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APM215 -- how are you slinging the unit to pull the truck? I don't see a drawbar sling, and nothing around the car body w/ spreader

One trick to remember whenever you are restoring a GMC or a Dodge is that many of the engine parts are civilian. When I needed parts, I'd go to NAPA and look for the engine and the year. If their book didn't go back as far as I needed, I'd look for the most common part number that was close to...

I haven't heard the name Bob Kettler in years - he was about the best resource there was for anyone rebuilding a GMC. He could be a cranky SOB, but he knew his stuff. When he got to know you, he'd ship out the parts when you called him, and let you follow up with a check. Just before he...

Like any 1950's vehicle, it has a mind of its own. After a while, you'll learn how to play the gas pedal for smooth shifting. I never had any jerking on downshifts (in high transfer). When you learn how to lock the trans in gear by playing the gearshift, hills will be much easier, and speeds...

Years ago, Tom at Alfa Heaven suggested that I use 10/30 hydraulic oil in the trans instead of straight weight non-detergent oil. I changed to the hydraulic oil, and it really helped smooth out the shifts. They were always fairly smooth in high range, a little jerky downshifting, and low range...

When I drove my 135 in traffic, I could keep up with the right lane, even if there weren't any semis. The only drawback to keeping up with traffic is your mileage drops to about 2 MPG. Its a lot more painless to get 'er out on the open road and cruise about 50 - then you'll get maybe 6 MPG. If...

Nope - longer stroke tries to flood the engine when you step on the gas. The performance requirements are different with armored equipment with an automatic trans than for a truck with an automatic trans - I think it was the M59 APC - and the transmission/etc are all set up for an armored...

If you're running the original in-tank pump, it runs continually and holds pressure on the fuel line. Its a submerged centrifugal pump. There are two metal filters on the sides of the fuel pump container that are supposed to strain the gas. My 135 suddenly started leaking gas from the carb, and...

The red bulbs are so your night vision isn't affected by the dash lights. I recall finding water in my bell housing as well. As I remember, I took out the bell housing drain plug and drilled a 1/4" hole in it so the housing would be mostly mud/dust proof, yet it would still drain any water out.

If you decide to roll or brush on a coat of paint, remember that brushing on paint was the normal way that a using group had to paint equipment - spraying was limited to a support organization. Even now, users are told to touch up paint by brush or dauber instead of spraying. A friend of mine...

Whale oil??? Lots a luck on that idea. Canada ran the GMCs longer than the USA did, so there are parts floating around in Canada that you won't find in the USA. I replaced all my wheel cylinders with NOS Canadian - they were 1 3/8 instead of 1 1/4", so stopping was a lot better. Asbury is a...

The 135 looks great! A good OD paint job always helps, but you also paid attention to the details. It always amazes me how much paint a 2 1/2 ton truck can need, but it usually seems that you need just as much to do the odds and ends as to paint the rest of the truck. The hard top was also a...