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Thread: The Best $1,000 to spend

  1. #1

    Default The Best $1,000 to spend

    Guys,

    After reading lots of different posts, I wanted to get some answers from you, given the following scenario...

    How would you upgrade a M715 to make it the most fun to drive and most reliable, if you only had $1,000 to spend and are not worried about keeping it stock?

    I am keeping the Tornado, and have new tires already. Assume the truck is already running, and all fluids and plugs are fresh.

    Selectro hubs, Pertronix ignition, carb upgrade, what else?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    North Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    11,520

    Default

    Civilian distributor helps with power and mileage...great thing if you can find one.

    Swap the rear driveshaft location on the tcase, need a new flange and such to do it but it gets rid of all that gear whine the stock trucks have.
    Lord send your Holy Ghost into our hearts and make the desire of our hearts Your Will.

    Pro-choice, that's a LIE, babies don't choose to die!!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Giddings, Texas
    Posts
    7,729

    Default

    What Jon wrote. Plus have your fuel tank boiled by a radiator shop or get a new one built. Then if any money is left over start on replacing the oldest thing in the brake system. The brakes will need constant money or labor over the years. So you might as well go at it.
    Remember if you didn't build it you can't call it yours.

    6.2 powered M715, 5 M1009's, M416, 2 M101's, 2 M105's, 3 M35's, M1007 6.5 turbo Suburban project called Cowdog.

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCz...HGkBCfhXZ5iuaw

  4. #4

    Default

    If you are just tooling around town, I would just swap to a pertronix ignition and keep an extra coil in the glove box. No need to move drive shaft or civvy ignition since you won't likely spend much time on the highway. A 2 bbl carb would give more power if you need it, but for cruising I don't think it would be a problem.

    Put on a top with the roll-up rear window. Much more pleasant to drive especially with the fixed windows in the doors removed.

    You are in Co. so a heater would be nice if you don't have it already.

    Selectro hubs are nice. But if not highway driving I wouldn't bother.


    One of the best mods I made for my truck was a padded battery box cover with cupholders in it. I tried to sell 'em on here but no one was interested. Hitting your funny bone on the battery box ain't funny.

    Swap to Dot 5 for the brakes. Lengthens the life and reliability of the brake ccomponents.

    And most important, swap the stock seats for suspension seats. They smooth out the ride. I used hmmwv seat bases to mount them in the truck, since the stock bases were a little tall.

  5. #5

    Default

    I would add a restored J-truck bench seat: much more sensible (to me) than the stock military seating.

  6. #6

    Default

    Guys, thanks for the input.

    So I will replace brakes lines and rubber, go with DOT5, rebuild or replace cylinders, reline shoes.

    Pertronix EI for sure, it is on the way to me now. I will order an extra coil, sounds like wisdom.

    I have to figure out if the heater fan works, the wire is cut right now, suspicious. Any suggestions for upgrades?

    Kensdodge1 is selling me a windshield, which I will use to fab the hardtop, using it as the rear window. I want to figure out how I can make it operable, so that I can just swing down the whole back window, like the front does. Might need help with some engineering there...stay tuned.

    I will research the shaft/tcase relocation idea on the Zone, I am sure it has been documented well, and I will be on the highway sometimes. Nervous about overheating issues, we will see what to do there. Also, if money is available, the Selectro hubs will probably happen. I swapped to manual locking hubs in my 86 4Runner, and it made a big difference.

    Keep the ideas coming fellas, really appreciate the help. RB

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    1,041

    Default

    I did the Pertronix, changed the brake master cylinder out for a dual reservoir mc, changed the wheel cylinders to E350s, added the Selectro hubs and an all metal FSJ heater (some are fiberglass). Welcome and let the fun begin!
    Thanks for all the help!

  8. #8

    Default Parts

    Kyken,

    What dual reservoir MC did you use?

    And you used wheel cylinders from an E350 Ford, shown here...Wheel Cylinder Conversion? Photobucket sucks. Wonder if there is a way to get those photos back?

    I need to go hunting for a heater on the FSJ sites...winter here is cold!

    Thanks for the input. RB
    Last edited by ColoradoSpringsRob; March 13th, 2018 at 05:09 PM.

  9. #9

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kyken View Post
    I did the Pertronix, changed the brake master cylinder out for a dual reservoir mc, changed the wheel cylinders to E350s, added the Selectro hubs and an all metal FSJ heater (some are fiberglass). Welcome and let the fun begin!
    Pretty much everything I did, with the exception of the seat mentioned above.

    The MC I used was a Napa 10-371.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    1,041

    Default

    I believe I used the Cardone #A-1-10-1331. A search above should be able to give the info and instructions. The instructions I printed out said also the Wagner F66857 (updated #96246) and Raybestos 36246.
    Thanks for all the help!

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