Well, it would have been a long road for some.. but not really if you have a 100T press, can run a nice clean bead and turn a wrench.. having knowhow on hammer rivets helps lol but most important. Understanding simple gear boxes and reading other people BS helps to.
So, after rolling it off the trailer AND all of sudden the front axle spinal broke and the tire rolled in the ditch...after further inspection it was JB welded 1/2 inch behind the nut...on the spindle.. so moving on, I know it wasn't the guy I bought it from as he paid me for the new axle (not saying it was you either MNoutdoors it had three on-line owners before you put in your "herd"..) Its just a used machine, you get what you pay for..just like anything found on line. Thats why reputable www. are so important. So after very few no helpful phone calls and some profit laden estimates I retro fited the 5.500 lb (available after minimal search and shipped for $600- custom offset rims needed. If you know how to read a tape) and two foamer front tires bolted on finished the front end off.
it was moving again.
As most, before you buy anything you look before purchase for the weakest link..after the front axle on the the 601..Take my word dont look, just buy a parts car. After thats its the grousers..not because there weak..its because they really sink to make. And with the 601, a reputable supplier for grousers
is worth gold. Everyone has a guy or some pillow NOS at an inflated price and if the dust settles in your favor
. I just make my own. Ya, they stink to make but they sell for $175 + shipping (heat treated and banded on both sides better than NOS..no paint).. each. So what, ever it pays my internet bill
and my taxes.
So, on to the rumors. upon purchase I messaged a few members looking for history and found this, (see picture) Whoofda! So now its time to disassemble the rear end...based on a message from this forum. :Long story short no JB weld not even a reibuild mark was foound on the OC-15 rear end..NONE!! what a bunch of BS that was........still a bit upset over that one (No offense, hear say is just that. You just need to watch what you say if you didn't see it) My findings (Fact) So, all new bearings on order.. rumors being rumors...(USA MADE), it did take two weeks. It was like replacing new with new, it made me sick, but when in Roam.. While I had it all apart riveting new break bands with modern ceramic material was done, toping it off with some amsoil. Before it was done all I ended up making a deal on used OC-15 on CL for parts, guy had no clue what he had, easy buy at $180..200 miles..I know, don't shoot me, he was happy.
it turned out to be NOS with tar for oil and original bands and never used. now
(its not for sale)
The outer skin was a mess, so I fixed it...easiest job on the whole thing. I can still hear the air hammer running in my dreams and crust falling off the inside...ish just ish. So scrape and re spray.
After all that, we pulled the 1994 motor and auto trans and brought it to local shop, trans was new and stamped so no bill. Motor had two down holes in the 80 lb range, So six new sleeves and six new pistons along with timing chain and high pressure oil pump...Got the head done to, why not right?..Yes, full rebuild.
Some new seats, 12 inch GPS and sick a light bar and some rino lining in the cab. Done.
Probably an ok flip for ya MNoutdoors, throw some belting in on the deal and sold? (I dint buy from MNoutdoors, I'm 2nd ownrer after the flip) but it really works for me after a ton of work and after billing out the labor to my self and what I love to do for living. Pretty cool to think something from 1967 could make so many of my customers happy, going on two years after full rebuild and happy to be a contributor to this forum. Who know she might go another 50 years. I might even pass it down to my son.
