What would I have to do to backdate a M151A2 to a A1 vietnam era MUTT. Not trying to go buy the book just want it to pass as one the front fenders are different thats all Ive seen.

Yes, the front fenders are different, the A1's are straight across the front and there are small turn signal ligths on top of the fenders. The A2 has the cut-outs on the fenders to accomodate the large NATO turn signals.

Another difference is the rear wheel opening on the A2 has a step at the bottom rear for a tie-down shackle there. The A1 is a straight line from the top to the bottom.

The rear lights on the A1 are the olders style with a small oval lenses and a slit for the blackout drive/stop light. The A2 has the bigger, NATO stop lights.

The A1 also has a support bar down the middle of the windshield, splitting it into two panes. The A2 has one piece of glass across the windshield.

These are the only external differences. The rest of the differences are with the engine and suspension.

M151A1

Disregard the trailer ball-hitch, that isn't standard.


M151A2

Disregard the JEEP mudflaps, they are non-standard as well.


I back-dated an A2 to an A1 before the Academy M151A1 was available. It was pretty easy.

Good luck.

The rear suspension on the A2 is very different than the A1 - not visible when it sits on its wheels, but dont turn it over.

Nit-picks - different exhaustmanifold - the one on the A1 is a pain in the... to get tight (talking from experience as a former M1 owner)

A lot of A1 got the onepart A2 window over time - i guess the wiper is different too, electric on A2 and "hydralic" on A1 (never worked well - wich is why the handle comes in handy )

Like I said....




The A1 wipers were actually a vacuum system, not hydraulic.

There is/was a Verlinden conversion set to make the Tamiya (or old Academy clone) into an M151A1.

The only thing those jeeps shared in common was a propensity to kill people who over steered into a turn. That jeep will roll on a dime.....I always chose my driver very, very carefully!

Yes I know the storries about it being prone to tipping over, but in the 4 years I hand mine, and driving it very rough in terrain, I never ever came even close to feel the beginning of it tipping.

Its very funny driving in terrain, great suspension combined with low weight made it a real treat.

Obviously, drivers in Denmark are safer than 18 year old kids here!

Small items as well, the gas pedal was a different type (one was stamped metal, the other was a formed steel loop), and the steering wheel is different between the types. A-1 was slightly larger in diameter, with exposed metal spokes between the hub and the rim. A-2 was all plastic covered, smaller in diameter, black plastic. The passenger-side dash grab handle was not a standard feature on the A-1, but was standard on the A-2. Many trucks were updated with them, however. Drove them from 1973 through 1985, and owned one (M151 from 1962, Ford manufacture) from 1986 to 1995. Never a problem with flipping, but that relates to the driver more than the equipment.

thanx for every ones replies. Gino that was what i was looking for.

As someone who was licensed and drove both M151a1s and a2s, I am very experienced with their handling characteristics. Both types were very stable off road. 151a1s were VERY unstable on road and a2s were only a little unstable. The problems were related to the independant rear suspension designs, the outside rear wheel tended to tuck under in a tight corner regardless of speed and initiate a roll. My rule of thumb was never to accelerate in a turn and never turn tighter than was absolutly necessary. The tendancy to roll was increased when pulling a loaded trailer. This was such a problem that very few people were licensed to drive M151s- usually the least aggresive drivers in a unit. On a related note, the trailers were watertight and could float with a full 500 lb load in them. In the Engineer's Bible, FM5-20 there is a drawing of how to build a river ferry out of one using just the river's current for propulsion.