Hi
I'm new to the group, but have been a fan of the m715 for a long time. I'll tell you the whole story and build from your input. This M715 had been plowing snow for many years at a house a few miles down the road from me. It was always parked in a field in the summer and I'd been meaning to stop and ask the guy about it. One day it was gone!!! I pulled up the driveway and there it was in front of the garage. The guy was going to cut it in half and make a trailer out of the bed! His dozer wouldn't start and he couldn't get it in the garage was the only reason it hadn't been cut up that morning. He said the trailer was worth 500.00 and we had a deal. 1968 M715, no rust, 17000 miles, tin top riveted to original soft top framework, spun bearing on connecting rod, brush painted orange over the original army numbers and star on the door.
So far, Ive done a spring over, tie rod on top, original enging and trans out, made my own wheels (16.5X 10 with 1954 international centers pressed, welded and riveted in) 44 ground hogs, 47 swamper ltbs when completed. Work at a bakery, so I have four cummins 4BT engines and various parts. Reasearching the 230 horse marine version of the 4 BT before install, have a ford ZF 5 speed trans (the big one) and am trying to figure out what transfer case to use as ford comes out the wrong side. Been using "Peeler" in a rattle can to get the brush paint off and have 4 gallons of military spec green aquired from a national guard buddy of mine. Have plans for power steering and a better master cylinder.
If I'm reading the law right, I should be able to run this on the street with the 47's. Michigan frame height law 1/2 ton 24 inches, 3/4 ton 26 inches, 1 ton 30 inches, over 1 ton "bumpers must be in stock location".
Have and aluminum D tank of a semi I'm putting in the bed for veggie oil.
Need a soft top and drivers seat recovered.
Don't have a lot of money, so most of this has been scrounged from junkyard pals.
Any recommendations as I build this monster. I'll get pics going soon.
Breadfan