Time to think creatively

[maple_leaf_eh]

Fellow Rusty Old Truckers

I have located a '74 M151A2 in another province. The bill of sale is expected imminently. I've given myself 6-months to take delivery, otherwise I forfeit the payment. So there is a clock counting down. The issue is, it is inside the so-called Atlantic Bubble with border crossing conditions stated in absolute terms. As an ineligible resident without an approved reason, I cannot just drive 12-15 hrs and take delivery. Even having had my first flea treatment vaccine, I have no reason to be in that province. The seller is about 4-hours away from the border.

A couple of thoughts are rattling around what few brain cells I've got left:

- a, have the seller deliver to the border
- b, hire a flat bed towing company to pick up from the seller and deliver to the border where it gets crossdecked.
- c1, have a trusted MLU Express accomplice trailer or flat bed the vehicle to the border
- c2, meet the accomplice at the border with a suitable trailer, he takes to the seller's where it is loaded, then turns around to hand off to me at the border
- d, arrange with a commercial carrier to do the long distance haul, however it has to be received at a terminal, which still needs an accomplice to take delivery and move to a company loading dock.

As a nonrunner it needs heavy equipment or winching to be manoeuvered. The fewer handling steps the better for the sake of saving on exertion and breakage. I'd prefer to load once and be done.

Thoughts?

[Wayne Hingley]

Terry, I think you have covered the most reasonable options in your list. However, if your requirement is only to get the vehicle out of the seller's yard, and you can wait until the bubble comes off to get it back to your yard, maybe you can get someone in NB to take delivery and hold it until you can get down there under normal conditions to haul it back.

[rob love]

If you are talking about the remains of a M151A2 that was on facebook recently, someone on the thread indicated he would move it to his place and store it. Whether he has the means to move it or not is another question, but you could always see what he could offer. If you can get wheels onto it, it would be a lot easier to move around. I believe you can put ford 1/2 ton 5 bolt tires onto it if you don't have sufficient spare M151A2 rims kicking around.

End of the day, whatever you do, you will either be having to scrounge up a trailer and pickup, or else paying someone to move it.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I've already contacted those guys, and yes I wondered what wheels and tires would fit on that front end. The fact is, AM General isn't making these anymore.

[rob love]

M151 wheels are not hard to come by around here. Plenty at the loacal scrapyard. And I see them show up form time to time on kijiji being mistakenly sold as Jeep rims.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Dave Good was kind enough to sell me his M151A2 with a spare set of 4 wheels and snows. So I'm OK - except on the wrong side of the border.

Q - You said the wheel is a 5-bolt F-150 pattern. Does that Ford similarity extend to the studs and lug nuts?

[Tony Smith]

It is the same 5 on 5 1/2 lug pattern as F100, CJ Jeep (and MB/GPW), Internattional Scout, Mid 40's - 50' Ford Cars and even Suzuki Samurai. But in all those cases, while the lug pattern will allow you to fit a wheel to move the vehicle, the rim offset or backspacing is all wrong for the M151.

The only other wheel rim that WILL fit properly is a Lada Niva!

As Rob say, genuine M151 wheels are fairly easy to come by, they do appear on Ebay from time to time. https://www.ebay.com/itm/33279461248...sAAOSwxbNdlQtI

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Q - You said the wheel is a 5-bolt F-150 pattern. Does that Ford similarity extend to the studs and lug nuts?

No, M151 vehicles do not have conical taper lug nut, they are a flat seat nut with a hub-centric wheel.

Photo from this listing:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/23256917138...sAAOSwXk1dlRX5

[rob love]

Thanks for that info Tony, I hadn't considered the offset.

re the wheel-nuts, the M151 does not use tapered (conical) wheel-nuts like just about every other normal vehicle in existence, but rather flat faced nuts. But the threads will be correct for the cone type nuts. Then again, you are just putting wheels on to move it short distances. It's not like you are going to try and do something crazy like a-framing it home.

If, when the time comes, you were to repack the wheel-bearings, and remove the 4 axle prop shafts, (and install 4 good and proper tires and rims) you could theoretical pull it home with a towbar and a set of lights, but that is out here on the prairies. Between the QPP and the OPP, I am not so sure they would agree. Much easier to just use a trailer.

[Robin Craig]

Terry,

call me, I may have some solutions for you

[maple_leaf_eh]

Interesting details about the studs and nuts. My other M151A2 might need some replacements, and that flea-bay link is good to see.

I've heard back from a fellow in New Brunswick who commented on the original FB posting. I've asked if he could take possession soon so the seller doesn't back out on me. That will give me (literal) breathing room to work the provincial regulations. As more Canadians get their shots, the provinces will have to allow some normality to resume.

Rob, my current thoughts are to push, pull, drag, winch the carcass onto a flat trailer so wheel bearings and axle shafts won't be a highway issue. Then get pointed down the road at a leisurely 55 mph causing as long a traffic back up as my conscience can manage!

[maple_leaf_eh]

The deal was agreed and the money transfer sent, but the seller decided I hadn't been fast enough so he sold it to someone else. Bad faith negotiating is not cool!

If you bought this Jeep please contact me.