Vulture

Hi there

New here myself. They seem a friendly bunch with a lot of knowledge.

Cheers

Vulture

Guys

I'm about to get my first GMC 352. The thought of not being fastened in with the normal three point seat belt in today's cars does cause me some concern. (Some years ago my belt saved me from serious injury).

What do you all do ? Do you just risk it, or have you installed lap belts or something ?

I plan to take my 9 year old son out and about with me. In the car he sits on a booster seat. Any thoughts on how I'm fixed legally ?

Please share your thoughts with this novice to the historic military vehicle world.

Kind regards to all

Vulture

Guys

Thanks for the advise on the manuals. I've downloaded the TM9-801 manual. At some 500+ pages its going to take some printing out ! LOL

Went and viewed the vehicle on Friday, and ended up shaking on the deal and leaving a deposit. Basically a very sound vehicle. The mechanical issues of a blowing exhaust gasket and two leaking brake cylinders are to be fixed by the current owner as a condition of the sale. It's painted in US Navy grey, and looks pretty tatty, so I can see me spending some time sorting that out and repainting it back to green. Body wise there seems to be virtually no corrosion apart from:

1. A 6" square on the off side cab floor, and

2. The bottom of both door skins (its an open cab) where it bolts to the floor. A nasty rust trap area there, where some secondary damage is being caused by the metal swelling with the rust. I will need to some time explore exactly what is happening there, and what I can afford to do with a limited budget.

The canvas on the back has more holes than a sieve (the curtains are okay), but a better condition one is being thrown in with the deal. The canvas doors on the cab look rubbish with the plastic window being aged yellow and torn on them. I shall have to replace those straight away.

The pick up date has slipped, and will now probably be 30th July.

Regards to all

Vulture

Currently living in England, in a village near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire Regards to allVulture

Hi, Welcome to the forum, I have had my GMC 353 since the 1980s, good luck with it, and happy rallying.

Big Ray

What maintenance manuals can you recommend ? I know there isn't one with the vehicle.

Cheers

Vulture

Welcome to the forum and good luck with the GMC. Is there much to be done to it or is it road ready? Daz

Daz

The vehicle has been stood for a year off the road untaxed and uninsured. I'm told it needs the exhaust downpipe refitted and two of the brakes which are binding, need releasing. It is part of the condition of sale that these are sorted out. I'm breaking off exam revision study (gulp) to go and view the vehicle this Friday. If I'm happy, I'll leave a deposit, and as I say pick up the following Friday. I have a good feeling about after viewing some photos and talking extensively to the owner on the phone :-).

Must confess that I am slightly anxious about the maintenance on the vehicle. I used to do lots of car maintenance when I was younger, but nothing serious for 20 years now, so I'm a bit rusty. I do have a slight worry bead about the effect on my drive when 6.5 tonnes is parked there day in day out :nut:, but I'm thinking what the hell, I'll deal with the issues as they come up. In the face of wife's opposition I'm buying the vehicle (8 year old son thinks its a great idea though), because I just know that if I don't do this now, this opportunity / moment will pass, and might not come again.

Vulture

My brother fitted a a Kenlowe pre-heater to his Triumph GT6 to assist with cold-starting in the winter / reduce engine wear etc etc. (it warms up the coolant water).

Just wondering if anyone had fitted anything similar to a Jimmy, and what people thought about the idea in general ?

Kind regards to all

Vulture

Hi everyone. About to satisfy a long term ambition of mine to own a military vehicle. I'm in the process of purchasing a GMC 352 and thought it might be useful to join a forum such as this. All being well I pick up the vehicle on 23rd July :-D

Kind regards to all

Ian (aka Vulture)