- 5,637
- 381
- 83
- Location
- Spring Branch, TX
I've done several threads along these lines in the past:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?72872-Working-on-the-M37
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?65360-Working-on-the-MKT
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?121212-Working-On-The-M923A2
I simply like to have a place to show what I start with on a project and the issues found along the way. While you may need to wade through a lot of pages for a specific item sometimes it can be a little more interesting than just searching for "Gama Goat tires" or "M561 steering problem." Here you can see all of the problems that I'll run into, work arounds, suggestions by other people how to fix things, and sometimes even an answer to your question. So sit back, pop a cold refreshment, and enjoy the Keystone Kops attempt at redoing a Gama Goat.
I've had a lot of people tell me I need to have my head examined for wanting a Goat. That's probably true regardless of what MV I choose to tinker on. My philosophy is that it's better to have something a little different than everyone else to make up for not having it totally restored. While my wife's M37 is in presentable condition it certainly isn't something I'll be taking to the MVPA convention any time soon. Likewise the MKT was a lot of fun and attracted a large number of former service members who had worked on them but in the end it was more work than I was able to handle. My goal with the 561 is to have a vehicle that stands out from the crowd in it's uniqueness but still be in a condition that if I want to play in the woods or let a sticky fingered 5 year old climb on it I won't sweat the outcome.
If you've never looked at the Gama Goat I recommend searching some Youtube videos or reading the Wiki breakdown of it. While it came into service during Vietnam the only combat they ever saw was with the 82nd Airborne in Grenada. As mine is a USMC Goat I can't very well paint it to look like an Operation Urgent Fury vehicle (well I could but I won't). So I plan to give it the Vietnam era Marine Corp Green paint job with yellow lettering (which also plays into our Waffle House adventures recovering it.
A walk around of my Goat shows a few things missing from it's military days and a few things added from it's days as a NC Forest Service vehicle. Obviously the yellow paint is not something the Marines would have tolerated. On the nose you'll notice the winch but what is missing in front of the windshield is the B/O Drive Lamp and guard which surrounds it and also absent is the Slave Cable Recepticle which would have been to it's right in the picture.
The overhead cover was also a Forest Service addition and while it might be good to keep a tree limb from falling on you it doesn't do much to keep the rain out (in TX it'd keep the sun out but that's what Boonie hats are for).
On the right side of the vehicle is one of the fuel tanks and on top of that 1 of 2 batteries. Directly behind the passenger compartment is the engine cover. In this shot you can see the distinct characteristics of the 6x6 Gama Goat and it's 3 axles.
Just behind the tractor (what the front section is called) is the point that makes the Goat as agile as it is. This is where the tractor and carrier are connected and articulate. Notice the way the tractor slopes toward the front and the carrier slopes toward the rear. This allows the unit to get closer together at these points when traversing an obstical or climbing steep terrain. The Goat can also pivot one section of the unit while the other section is on a different plain (see my avatar).
At the rear you have the tail gate with built in pioneer rack. The tailgate on this unit has a step that is usually found only on the M792 Ambulance. Whether this tail gate is off a 792 or someone just decided they liked the step and added it to the original tail gate we'll never know. Inside the bed you can see the 2 large fenders that act as troop seats. To the front are a couple of wooden storage boxes that the Forest Service added. Normally there would be 2 fold down aluminum panels that when deployed extended the troop seats all the way to the front of the bed. You'll also notice the mesh grille over the tail lights. That is not original nor are the lights themselves. Also missing are the B/O Markers.
The left side is pretty much a mirror image of the right with another fuel tank and battery.
The Crew Compartment seats 2 and has the controls to go from 2 wheel to 6 wheel High/Low Drive. And here is the data plate confirming it's USMC Heritage.
The engine itself is a 3 cylinder, 2 stroke Detriot Diesel that puts out 101hp with a top speed of over 55mph.
That's the walk around folks. Tomorrow we start tearing into some of the known problems to try and get it road ready.
Here's a few extra pics of some things I found as a bonus and existing problems.
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?72872-Working-on-the-M37
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?65360-Working-on-the-MKT
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?121212-Working-On-The-M923A2
I simply like to have a place to show what I start with on a project and the issues found along the way. While you may need to wade through a lot of pages for a specific item sometimes it can be a little more interesting than just searching for "Gama Goat tires" or "M561 steering problem." Here you can see all of the problems that I'll run into, work arounds, suggestions by other people how to fix things, and sometimes even an answer to your question. So sit back, pop a cold refreshment, and enjoy the Keystone Kops attempt at redoing a Gama Goat.
I've had a lot of people tell me I need to have my head examined for wanting a Goat. That's probably true regardless of what MV I choose to tinker on. My philosophy is that it's better to have something a little different than everyone else to make up for not having it totally restored. While my wife's M37 is in presentable condition it certainly isn't something I'll be taking to the MVPA convention any time soon. Likewise the MKT was a lot of fun and attracted a large number of former service members who had worked on them but in the end it was more work than I was able to handle. My goal with the 561 is to have a vehicle that stands out from the crowd in it's uniqueness but still be in a condition that if I want to play in the woods or let a sticky fingered 5 year old climb on it I won't sweat the outcome.
If you've never looked at the Gama Goat I recommend searching some Youtube videos or reading the Wiki breakdown of it. While it came into service during Vietnam the only combat they ever saw was with the 82nd Airborne in Grenada. As mine is a USMC Goat I can't very well paint it to look like an Operation Urgent Fury vehicle (well I could but I won't). So I plan to give it the Vietnam era Marine Corp Green paint job with yellow lettering (which also plays into our Waffle House adventures recovering it.
A walk around of my Goat shows a few things missing from it's military days and a few things added from it's days as a NC Forest Service vehicle. Obviously the yellow paint is not something the Marines would have tolerated. On the nose you'll notice the winch but what is missing in front of the windshield is the B/O Drive Lamp and guard which surrounds it and also absent is the Slave Cable Recepticle which would have been to it's right in the picture.
The overhead cover was also a Forest Service addition and while it might be good to keep a tree limb from falling on you it doesn't do much to keep the rain out (in TX it'd keep the sun out but that's what Boonie hats are for).
On the right side of the vehicle is one of the fuel tanks and on top of that 1 of 2 batteries. Directly behind the passenger compartment is the engine cover. In this shot you can see the distinct characteristics of the 6x6 Gama Goat and it's 3 axles.
Just behind the tractor (what the front section is called) is the point that makes the Goat as agile as it is. This is where the tractor and carrier are connected and articulate. Notice the way the tractor slopes toward the front and the carrier slopes toward the rear. This allows the unit to get closer together at these points when traversing an obstical or climbing steep terrain. The Goat can also pivot one section of the unit while the other section is on a different plain (see my avatar).
At the rear you have the tail gate with built in pioneer rack. The tailgate on this unit has a step that is usually found only on the M792 Ambulance. Whether this tail gate is off a 792 or someone just decided they liked the step and added it to the original tail gate we'll never know. Inside the bed you can see the 2 large fenders that act as troop seats. To the front are a couple of wooden storage boxes that the Forest Service added. Normally there would be 2 fold down aluminum panels that when deployed extended the troop seats all the way to the front of the bed. You'll also notice the mesh grille over the tail lights. That is not original nor are the lights themselves. Also missing are the B/O Markers.
The left side is pretty much a mirror image of the right with another fuel tank and battery.
The Crew Compartment seats 2 and has the controls to go from 2 wheel to 6 wheel High/Low Drive. And here is the data plate confirming it's USMC Heritage.
The engine itself is a 3 cylinder, 2 stroke Detriot Diesel that puts out 101hp with a top speed of over 55mph.
That's the walk around folks. Tomorrow we start tearing into some of the known problems to try and get it road ready.
Here's a few extra pics of some things I found as a bonus and existing problems.
Attachments
Last edited:
