M35A3 drivability and performance

[Z71]

How does an M35A3 with the Caterpillar motor and Allison auto compare to a regular multi fuel deuce in terms of acceleration , cruising speed, and overall driveability? What about fuel consumption? Is the towing capacity the same? I assume they did not change the Rockwell axle gear ratios.

Are there any converted shop vans out there with the same Cat engine? I have not seen one yet.

 

[Derrickl112]

the shop van version would be the m109a4

 

[kennys@wi.rr.com]

There was a time when all I wanted was an A3. The there other day I went and recovered one for another member. They are slow and the death wobble makes them not so much fun to drive.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/transportation-needs/70910-need-something-picked-up-mccoy-5.html

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZnXETKavQ4[/media]

 

[drgreg]

They have nice wipers.

 

[kennys@wi.rr.com]

They have nice wipers.

My A2 came with the electric wipers from an A3. Still see no need in owning one of them.

 

[Z71]

I always prefer manual transmissions to automatics, so that Allison transmission is actually a turn off for me. However, i am surprised that these trucks are slow with higher HP engines than the old multifuel.

It is always a good idea to drive the truck before buying it. Unfortunately if you get it from govliquidation.com, you seldom get a chance to test drive one, as most of them have dead batteries or dirty fuel in them.

I hear that those CTIS (central tire inflation systems) are junk and most do not work. How reliable is that Cat engine?

 

[Z71]

There was a time when all I wanted was an A3. The there other day I went and recovered one for another member. They are slow and the death wobble makes them not so much fun to drive.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/transportation-needs/70910-need-something-picked-up-mccoy-5.html

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZnXETKavQ4[/media]

Maybe it is just a bad tire with a shifted/broken belt? Do they balance these large radial singles at all?
My M109 rides pretty smooth compared to this, with unbalanced 9.00 X 20 military NDT tires.

 

[olewhiskey]

CTIS works perfectly on my truck even AFTER the blowout, something must be superspecial on mine too becaue it didn't vibrate like that before the blowout. I'm switching tires anyway , so that must be the source of vibration on most trucks?

 

[Z71]

CTIS works perfectly on my truck even AFTER the blowout, something must be superspecial on mine too becaue it didn't vibrate like that before the blowout. I'm switching tires anyway , so that must be the source of vibration on most trucks?

So how do you rate your truck compared to an M35A2?

 

[Rustygears]

I never have had any wobble and the CTIS worked when I repaired the gummed up tubing and leaky grommets. I'm really happy with the truck. The way the auto tranny snaps into gear it might as well be a manual!

 

[olewhiskey]

How does an M35A3 with the Caterpillar motor and Allison auto compare to a regular multi fuel deuce in terms of acceleration , cruising speed, and overall driveability? What about fuel consumption? Is the towing capacity the same? I assume they did not change the Rockwell axle gear ratios.

Are there any converted shop vans out there with the same Cat engine? I have not seen one yet.

I paid a ridicously low price for my m35a3, under what private sellers ask for. Even after the accident I will still be below with the parts I have bought. The automatic and powr steering appealed to me, especially after knowing two guys with broken hands from wheel snap on M35a2s. I'm a hot rodder by heart, so a grenaded motor or trans just sends me to a machine shop and the tree hoist to replace it with something bettter. I will keep mine fairly stock on the outside, and since it may never have the status the earlier Deuces enjoy, alter the interior for more creature comforts.

 

[olewhiskey]

So how do you rate your truck compared to an M35A2?

Never drove one, just rode in a few long,long ago. I have a digger truck,International with PIA 4 speed I dispise, do not like the shift effort /coordination on big trucks. Maybe I'm just lazy, but I like watching the road and not working to many things at once
I know the 35A2 guys like to rag on the A3s looks but I liked them for a long time before I thought of getting myself into this adventure.

 

[Z71]

How does an M35A3 with the Caterpillar motor and Allison auto compare to a regular multi fuel deuce in terms of acceleration , cruising speed, and overall driveability? What about fuel consumption? Is the towing capacity the same? I assume they did not change the Rockwell axle gear ratios.

Are there any converted shop vans out there with the same Cat engine? I have not seen one yet.

 

[Derrickl112]

why did you start another thread with the same topic?

 

[gimpyrobb]

Check out this thread:

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/71838-m35a3-drivability-performance.html

 

[Z71]

Mods, please delete this thread. It is a duplicate of the same title thread which I have already posted. It was caused by a computer glitch.

 

[Westech]

you can cann your own post.

 

[R Racing]

Well what your calling the death wobble I have in my M35a3, M920, and M813. For some reason my M816 doesn't have it. The M920 I believe is to much toe in. I haven't had time to dig in to the other trucks as much. but my thoughts are my m813 is the tires ( swapped out the NDTs for 395s and the wobble all but went away) When I first got my M35a3 it didn't have a wobble til I upped the size tires. Love my M35a3 I love driving it, I feel like I'm in a compact car driving it compared to my other trucks ! LOL

 

[Rolling_Eudaimonia]

Check out the king pin bushings... My truck had nasty shimmy on one side until I fixed the bushings... Make sure you shim it correctly.

 

[m16ty]

Until I got married (wife's car) I have only owned one auto my whole life. It was a POS so it kind of turned me against them. I do realize that autos have come a long ways since then (early '80s truck) and you can't hardly buy anything 1-ton or under with a stick anymore.

The auto trans is a drawback for me also. The auto robs power, cost a lot to repair, and violates the K.I.S.S. principle. I do understand why some people like them though and that's ok. It's just not for me.