M715 CAT/Allison

[olly hondro]

I have been researching the '715 for two years now. So I have a good feel for what could be improved ; this is the wish list I compiled from M715 owners:

• The Tornado engine is interesting....but a diesel would be the cat's meow, CAT 3116
• The D60 front is obsolete and has D44-like knuckles so that is a weakness. MERITOR RF_611
• Because of the low gearing, bigger tires would be great, but there is the issue of firewall clearance etc. Reposition the cab aft on the chassis to clear larger tires Goodyear 395s (46 inch) radials
• The '70 rearend is obsolete. A popular mod is to swap to CUCV pickup axles for the D60/14BFF. MERITOR RS_611
• The manual gearbox is OK.....ALLISON 7 spd auto
• The wheels are wierd. 20" LMTV steelies
• The brakes could be bigger. LMTV drums/air brakes

So, anyway, attached is a pic of the "new" M715, (my 6th MV) , an eary winch truck, with the donor chassis in the background that cure many of the ills. No guts no glory...

 

[wheelspinner]

Hell YEAH!

 

[Barrman]

That will be interesting. A helpful hint is that since Kaiser was making the M38A1 almost right up to production of the M715. There is a huge amount of M38A1 body parts, wires and such on the M715. If you don't have something look at M38A1 parts for it.

 

[olly hondro]

Showing how the sausage is being made, a little at a time:

 

[olly hondro]

The original frame

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[G744]

About 25 years ago, a friend of mine put a BBC/TH400 in his 715, along with deuce axles & 14.00-20 rubber.

He did a great job of modding the fenders to handle the tires.

I sold him my only two Rockwell drop-ins in 5.22:1 ratio. Came out of a M35A3 prototype test truck.

Another neat truck from my past where I have no clue where it is today. Drat...

DG

 

[olly hondro]

About 25 years ago, a friend of mine put a BBC/TH400 in his 715, along with deuce axles & 14.00-20 rubber.

He did a great job of modding the fenders to handle the tires.

I sold him my only two Rockwell drop-ins in 5.22:1 ratio. Came out of a M35A3 prototype test truck.

Another neat ruck from my past where I have no clue where it is today. Drat...

DG

This truck has a final ratio of 7.80:1. Moves the 14.00 Michelins pretty well

 

[olly hondro]

Test fit some body panels

 

[olly hondro]

The gantry is run as high as it will go. The cab clears but no room for the chain hoist x 2. So make the truck lower, of course.

 

[olly hondro]

Added some parts, deleted some parts. It no longer has the Dr Doolittle Push me Pull you look to it.

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[gimpyrobb]

Added some parts, deleted some parts. It no longer has the Dr Doolittle Push me Pull you look to it.

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Doesn't play for me. I get audio, but no video!

 

[olly hondro]

....

 

[olly hondro]

I was told the truck looks like a train car....steel wheels w/no tires......

 

[olly hondro]

Gauges before and after. The LMTV gauges exactly fit the M715 cluster. Amaaaazing.

 

[olly hondro]

Finished removing wire harness from the donor truck.

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[olly hondro]

So, my buddy Paul, asks," what are you going to do about paint? " I say I don't know, as it is not a restoration. " Scotchbrite and clearcoat then is what I suggest." Really?? You mean like scrub pots and pans scotchbrite? "Yes.".
Ok, here is the passenger door before and after:



Amaaaazing.

 

[olly hondro]

Gladiator build update:

 

[olly hondro]

12/10/22 update:

 

[Guyfang]

Olly,

What did you do for TM's? There are none in the Forum TM section. Do you have digital copies? Care to share with the forum? This is a big hole in the TM forum.

Guy

 

[olly hondro]

Olly,

What did you do for TM's? There are none in the Forum TM section. Do you have digital copies? Care to share with the forum? This is a big hole in the TM forum.

Guy

So far I am getting along with the M1078 TMs. I am retaining all of the LMTV pneumatic braking system, CTIS, and engine electrical stuff. For the Gladiator stuff, I look at the 30 or so in various stages of disassembly at my disposal to see how stuff goes together.