My "new" '55 M170 (finally an owner!)

(some content copied from my greatlakes4x4.com post)

My friend Cooter (mentioned below) goes by "lwb" here, I believe.

*****

Thanks to Cooter, my "new" M170 is now sitting in my pole barn. When he mentioned selling it to me, I did a mad scramble to sell off some stuff so I could afford to buy it. :thumb:

Drivetrain is the stock F-head 4-cyl., T-90 3-speed, and Dana 18 t-case. I have a lot to learn here, as this stuff is WAY old school relative to what I have previously owned. It runs, but the gas tank is full of nastiness...I have to drop & clean it before doing much else. I also have a '71 CJ-5 offset Dana 44 with 30-spline 1-pc. shafts (matching the current 5.38 gearing) that I'll eventually install.

The frame is really nice, and the body is pretty clean from a rust standpoint. As Cooter mentioned (over and over) to me, the body is "bent". It just has a lot of dings, dents, etc. I'm not worried, though, as I'm just going to wheel it, and enjoy it.

I also mounted my 34" x 9.5" TSL Super Swampers on it just to see what they'd look like. Cooter also brought me some 2" lift springs that should allow me to clear the TSLs. I'll be working on the M170 over the Fall/Winter, after I get done getting the CJ-10a ready for plowing this Winter.

Thanks for the unique rig, Cooter! I feel lucky to have it.

Craig

 

Thanks Mike. I know it breaks the "one Jeep" rule you have been trying to enforce with me, though.

Absolutely. You know I still owe you for the help you & your son gave me a while back. If you don't still have my phone # (it hasn't changed), please e-mail me. I'd be glad to lend a hand.

This definitely isn't a "resale" kind of Jeep for me. If I'm ever forced to sell it for whatever reason, Cooter will probably end up with it again. He's a big thinker, that Cooter...he's probably planning on me getting it just how he wanted so he can buy it back. R) Like the '10a, this one is a keeper.


Thanks everyone else for the kind words, too.

Craig

 

Looks like it needs a little work, but I think she's a beauty.

 

so 8)

 

Hey Craig, I picked up a manual Saginaw steering box from you a few months back. Jeep looks like a good project and it looks like your barn has been cleaned out a bit since I last saw you.

 

pjstud1v - I'm blanking on your first name, but yes, I definitely remember. And yes, I'm slowly working on getting my pole barn more organized.

So, what "flavor of the week" car are you driving this week? I'm still a little envious of your job that let's you drive so many different cool vehicles.

Take care,
Craig

 

Craig,

The name is Phil. I'm rolling in a new Avalanche tonight to go pick up a '68 CJ5 and some assorted parts. I love getting a tow vehicle on demand R)

 

i am so like you were. i'll get one someday. until then keep us posted so i can live viciously through you.

 

Congrats, Craig! (And thanks for making me change my sig here, as well)

I sure hope I don't find another M715 soon...

 

Gaucho? What the heck is that? A step side scrambler?

 

Actually, the Scrambler's Daddy.

Built on an intermediate CJ6 frame by Brain Chuchua.

Clicky for a Little More Info

 

That's pretty cool. Why the CJ10a though. Isn't the cab of a 10a a little wider than a CJ7? Why not juts go with a 7 like the original Gaucho?

 

The CJ10 cab s exactly the same width as a CJ tub- the idea for the CJ10 came from the Gaucho, as well. Once you see a CJ10 cab, you see how they just moved up the rear corners and fabbed a panel for where the tailgate was, just like Brian Chuchua did back in '75.

 

BTW, I decided to unload the offset Dana 44 w/1-pc. shafts & 5.38 gearing. I listed it in the "Early CJ" portion of the classifieds (AD HERE). E-mail me at one.x.one.craig AT gmail DOT com if anyone's interested in this.

Craig

 

The M170 is the ambulance version of the M38A1, military CJ5. With all the divorces my buddies are having that extra wide passenger outlet could solve some of their problems when offroad on a mountain.
LWB I may be getting access to a 715 factory firetruck.