targhee trucks
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Hi all,
New Steel Soldier forum member here. I’m attempting to get two M220’s running again. Our daughter and son-in-law have purchased his family’s farm (he’s 4th generation on the farm) and are working hard to make it go. These two trucks were used on the farm years ago and have been sitting for a long time. He’s asked me to see if I can get them going. Once we know whether or not they’ll run, he’ll decide what to do with them. Maybe use them on the farm, maybe sell them and use the $$ to buy other equipment. I’m glad to be able to help them. I’m also hoping to save these two good old trucks from the scrap yard. And, if I’m lucky, I may end up buying one of them when this is all done.
I own two M38a1’s. One runs, one is still in “kit” form. So I have a little experience working on military vehicles. But I know almost nothing about these bigger trucks so I’ve been reading posts on this forum and talking to mil veh folks I know.
As you can see from the pictures, these M220 “shop van” trucks lost their “shop” a long time ago. They’ve been wearing those potato beds for many years.
Here’s some info on these trucks:
1. Both still have the original data plates and other dash plaques. Hood numbers are painted over but can be seen.
2. Sheet metal on both is solid with virtually no rust through. Roofs are slightly caved in.
3. Both cab interiors are in good, original condition.
4. Both trucks still have the original 6 cylinder GMC engines in them. One is free, one is frozen.
5. Both trucks still have the original 24V equipment. Wiring appears to be in pretty good shape.
6. Both original automatic transmissions have been replaced by manual transmissions. A local mil veh collector thinks the conversions may have been done at Boyce down in Utah.
7. Truck 1 odometer reads 5,885, truck 2 reads 7,520. I haven’t determined yet whether or not the speedos worked after the switch to manual trans.
8. The frames have been stretched in two places: in front of the rear wheels and at the end of the frame. According to the data plate, stock overall length, front of bumper to end of frame, was 268 3/4”. Their current total length is approx 312”.
9. Most of the tires are holding air. Some are rotten and will need to be replaced.
10. We think they were both running when parked, but not 100% sure about that.
If the engines will run, then I’ll work on the clutches and brakes, get good tires all around, check the steering and take them for drive!
I’m hoping to get all that done w/in the next 4 – 6 weeks. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of questions along the way. I’ll try to do my homework and not ask too many dumb ones.
I welcome any info, questions, or suggestions you might have.
Jack
Here are some pictures:
Truck 1
Truck 2
Truck 1 dash
Truck 2 interior
Truck 2 transmission
Truck 2 transfer
Truck 1 engine
Frame extension in front of rear wheels
Frame extension at back of truck
Truck 2 pedals
What's next? I'll be starting work on this one shortly. 1966 Kaiser Jeep M35a2. It's not as bad as it looks! I'll post a thread in that forum once I get started.
New Steel Soldier forum member here. I’m attempting to get two M220’s running again. Our daughter and son-in-law have purchased his family’s farm (he’s 4th generation on the farm) and are working hard to make it go. These two trucks were used on the farm years ago and have been sitting for a long time. He’s asked me to see if I can get them going. Once we know whether or not they’ll run, he’ll decide what to do with them. Maybe use them on the farm, maybe sell them and use the $$ to buy other equipment. I’m glad to be able to help them. I’m also hoping to save these two good old trucks from the scrap yard. And, if I’m lucky, I may end up buying one of them when this is all done.
I own two M38a1’s. One runs, one is still in “kit” form. So I have a little experience working on military vehicles. But I know almost nothing about these bigger trucks so I’ve been reading posts on this forum and talking to mil veh folks I know.
As you can see from the pictures, these M220 “shop van” trucks lost their “shop” a long time ago. They’ve been wearing those potato beds for many years.
Here’s some info on these trucks:
1. Both still have the original data plates and other dash plaques. Hood numbers are painted over but can be seen.
2. Sheet metal on both is solid with virtually no rust through. Roofs are slightly caved in.
3. Both cab interiors are in good, original condition.
4. Both trucks still have the original 6 cylinder GMC engines in them. One is free, one is frozen.
5. Both trucks still have the original 24V equipment. Wiring appears to be in pretty good shape.
6. Both original automatic transmissions have been replaced by manual transmissions. A local mil veh collector thinks the conversions may have been done at Boyce down in Utah.
7. Truck 1 odometer reads 5,885, truck 2 reads 7,520. I haven’t determined yet whether or not the speedos worked after the switch to manual trans.
8. The frames have been stretched in two places: in front of the rear wheels and at the end of the frame. According to the data plate, stock overall length, front of bumper to end of frame, was 268 3/4”. Their current total length is approx 312”.
9. Most of the tires are holding air. Some are rotten and will need to be replaced.
10. We think they were both running when parked, but not 100% sure about that.
If the engines will run, then I’ll work on the clutches and brakes, get good tires all around, check the steering and take them for drive!
I’m hoping to get all that done w/in the next 4 – 6 weeks. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of questions along the way. I’ll try to do my homework and not ask too many dumb ones.
I welcome any info, questions, or suggestions you might have.
Jack
Here are some pictures:
Truck 1
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/M220rightfront.jpg)
Truck 2
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/m220tworight.jpg)
Truck 1 dash
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/M220dash.jpg)
Truck 2 interior
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/m220twoinsidecab.jpg)
Truck 2 transmission
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/m220twotrans.jpg)
Truck 2 transfer
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/m220twotransfer.jpg)
Truck 1 engine
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/M220engine.jpg)
Frame extension in front of rear wheels
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/m220frontframestretch.jpg)
Frame extension at back of truck
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/m220rearframestretch.jpg)
Truck 2 pedals
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/M220/m220twopedals.jpg)
What's next? I'll be starting work on this one shortly. 1966 Kaiser Jeep M35a2. It's not as bad as it looks! I'll post a thread in that forum once I get started.
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/m35a2/m35a2left.jpg)
![](http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab152/jbjeeps/m35a2/m35a2dash.jpg)
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