new to me M151a2

[txdodge43man]

Just picked this m151a2 up last Thursday from Del Rio Texas. Don't know much history on the mutt besides its a clean and very nice mutt that has been sitting in the desert for many years. Has a few dents and bends from over size tires and general wear and tare. Only thing missing is the front tow shackles and mounts and the spare tire retainer plate and pintle hitch besides that its all complete. The A2 has two coats of paint 24087 and merdic cammo original unit numbers are visible and will do some sanding to hopefully find the original hood numbers. Engine turns over but water pump is frozen so a little TLC and ill see if I can get it up and running soon. This A2 does have the emissions crap which is new to me and a ROPS kit which I'm going to remove and weld up the holes.

The data plate is missing so no Idea of the year of manufacture. A friend of mine says this may be a replacement body at one time because of the lack of a heater vent cut out and slave cable and the way the fenders behind the composite lights look and also the lack of a body number under the hood.

[txdodge43man]

few more pictures

[Rickf]

There would be no body number under the hood of an emissions A2. That is late 73 or later and the body tag would be on the transmission tunnel on the drivers side about where your right ankle would be when driving and at the height of and behind the line there. There will probably be no numbers on the hood although it does not hurt to look, the numbers you are looking for are already there on the dash inside. The fact that there is no heater vent or slave connection just means it was never outfitted with a heater, both came with the heater kit. It appears to be in exceptional condition. I personally would keep the ROPS, I don't understand why people always want to remove it. I see in the picture of the drivers side floor area exactly where the body tag should be and it looks like the area is unmolested, you may be lucky. Where those lines run up the tunnel carefully look behind them about where the fabric is starting from the bend going up and look for a small metal tag welded to the frame there, it will be fragile and probably covered with many coats of paint so be careful. Do NOT try to sand the paint off or you will take the numbers with it. I use DOT 3 brake fluid and let it sit on there a bit. As long as it is not CARC paint that will soften the paint and you can remove it with a stiff bristle brush like an old tooth brush. I do not want to know about it if you use your wife's toothbrush!

[muttguru]

Rick is correct. The "hood number" is already there (NBO HNY), it's on the dash because camo vehicles had their hood number moved to the dash as per the painting instructions.
It was built under AM General's 1976 contract DAAE07-76-D-0002. Let us know what the body tag plate says but don't sand it or you'll lose the information.
Ken

[txdodge43man]

Thanks for the information I will look in the location you suggested for a body tag. I thought about removing the ROPS kit as my first M151a2 I had when I was 13 had a rops kit and as I got older I wanted to take it off but who knows my mined is not made up yet lol. The Body is in great shape and I know the numbers on the windshield frame are the "hood Number" but I was hoping that because the A2 was first painted 24087 and then Camo via paint brush that there may be numbers under the camo. The under side of the body has undercoating flaking off reviling the 24087 and under the hood is all 24087 I will try to get some under the hood pictures today and the body tag if it is still there. Also I have not started any sanding to revile the unit numbers and the one I can make out is 549 MP which may have put this A2 in Panama at one time but thats just guessing will be doing more sanding and research.

Thanks for the date range 1976 was wandering what to put on the data tag when I get A new tag.

[Rickf]

If it has emissions then there will be no numbers under the hood unless you are referring to the ones they paint on the underside of the hood which should be the same as on the dash. The parts about the water pump being frozen worries me. You will have to pop out the freeze plugs and see what the water jackets look like, I have seen many of these that are totally clogged with rust inside and they overheat instantly. You will have to pull all the plugs and head and flush, pressure wash it good if that is the case.

[txdodge43man]

If it has emissions then there will be no numbers under the hood unless you are referring to the ones they paint on the underside of the hood which should be the same as on the dash. The parts about the water pump being frozen worries me. You will have to pop out the freeze plugs and see what the water jackets look like, I have seen many of these that are totally clogged with rust inside and they overheat instantly. You will have to pull all the plugs and head and flush, pressure wash it good if that is the case.

Roger that I will check all that before I try and start it. thanks for the advice.

[Rickf]

Once you pull the water pump you will have a fair idea because you will be looking right at the number one cylinder. If it is clogged up in there with rust crap then th rest of the engine will be also.

[txdodge43man]

here are some more pictures I took on my lunch brake. Found the BOD Tag and stripped the paint any chance someone can decipher the tag and give me a estimated year. Also took a picture of the horn tag and a couple of the under side of the body

[Rickf]

JACKPOT!!!! Ken will love you for that and he will also get you real close on a date. Was it close to where I said? Sometimes they moved them around but that is the usual spot.

[muttguru]

The body-tag you found confirms the likelihood of the "hood" number being the correct one for the vehicle and it also confirms that it is a 1976 contract. That horn (or at least the plate) is from a later vehicle or from a NOS source.

Hope this helps......
ken

[Rickf]

The horn is a different color so I am guessing it has been replaced.

[txdodge43man]

JACKPOT!!!! Ken will love you for that and he will also get you real close on a date. Was it close to where I said? Sometimes they moved them around but that is the usual spot.

It was right where you said it should be.

[Rickf]

[txdodge43man]

So is it save to say

Year of manufacture is 1976

Vin number should be NBOHNY B151-2542

Contract # DAAE07-76-D-0002

?