When I said was wanted to be non-denominational, I meant it. Last week’s post was a Ford tractor. Now I give you the massive M931A2 army truck of Hanover’s Ben Wassell.
Wassell bought this truck in an online auction, then sold the cab to a friend to modify another truck by adding to the size of the cab.
Power comes from an 8.3 liter Cummings that Wassell plans to upgrade to make another 150 hp. The engine is mated to an Allison Automatic.
The 2002 Dodge four-door cab was installed by adding a sub-frame. Once on, the steering had to be modified, along with the wiring. The chassis was 24 volt and the cab was only 12. Controls for 12 and 24 volt set ups exist side by side, along with air controls for the brakes.
After the exhaust and air intakes were modified, Wassell removed the fifth wheel and added the flat bed.
The truck weighs around 20,000 lbs., can haul another 15,000 and, unloaded gets around seven gallons to the mile —I meant miles to the gallon. Silly me! Massive rubber comes from 14.00R20 Goodyear AT-2As.
The trailer is rather cool too. Also bought at online auction, this ammunition trailer weighs 11,000 lbs. and can carry another 22,000 more. Tires are 385/65R22.5 Goodyear G178s. Wassell is planing to make a camper out of the trailer.
This truck is rather interesting and unique. It is not the first time I have seen it around town. This thing gets driven and I can’t wait to see it in motion again.
This 2008 Suzuki SX4 is for sale in Silver Creek, New York. It has a 1.9 liter four cylinder engine with a five speed manual transmission. Only 163,700 miles young, this little car is defiantly fast enough to get a speeding ticket. I know because I drove it myself. While getting 30 to 40 miles a gallon, this car also knows how to hug a corner. It is fun to drive, clean and has no check engine light. The E-brake even works.
Power comes from a 1983 Mercury Marque 302. It had 19,000 miles on it but was full of sludge. He cleaned it out and put in a new oil pump and screen. An electronic ignition was added then an electric water pump. Ploetz said the engine made plenty of power for what he wanted to do so he did not modifications.
As it sits now, beets and all, it is around 5,500 lbs. that adds up to too much traction in the back and not enough weight in the front. He plans to remove the weights and add beet juice to the front tires so the front will stay down.
Plenty of folks have cashed in on public nostalgia for the Camaro’s late, lamented F-body sibling by Firebird-izing and Trans Am-ifying Camaros, often just by replacing the front and rear soft trim with vaguely Pontiac-y styling cues. Tallahassee, Florida-based Trans Am Worldwide has endeavored to take that approach to a higher level, modifying or replacing virtually every panel on the car except the doors.
The 383 stroker and 350 turbo trans came with the car. Atop the engine sits a Holly 780 cfm carb that makes around 450 hp to turn the new driveshaft and 3.50 gears they put in the Ford nine inch rear axil.
They wanted the stock fuel tank to go back in the car so they remodified the rear frame for it to fit. They found that 31×18.5R15 was the biggest tire they could cram in the rear fender well without it rubbing after the rear suspension was modified.
Scott Downey 