

[carguy455]

Well, now that you posted it on here I would not be WAITING to inquire about it , I would be doing it NOW before somone else does ! Here in the Soviet Socialist Union of Maine I found some similiar stuff and "waited' to inquire about it only to find I missed it by about 2 weeks ! And the "gimps" that got the gear ? They SCRAPPED it for beer and pot money ! Now that the price of scrap metal has dropped this is not as much of a concern but it still could happen !! My point is "He who hesitates, mas*****tes ! " DO NOT WAIT !
That would be a nice save, and with this community there are ALWAYS parts to be found ! Heck you could put civilian running gear under it and it would still be a cool rig ! There are probably guys on here in your area that will even help you recover it , just ask !

 

[Big Mike's Motor Pool]

state workers and federal workers all all the same, they love freebies. that being said find out a boss to talk to and offer to buy lunch for him and his underlings. im a state wokrer in nj, free pizza and soda can move mountains where i work lol

 

[airmech3839]

Like the idea of lunch for office!! Amazing what you can talk people into letting you do while they are full and still have money in their pocket!! Go get it and take pics!!

 

[grizcty]

Here in the Peoples Republic of California, I wouldn't do anything like this without putting forth some effort to locate an owner. Especially since the truck is on Federal land. Its not like the mine is in a park, I just don't want to end up in prison for stealing a truck from the Feds. I imagine in Alaska you can get away with a little more. In California there is a watchdog group watching watchdogs.

Maybe I should of, clarified myself.
I DO recover these vehicles from Federal lands.
Alaska has more Federal lands, than any other state.
They contact/pay me, for these type of recoveries.

If you HINT, to the regional supervisor.
That they have a potential environmental/safety hazard in THEIR region.
That is easily accessed by the general public.
And especially by hikers, bird watchers and granola crunchers, (hikers).

I was stationed at Fort Ord 25 y/o.
And never been back.
I enjoyed the old mines & towns.
Northern California was beautiful, but was changing fast.
Southern California, that's a different story....
Quote:
Originally Posted by tymbom
My father was out exploring in he woods and found a truck. He called me all excited trying to figure out what it was. He emailed me some pics and I was able to identify it back in 2006. I was recently visiting him and he took me up to where the truck sits. I would love to drag it home and give it some TLC but its on Forest Service land. Its actually an old mine. Has anybody ever recovered a vehicle from Forest Service lands before?? I thought about going to the local office and asking, but I didn't want to in case they decided to haul if off for scrap or make an auction out of it.

I do these recovery's all the time.
I use my M 29 or 601 to drag them out.
Load them up and go.

I just bought a M936.
And plan to use it.
To recover abandoned equipment, in a logging area.

Hells Bells,
You could probably get then to pay you to remove it!

 

[SETOYOTA]

parts are easy to find. They are geared very low. Mine likes to cruise at 35mph. Looks like a 42 to me. The 42s have a smaller opening between the cargo body and the cab..Any data plates still with the vehicle?

 

[rickt44498]

Its not in a park. Its at an abandoned mine though. It doesn't look like the mine has been used since the '60s or '70s. The odd thing about the truck, besides the awful cab is someone took the axle shafts and third members off front and rear. How hard would it be to find replacements? Would it be better to just put newer running gear under it? The engine, transmission, and transfer case are still there. I'm thinking another M1008 from GL and swapping all the running gear under this truck would be cool.

look around www.powerwagonadvertiser.com ..I've been a member for over 2yrs...great bunch of guys...just like here...they have more answers than you can have questions...just like here...

lots of tech info...resto info...mod info... whichever way you decide to go...

just like here...

good luck , if you get that recovery...

 

[tymbom]

Thats cool Grizcty that you were at Fort Ord, I used to live in Salinas. My wife and I used to go hiking on the trails on the old Fort Ord.

 

[Verkstad]

I am suspicious of this,
A truck abandoned in the forest for years where someone could just drive up to it...
Is it somewhere in the United States ?

Where's ALL THE FREAKIN BULLET HOLES ?

 

[tymbom]

Yeah, I don't know. All I can think is thats because its in a pretty remote part of the state, you have to know where it is to find it. You can't see it from any main roads. My dad found it in 2006 and it hasn't changed at all.

 

[grizcty]

I am suspicious of this,
A truck abandoned in the forest for years where someone could just drive up to it...
Is it somewhere in the United States ?

Where's ALL THE FREAKIN BULLET HOLES ?

Don't forget this is in California.

Were the ONLY folks ALLOWED to have guns, are the gang bangers!

I store my Canadian friends guns, here in Alaska.
Then, they come to visit them.
Don't get me going.............LOL

 

[grizcty]

Thats cool Grizcty that you were at Fort Ord, I used to live in Salinas. My wife and I used to go hiking on the trails on the old Fort Ord.

Being a grunt carrying 100 + LBS. , in those days
You left out, a couple words describing those trails.
Also Ft. Ord was called "Planet Ord".

On a hot windy day, we could smell the garlic from Gillroy.
I remember driving the hwy. to Salinas.
Past the miles of lettuce/produce growing in the farm fields.

 

[BugEyeBear]

state workers and federal workers all all the same, they love freebies. that being said find out a boss to talk to and offer to buy lunch for him and his underlings. im a state wokrer in nj, free pizza and soda can move mountains where i work lol

Make it PIZZA & BEER & they'll probably all run out & help you load it!!

GO GET IT BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES!!

"Cheers!"
-Bear-

 

[wiggall]

If you get it would you be able to title it

 

[m376x6]

The very early 3/4 Ton dodges used converted 1/2 housings and there were tags welded tothe housings stating use 2 gaskets. Those are not very common. The 42's and up used the basic same thirds as the M37's. You'll find the yokes are splined the same but the flanges are different. The M37 axles are narrower by 2 1/2 inches, therefore an inch and a quarter on each side. The rear housing has a centered pumpkin as opposed to the M37 which is off set far to the right, not as much as the Civ Power Wagon or the forward rear axle on the WC 62 and 63 6X6's. The transfer case is a single speed, only the 6X6 had a hi/lo transfer case. The 6x6's had a low range of 1.5 to 1. These trucks are so unique and very appealing when restored correctly. It is common for folks to swap in a M37 transfer case. Later mods by the military upgraded the 6x6 Wc transfer cases to 1.96 ro 1 as is in the M37 and other power wagons. The engine in these was also the 230 flat head and if I recall correctly it designated the T216 as opposed to the M37 which was the T245 or T245 =A in B1 series M37's. The centered rear end makes it ideal for having custom hardened shafts made, as most shaft shops don't have the capacity to make the longer side shafts for either the M37 or Civvies, although there were some available at one time that were very high quality and very hard. They were made out of a German shop years ago and here by a fellow who had made a selectable locker for the Dodges but never got anywhere. I believe Vintage Power Wagons had sold tham at one time. Complete and restored nicely, these trucks are very valuable.

Regards,
M376X6

 

[BugEyeBear]

If you get it would you be able to title it

Yes, you should be able to title it with a Bill of Sale & Statement of Facts. Maybe a Certificate of Non-Operation covering the years it was sitting in the woods (ALTHOUGH the Statement of Facts should suffice!).

CA MIGHT require a title search, but since this is an old military vehicle I doubt it!

KEY POINT is to document your transaction and recovery (i.e. get Bills of Sale, names, dates, etc. and take pictures of the truck in the woods, the recovery process, etc.)!!

ANOTHER ITEM WORTH NOTING is to be persistent with the CA DMV. Your 1st DMV agent might simply not know how to handle this sort of thing, and try to blow you off with a negative answer. Push on and ask for a 2nd opinion or a supervisor until you get a reasonable answer. WORST CASE go to a different DMV office!

REMEMBER a vehicle titled in CA provides revenue to the state, so they should be willing to work with you and get it titled. YOU are doing them a FAVOR by bringing this vehicle back to life!!

One more thing...




GO AND GET IT!!!

-Bear-