M35A2 Fab. Shop?

[290smallcam]

So I'm really looking into buying a M35. Seems I need something smaller and more road friendly than my 5 ton. I've been on YouTube and googling all I can. I have no welding or fab. exp....So for you M35 owners, any of you do your engine swap or know someone close to me who has done a engine swap in a M35A2? $150 a hour for a shop to learn how to do it is crazy, Not going to charge me for their learning/mistakes until its done!! I'm a CAT guy, would like a CAT 3126B, but seems everyone is doing a Cummins 6BT swap so 6BT it is...I really don't want to mate it to the Spicer or the junk Allison 545 automatic. A fuller or Eaton 10 speed would be better. I can get all the stuff, just need a shop or a owner who has a shop who would take on the project. Any takers or leads. Why sell my M813???? No air lockers, fuel cost, loud, plates, insurance, etc. My 5 ton is really my daily driver, so......

 

[frank8003]

interesting stuff here
Why swap engines
Take care of the multi-fuel

M35A3 Cat 3116 Max Operating RPM

There have been several posts on SS discussing the slower operating speed of the M35A3 vs the M35A2, the limiting factor being the CAT 3116 engines. I personally limit my A3 to 45 mph for most driving and 2500 RPM. Others have admitted to running their CAT 3116 engines at significantly higher...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[290smallcam]

145HP!! No way. Cant find parts for multifuel to rebuild .Now mybe if I could get 250HP out of the LDT that would be ok. I have manual for LDS-465 @180HP. Thought if a intake was fabed up, and bypassed the watercooled manifold, add a air aftercooler the LDT would be in the 230-250HP range? $1,200 for a fuel pump too, I could buy any used diesel engine form a junk yard for that price!

 

[290smallcam]

The Cat 3126B isn't a bad motor! Have to keep oil super clean, or a second oil filter to HEUI pump inlet so crap doesn't clog injectors. Cat 3126B are super cheap! 250-330HP ranges too.

 

[HN6]

My advice is to listen to the guys who have 1000 or more posts on here and have done/tried/researched all of our newbie ideas. Oh yes, everything is expensive. Keep us posted on what you do. We would all enjoy the info.

 

[Crf450x]

A deuce has about the same power to weight ratio as a 5 ton. I’d guess by the time you pay someone to put a different engine and a roadranger in there, you’ll be spending $10k+. This guy put a 6bt in his. He’s on here but I can’t remember his name https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_6OEBrY6vNe4HK4CCpO21w

 

[Floridianson]

Well I find 5 tons road friendly with there real power steering. But a motor swap to a Cat or Cummins that had an easy power steering mount then install box and the little Deuce would be even more friendly. As a side not 5 ton rules in my .02!

 

[WillWagner]

ANY repower is an "experiment". I did that the last 15 years of my professional life, took old stuff out, put new stuff in. To the operator, it looked and acted the same, but from a mechanical point, TOTALLY different. MOST of the repowers I did were upward of 400 hours. ON road stuff took more time and thinking from a maintenance stand point. This was for things that had old school, mechanical stuff to drive by wire, tier 4 interm and tier 4 for off hwy and 2010 emissions setups or greater on road. If you are truly a "CAT" guy and have done ANY ,"re-inventing of the wheel stuff", you can see that any "estimate" someone would give you is going to be high just because of the unknowns.

You said you have no fab experience. Got any idea what it takes to make mounts, calculate drive angles, trim/re-enforce frames, engineer a cooling system into a space designed for a package with less heat rejection?

I am not bagging on you, but unless YOU can do something that YOU think is a straight forward, slam dunk job, don't go baggin' on peoples work is a "learning experience".

Again, not putting you down, making fun of you, doubting your expertise, just saying, that if you cant do or have any idea what it takes to do what you want,, don't say it is their learning experience or experiment

 

[WillWagner]

A deuce has about the same power to weight ratio as a 5 ton. I’d guess by the time you pay someone to put a different engine and a roadranger in there, you’ll be spending $10k+. This guy put a 6bt in his. He’s on here but I can’t remember his name https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_6OEBrY6vNe4HK4CCpO21w

That would be jeepsinker

 

[WillWagner]

Hey, look, I got one more post since the last one.....2.....3!

 

[290smallcam]

I wasn't dogging anyone. I was just saying id rather do business with a steel solders member if they had a shop and have done any M35 swaps. that way I could save a few bucks as they already know what to do. Sorry if anyone miss read what I posted. I meant no harm.

 

[290smallcam]

So im just going to keep my m 813 5 ton. Seems like this is way to much trouble. How do I remove this thread?

 

[tobyS]

Don't get too hasty. Come to Rochester and we can talk trucks. I've had 809 series and have an m35A3 under construction with a 3116.

Keeping the 5 ton is double the weight of a deuce and if you are willing to drop an axle, a deuce can come close to 10k#. With 395s, it's still a massive truck. Your 813 on 16.00 would be cool too, but really should have air brakes...S cams and some HP. I grew up south of Peru and know some peeps that build pulling tractor and trucks. Starting with an M35A3 would get brakes for the build and you could sell the 3116 if you want something with more hp.

 

[290smallcam]

M35A3 money pit???? In what part? Engine?

 

[V8srfun]

If you want a smaller truck have you considered bobbing your 5 ton. I think that may check more of your boxes than you realize.

 

[montaillou]

Cant find parts for multifuel to rebuild

Spare engines aren't too hard to find. Or even non-running part trucks.