xjchief : M35

M35
Post by xjchief on Jul 29, 2006, 7:05pm

What should one look for when shopping for a M35? I'm starting to look for one but don't know a darn thing about them.

Thanks

Re: M35
Post by elohim1 on Jul 29, 2006, 9:56pm

Diesel/turbo Blowing black or white smoke, not blue
Winches are nice
air shift to lock in front axle
good tread on tires
Be sure you dont have to pump brakes to stop
good parking brake
Look at the inside of the rims, see if there is any fluid on them.
If there is axle seal or brake cylinder maybe leaking.

Drive it for at least 15 minutes to get it warm and pull it on some pavement to see if you can spot any leaks. Radiators are $400-$600.

They are a great truck , good luck.

BTW, I got one in my back yard for $5950/ no winch.

Re: M35
Post by k8icu on Jul 30, 2006, 10:50am

Look for one that has the spring driver seat. You can tell as the seat looks like its on a big shock absorber which it is. The old crate seat is a killer on you backside when you hit bumps.

Everything that was listed above plus when starting it if it takes more than a few second of cranking that could be a sign of a fuel problem.

The diesel motor will leak so that's a given. But antifreez and brake fluid are not good signs. Motor oil is ok. Gear oil is not a good sign either.

Make some turns in your test drive. If you hear pops or clanks or thuds from the rear end while turning is not a good thing as that is a sign that the links that hold the rear axels are starting to fail.

Look for an A2 model as the original M35s and M35A1 are not as good. The A2 will have the turbo motor in it. Don't worry about the year to much as many M35s and M35a1 were rebuilt as M35A2s so the truck might be a 1962, but was rebuilt in 72 as a A2. But newer is always better.

Good luck with your search

Re: M35
Post by elwenil on Jul 31, 2006, 7:24am

Check out www.steelsoldiers.com for more than you ever needed to know about M35s.