-
Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!
What model is this?
- Thread starter SandBar
- Start date
Yes. They are not common though. I've seen a few 929 with them.
Attachments
- 290
- 451
- 63
- Location
- Kansas
It can be painted with rattlecans, but it takes a whole lot of them.
Attachments
I have a cheap but very usable hvlp setup and a leroi surplus compressor. Haven't painted much but can't be that with a flat color.
msgjd
Well-known member
- 1,114
- 3,429
- 113
- Location
- upstate ny
TWO spotting items jump out at me right away, things that most people overlook.
Yes the others are correct you have what is now coined as a M51A2. However, there is likely more to the story with your truck which if true, means it is NOT a Kaiser/Jeep/AM General product.
The style of lamp holder cover you have on the dash, plus the headlights in low grille position tells me your truck is likely pre-1964 and started life as a gas M51 but was converted to multifuel "A2" decades later.. I own examples of this conversion as well as untouched all-original International Harvester M51 and M52 . I would bet money your truck was re-tagged after conversion from a gas engine and is at least 2 decades older than 1983
Is there a 1" hole in the floor pan (or a covered one) right above the accelerator pedal? Also, look for IHC part numbers on your windshield frame hinges, or on the U-Joints, or any of the axle hubs.. IH part/casting numbers end with a R1, R4, R11, etc.
IHC was the main builder of all 5-tons from 1951 to 1963, but Mack and Diamond-T did make a small share of them in the 1950's as well
If yours was one of the two latter builds, it is quite rare
Yes the others are correct you have what is now coined as a M51A2. However, there is likely more to the story with your truck which if true, means it is NOT a Kaiser/Jeep/AM General product.
The style of lamp holder cover you have on the dash, plus the headlights in low grille position tells me your truck is likely pre-1964 and started life as a gas M51 but was converted to multifuel "A2" decades later.. I own examples of this conversion as well as untouched all-original International Harvester M51 and M52 . I would bet money your truck was re-tagged after conversion from a gas engine and is at least 2 decades older than 1983
Is there a 1" hole in the floor pan (or a covered one) right above the accelerator pedal? Also, look for IHC part numbers on your windshield frame hinges, or on the U-Joints, or any of the axle hubs.. IH part/casting numbers end with a R1, R4, R11, etc.
IHC was the main builder of all 5-tons from 1951 to 1963, but Mack and Diamond-T did make a small share of them in the 1950's as well
If yours was one of the two latter builds, it is quite rare
Last edited:
You may be correct, I keep seeing signs also that it is not "as built". For example, it was absolutely green before from looking under the cab, and under the hood. I see a lot of service tags (I think that is the term), the air compressor was replaced in 1983 as were several other components. Let me go check the floor pan.
- 290
- 451
- 63
- Location
- Kansas
I'm curious, as well. Mine is titled as a 1952 Mack.
- 34,012
- 1,810
- 113
- Location
- GA Mountains
Check out this post. Search up the M51A2. If it has your VIN, and likely does, might give you a better indication of what you have.
Wow that is some good info! My truck ID is hand engraved and says "M511 M2373"
- 290
- 451
- 63
- Location
- Kansas
The manufacturer line looks like it says IHC, which would be International Harvester Company.
msgjd
Well-known member
- 1,114
- 3,429
- 113
- Location
- upstate ny
yes, the starter pedal (and return spring) were at that hole . Thus, your truck is older than 1964 and was a gasser M51 in its prior life. You might now want to look for any casting numbers on your windshield hinges, U-joints, or rear axle hubs . If they end with R-1 or R-something else, you most likely have an IHC build. I do not know if Diamond-T and Mack used any of IHC's castings on their own builds of 5-tons in the 1950's .. I can also tell you the dash gauge illumination light holders on your truck dates to 1957 or earlier. I recall that style on the 1956 and 1957 M54's my armor unit had, and that style also appears on the GMC M211's etc. My 1962 M51 has the newer more-common screw cap dash lamp, which I believe is original to my truck, being it was obtained 40-some years ago direct from the DRMO.
I just noticed your post about finding the serial number etc.. Nice! Disregard my rambling logic, You already have it nailed ! I'm on here maybe only once or twice a month and didn't read all your replies since the last time I was here. But the logic might help others not as lucky to have tags, or have illegible tags as one of yours appeared to be in your pics.
To answer the others about the casting number on hinges, they are located as raised digits on the rail directly across from the twist handle . Pic is one of the hinges I kept from a IHC M52 we scrapped/parted years ago... Pic #2 is of the backside which has the casting number for the smaller part of the hinge and an embossed "IH" logo ..
There must be someone on here who knows whether or not Diamond-T and Mack were subcontracted by IHC, or if they won their own limited-number contracts. This may help determine whether or not IHC provided the other two builders with IHC castings or not. I would be interested to know if Mack made their own castings for its 5-tons. Diamond-T was likely not in any financial or tooling position to produce its own castings in the 1950's , but I have been wrong before
Attachments
Last edited:
- 4,773
- 1,175
- 113
- Location
- Gaithersburg, MD
Does the truck have the overdrive or direct drive transmission? Top speed will be a bit higher with the overdrive transmission, but I prefer the direct drive transmission for use and local driving. Check the data plate near the steering wheel that shows the maximum speeds in each gear. It may say DIRECT or OVERDRIVE next to 5th gear.
msgjd
Well-known member
- 1,114
- 3,429
- 113
- Location
- upstate ny
I concur with you the direct tranny is better for multifuel work trucks.. I have 1967 and 1969 M51A2's with the direct-5th, and a couple others with OD... However, all of the multi's (and 673's) in my units during the 70's thru 90 had an OD-5th. .. I have to wonder if some of the post-1964 multifuels came with direct-5th from the builder, or did some of them lose their OD due to a MWO or Organizational Maint directive in the late-80's thru 90's? .. This question is not about former gasser-to-A2 conversions