M216 Cdn

[Ken Smith]

This old truck sucks you in, today I was converting it back to left hand drive, which is as easy as I thought it would be except for the usual mixture of Whitworth bolts, UNC bolts, and of course the mix of Whitworth bolts with UNC nuts and vice versa.

Anyway I thought I should see if it turns over on the starter, so a chucked a 12 volt battery in even though it is still a 24V starter. There are pitfalls with that as 24V starters will burn out on low voltage, but I didn't want it spinning over too fast until I check the oil and filters in the engine and transmission.

So after a good read of the wiring diagram and how to start a M216, as shown on Steel Soldiers forum, I pushed the lever and eventually she gave a little turn over.

Todays photos are not of a DND, CMP, or SMP Vehicle but the remains of a Ex US Navy M211 W/Winch cab, this cab with fenders and grille came as part of the deal with the M216.
The M211 cab is half way through a horrible attempt to convert to right hand drive, but it will provide seat mounts which haven't been converted, a right window winder, a left door latch, the correct UNF dash bolts and the passenger dash grab handle. All the M211 gauges have been smashed but the gauges in the M216 all look good. I am going to give them a clean with window cleaner as soon as I can.

The hood for the M211 went to the scrap man, as the fellow who threw it on the truck, told me the people doing the clean up at the yard had a discussion about what it might fit before they threw it on the load.

Interior from right side
USN Registration #
Front view showing some of the bits that are modified.
M211 US NAVY (3) big interior from right side.JPG

M211 US NAVY (5) Right door.JPG

M211 US NAVY (9) Front Left quarter view.JPG