M216 Cdn

[Ken Smith]

Terry, That immediately brought up visions of Chevy Chase in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, doing his slide on the big dish in the snow. The only time I have ever seen snow was for a day in June 1974 when I visited some freezing cold place in Victoria Australia.
The other thing is maybe here is something civilian in the hood department that can be changed to fit the M216, it has given me something to think about.
Ken

[Ken Smith]

Some photos of the engine bay, or what remains of it. There is enough bits to make it possible to getting it going.

I pulled the distributor out and was prepared for it to be some exotic Chevrolet, General Motors rare as hens teeth item. When I checked the numbers on google I found it was a good old 1948-215 to 1956 FJ General Motors Holden grey motor distributor. While they are not plentiful anymore there are a few on ebay and condenser and points are available. The same distributor with a different suffix was used up until 1963 by Holden.

M216 Cdn Engine (1).JPG

M216 Cdn Engine (2).JPG

M216 Cdn Engine (3).JPG

M216 Cdn Engine (4).JPG

M216 Cdn Engine (6).JPG

The plan is to set up two 12 volt car batteries in the right hand battery box for the starter and set up one 12 volt battery in the left hand battery box for the ignition. All this is very temporary just to get it going, if it starts and runs then I will look at doing something more permanent.

Ken

[Grant Bowker]

I believe that the original distributor has been replaced by a "will fit" unit. Originally, the whole M133, M135, M207, M211, M215, M216 M220 etc. series were fitted with waterproof electrical systems in line with the thinking of the period that MVs should be able to be driven submerged. In these systems the coil and distributor were in a single unit with waterproof enclosure. Similarly the spark plug wires had screw down connectors at each end with gaskets to keep out the water. All very nice while it worked but awkward and expensive for people using the trucks after purchase from the government so often replaced with the equivalent parts off a similar civilian motor (and a pain for restorers who seek original). Bottom line, the system on your truck isn't original but will make it easier for you to maintain in the short run.
It also looks as if the sealed voltage regulator has been removed, perhaps for similar reasons. Maybe more of the electrical system too. If they did gut the electrics, they may have substituted 12 volt civil equivalents which might make the original 24 volt gauges read wonky.

[rob love]

The installation of a civilian distributor is quite common on all the M-series vehicles such as the Dodge, the Jeeps, and the 2-1/2 ton. Not so much for the points or rotors, which are relatively common, but more-so for things like the 24 volt internal coils, the military distributor caps, and those expensive shielded spark plugs. Remember that before the days of the internet, you did not simply hit a buy it now button and your obscure parts were there a few days later....you had to send letters, or stay up until 2 in the morning to call some foreign country.

Easy enough to make right, once you find out if the motor is still good. There is plenty of the M135 stuff around...nobody really wants it anymore.

[Ken Smith]

Grant and rob, the electrics are a mess, but I am not to worried, I am reasonably confident I can do my temporary work around successfully.

I do remember not being able to press a button and summon parts.
When I first got the truck I searched books for ages to find what it was, and eventually found a picture in one of Bart Vanderveen's books. Finding out it was a M216 not a M215 really was a tremendous surprise.

I put an add in Wheels and Tracks for any manuals, and the Belgian Tank Museum offered to photocopy a operator manual for me, for a small fee. I keep the copied manual in the original envelope that it arrived in, from Belgium.
You are correct, how things change!
Ken

[Ken Smith]

Dropped the sump oil today, first out came 20 litres of water then 10 litres of oil. I think the crease in the hood which has some small rust holes has leaked water into the distributor or oil filler, as both were missing their caps. The distributor is really rusty in the top around the points. The dipstick was also out about an inch so that is another possibility.
The oil filter oil is clean and shows no signs of having been run with water in the oil.
I added 30 litres of diesel and oil mixture so that it is above where the water level would have been.

When I drain that out I will pull the little sump off and give everything a good clean.

While I was underneath or getting out from underneath, I should say, I noticed that the little bolt in filler plates in the ends of the bumper are still in place and in fair condition.
This truck continues to amaze me.

I have been searching the internet for something on the name on the door, but it is almost as if they never existed. I am going to phone the local historical society and see if they can give me some leads.

I was checking some things in the M211 cab today and found the previous owner had made battery boxes set up under the right hand seat. They had cut the under bonnet left hand battery box off, I think that shows in the photo of the cab.
Ken

[Ken Smith]

Today I took out the brake and accelerator cross shafts and thanks to a wonderful tool called 4 inch cordless cutting disc, I had most of it out in no time at all. One bolt couldn't be reached by the disc so I decided to do the correct thing and got out the vice grips and 1/2" socket and ratchet but after a half hour getting in the cab, out of the cab, and under the truck a dozen times I ended up cutting the cross shaft and that's when the battery went flat on the 4" grinder.
I started on the seat removal and there will be a couple of bolts to cut off there tomorrow as well.
M216 Cdn shifting seats back to original (3).JPG

M216 Cdn shifting seats back to original (4).JPG

M216 Cdn Left to right brake pedal conversion.JPG

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These photos should be the right hand seat on the left.
The drivers seat hold down clamp.
Brake pedal cross shaft .
Accelerator cross shaft.