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I just got my M35A3 home and, after swapping out the batteries, fired her up. Man, that truck is nice! I am not sure why the Army did not warm up to them. They truly seem like a huge improvement over the old M35A2. I have heard that the CTIS was problematic. Fortunately, mine works. The bastardized hood is kind of ugly, but it is growing on me. That CAT motor has a lot of power and the Allison auto tranny shifts crisply. That just might be the quickest military vehicle I have driven...plenty of power...no smoke at all. The only drawback that I can see so far is you are doing about 2,500 RPM at 50 mph. I am not sure what the rated top speed is for that truck...50-56 I'd guess (the CTIS computer says something about 56 mph). However, unless the CAT is a like a Detroit (that usually rev higher than most diesels), 2,500 sounds kind of high for prolonged driving. If this is truly the case, then 45 mph is about max top speed, which kind of sucks. Additional cool features:
*electric wiper motor upgrade
*3-point seat belts
*more room in the cab because of the auto tranny (no shifter to move)
*better driver's seat
*...best of all, everything is new or rebuilt
Does anyone know what parts of the old M35A2(s) they reused on the M35A3? I know they reused the hood. I believe they reused and rebuilt the axles. I believe the reused and modified the bed. Short of that, I am not sure they reused anything else. I suppose they could have reused the cab tub, but I am not sure why they would unless the old ones were spotless. The cab on my truck looks to be new (at least it was new when the truck was rebuilt I think in 1996).
*electric wiper motor upgrade
*3-point seat belts
*more room in the cab because of the auto tranny (no shifter to move)
*better driver's seat
*...best of all, everything is new or rebuilt
Does anyone know what parts of the old M35A2(s) they reused on the M35A3? I know they reused the hood. I believe they reused and rebuilt the axles. I believe the reused and modified the bed. Short of that, I am not sure they reused anything else. I suppose they could have reused the cab tub, but I am not sure why they would unless the old ones were spotless. The cab on my truck looks to be new (at least it was new when the truck was rebuilt I think in 1996).