I'm looking at a multi-fuel M44 6x6 "deuce-and-a-half" that's for sale by a co-worker. I thought it might be fun to play around with. It's got 36K miles on the clock and he claims it came from a local "Weekend Warrior" base. The guy only wants $1500 for it, the price he paid at auction. Here's my question. He claims and swears up and down that along with kero, #2, and the JP's, it'll run on gasoline too. I was really skeptical of this statement. Is this possible? If so how can a compression combustion engine run on gasoline? Any ex-motor pool guys know the answer?

Tom

 

I ran and worked on these things in SE Asia, and they DO work on just about any fuel or combination of fuel in the tank.

The basic principle is a high compression ratio, the pistons have a sphere cast into them under the top deck, and the injector sprays thru a small throat into the piston sphere. There is also fuel pump timing changes driven by fuel viscocity sensors.

The compression is high enough to light off diesel, and the injection into the piston sphere cools off gasoline enough to stop pre-ignition.

However, as I found out thru experience, the engine WILL burn itself up using high octane avation gasoline.

Weren't the deuce and a halfs M-34's?
The 2.5's were a naturally aspirated engine (no turbochargers) and the 5 ton trucks had turbocharging. Both made by Continental Engines.

Hope this helps...

 

You mix oil in with gas. If I remember correctly about 1 quart oil per 5 gallons gas.

 

you can also find cheap replacement motors for it on ebay ever once and a while

 

I'm not sure, but it could be the M44 was the successor to the M34, but not positive.

 

My friend has one. It's pretty cool toy. He runs diesel through it, seems to like that the best. Ranger has the engine description down right. Multifuel is a novel concept, but I too have heard of the av gas issue. I'd buy it for 1500, how's the bed? canopy? The axles alone are worth double that, part it out if you have to.

 

Drove a Duece 1/2 all over S. Korea in the mid 80's, and I've seen just about everything thing you can imagine run through thier fuel lines, even a few your wouldn't want to imagine. The dang things just run and run and run. And I agree with the rest, show me one running with a clear title and I'd hand over $1.5K in a heartbeat.

 

I work on these thing's for a living here. Get the model number off of tha data plate in the cab. It should be on the passenger side on the dash. I have the repair book's for it here. I think M44 is a newer model of a 2 1/2. I know the 2 1/2 here are M35's. Any ways i have the book here if you need info.

 

Thanks for the offer Mr. 45, but the truck(s) got pulled out from under me by another co-worker. The guy had 2 and found someone in work who would buy them both. Turns out they are M35's. Both needed windshields and one had been vandalized pretty badly, so it doesn't feel so bad. Sold both for $2K!

 

that's still cheap!

 

i have bought 15 of them over the past couple of years, i have never got one that didn't have a good motor. all of the later model 2.5 tons have the 465ldt gov spec. motor. i have one i keep at the house to play with. most were cut up for the axles to go in 4x4 rigs. 1500 for a runing and driving truck was a good deal, 2k for a pair was a bargain.

 

Gasoline, JP-4 and Kerosene 1 Qt of oil per 10 gal of fuel