M-34 Project Kicks off

[acrane]

My M-34 was delivered on Friday, and I picked up a bed for it on Saturday. Looking forward to many wasted hours putting it back together this summer. Definitly a unique truck! I'll post more pics as work progresses if people are interested.

When finised it will be an exact replica of the M-34 mess truck my dad drove in Germany in 1952. I'm attaching a pic of him in front of his ride way back when as well.

 

[Jones]

Great project and great end target. Best of luck and welcome to the fold.
This site is good for info and support; and lots of knowledgable people. All bring a particular expertice and everybody is willing to share.

 

[rdixiemiller]

Where did you find an original M34 bed? They are hard to come by!
Just a tad bit of rust on the fenders.........
The truck looks like a good candidate for restoration. Get in touch with Maccus, he knows where some M34's live.

 

[M1075]

Looks like a good project acrane.

You have to remember to load photos in the reverse order you want them seen. One of system's quirks!

 

[acrane]

Found a guy who had two of them he was using to store firewood in! Got a great deal on the bed, seats, bows, and canvas.

Truck runs great and is in really good shape except for those fenders. It also came with a gas M-35 for parts which I am going to steal the fenders off of.

Still need a gasser gas tank and an early tailgate if anyone has anything kicking around.

 

[rdixiemiller]

If the other M34 bed is in good shape, pick it up! We have a couple of members looking for them. Finding one with bows, canvas, and seats is really nice.

 

[deuceman51]

I would be interested in the other beds troop seats, corners, and bows. I have been trying to find them for my M135 for a long time and was just going to modify a set of M35s to fit the bed. Let me know more about the other bed. Thanks.

 

[acrane]

Work continues on the M34, here is a pic of the sandblasted bed being primed.

 

[acrane]

Here is the rear axle with most of the paint and goo taken off of it. Does anyone know what these markings mean? I was hoping to get a date out of this mess!

 

[Recovry4x4]

M 7 50= July 13 1950
0240FXH1 is the model of the axle.
672 is the gear ratio and
637101 is the sequence or serial number of the housing.
On the top of the center section in the machined flat spot should be another sequence of numbers for the center section. Attached are 2 pics from my 1953 M108 front axle. The 2553 indicates Feb 5 1953 and the N1 is the production line number. The second pic is on the top of the center section indicating some of the same type of info. What year is the truck? 1950 is pretty early production.

 

[acrane]

Thanks for the info!

The data plate with the delivery date is of course gone, but I was guessing it was a 1950 since it has some other unusual features on it.

It still had the original oa-331 gas engine in it.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Hows the exhaust? There is a guy down here with a bunch of new fornt pipes for gassers

 

[Crazyguyla]

Ken,

Who and where are these pipes?? my front pipe looks like swiss cheeses *L* Gotta love them gassers

_________________
Marcus
1957 Curtis-Wright M45 Compressor Truck
Ft Leonard Wood

 

[Recovry4x4]

Call Matt at M-Trucking. (954)523-1913. Not sure about how to ship the sucker, maybe the gray dog could carry it.

 

[cranetruck]

FedEx will take it. Got my exhaust pipe for my turbo conversion from New Jersey to Virginia with just a label taped on. A few years ago, but still.

 

[clinto]

When I ship exhaust, I shrink wrap it (to keep it form getting scracthed).

I know it sounds silly (scratched exhaust pipes) but if you pay $1500 for a single, NOS date coded Hemi muffler and headpipe, it makes more sense

 

[acrane]

The M-34 is starting to look like a truck! Painted the cab and frame OD, and put the bed on it. I'm hoping to have it done and registered by friday so I can drive it to the COMVEC show. If anyone wants to see pics on how to mount a bed on a truck with two guys and no heavy equipment let me know and I will post!

Alan

 

[rizzo]

The M-34 is starting to look like a truck! Painted the cab and frame OD, and put the bed on it. I

I would like to see that

 

[doghead]

 

[acrane]

Ok, here's how we did it. The only equipment we had was a standard, Auto Zone type engine hoist.