WWII Half-Track Stripped to the Bare Frame!

I'm taking parts from this World War 2 M15A1 half-track to use in fixing up my M3A1 / M16A1 halftrack project. I started taking off a few parts here and there, and ended up stripping it down to the bare frame.

[@ludditeneaderthal]

No idea if you know it, but that pre-atomic bomb armor plate is actually pretty valuable. They use it for geiger counter and other "nuke sniffers" type instrumentation housings. All the steel from that tear down is premium scrap.

[@69uremum]

what?

[@ludditeneaderthal]

@@69uremum steel refined before atomic bomb explosions has high value for technical use, so long as it isnt alloyed with later production steel. all ww2 and earlier steel (pre 1945) falls into this category, but armor, due to the alloying metals used, is especially desirable, as are tool steels

[@bl7355]

@@ludditeneaderthalI thought that was only the case on shipwrecks due to the radioactive shielding properties of water?

[@JohnZombi88]

​@@bl7355 No he's right. It's all pre nuke steel

[@juststeve5542]

@@bl7355 Nope, all pre-'45 steel. It's the production of the metal that introduces the isotopes from the air. As long as it wasn't melted since '45, it's good.

[@beakittelscherz5419]

I love all the stories about the vehicles features James is telling. Interesting stuff.

[@thirdcargarage2951]

Channel has really grown in the past year. Congratulations. Can’t wait to see what that drive train becomes.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks! I haven't decided for sure what to turn it into, but I have a few ideas. We'll see what fits!

[@markuschampos5750]

I think it's strange this channel hasn't got a couple of 100K more subscribers but I'm sure it will get there soon. It's slow at first but the more subscribers it get the more viewers it get and as soon YT starts to "sponsor" or show the channel everywere then it will explode. I'm not sure how that works but I know the channels is more visible the bigger they are...not exactly like that but I think you know what I mean (a little hard to explain in english, I'm swedish) But one thing is obvious, the content on this channel is good for at least 500K viewers! It's just the matter of beeing seen amongst thousands other channels but you have done the hard part and that is the first 2-3 years getting a foundation on subscribers, now it will start to grow quicker and quicker.... and I'm in for the ride!👍💪 This has become my favourite channel, really love the things you do and the most importand thing, you seems to be a very nice person. I don't know how many hundreds of channels I've tried to watch because they do fun and interesting things but I can't stand the guy😅. I always gets a happy feeling when I see you have a new video out so keep doing what you do, please! I've watch about all your videos the last few weeks since I discover your channel and it's kind of sad I'm running out of videos to watch😅 but you do make new ones not just as fast as I would like ha ha. Have a good day, sir!

[@LowBuckGarage]

@@markuschampos5750 Thank you, I really appreciate that. I'm just happy that I can spend more time on fun projects, and I'm glad that other people find them interesting, too. I've got years worth of projects already lined up, so I'll keep making videos as long as people want to watch!

[@johnossendorf9979]

You have some of the coolest toys !

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks!

[@beakittelscherz5419]

Turns out that every comment section of good 1A channels is oozing interesting stuff like this... Thx for sharing! Never heard of it before 🤯

[@cleophusA]

Man, that is WAY cool! I would really love to see you pressure wash it so we can have a detailed, up-close look at this very interesting drive line and chassis. Your videos are always so interesting and informative. This would be a great "skeleton" project, where you get it running and only bolt a couple of seats to the frame to show off that great running gear!

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks! I'm going to take another look at the motor. If I can run it without damaging it, then I'll probably drive the frame around as-is.

[@deepbludude4697]

Ya might as well just pull the forks off Mr Forky and put em on the front of that bad ass yard tug.

[@thedocisin3204]

Love the disc e-brake. I had a CJ-3B with a 2-A body and a hood scoop to accommodate the tall engine. I could never get the e-brake to work good enough to hold on steep hills. I found a pinion disc brake that bolted up to the t-case in place of the original drum. A pull lever between the seats activated the e-brake. worked fine. Love your content.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Back in the 1960s and 70s we used to see a lot of half-tracks used in the logging industry in Nor Cal, Oregon and Washinton. Bought cheap as WW2 surplus, they were modified in the field to do the job at hand, and used until completely used up. I have seen them used a skidders, pulling smaller logs to a landing, fuel carriers, and even tool trucks for rough terrain to reach broke down equipment in hard to access areas. I am not surprised to see the upper structure of this one so heavily modified. I have seen far worse. By the 1980s, sightings of half-tracks in the woods business really dropped off. They were worn out and cast off. No telling how many got scrapped, probably a huge number.

[@motorv8N]

Just awesome, LB - what a great collection of old heavy hitters. You also get the award for Absolute Sketchiest Forklift Tires Evaaaar! 😎🙈😎

[@Iowa599]

Holy shit…twisting a shaft like that axle takes so much torque!

[@dirk4926]

I've been binge watching your videos and really love them. It's hard to believe that you've been making such fun videos for as long as you have without reaching more people, hopefully that is about to change.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks, I'm glad you like the videos. I figure people will get to them eventually, I'm just having fun making them!

[@wes3428]

With the 3D printed rain cap, stick some grease on the mating surfaces as a cheap gasket and load up the nuts to stop water sitting in them. Its cheap to do and help keep water out.

[@VanWinger]

even some anaerobic silicone RTV would work

[@tropixMw2]

Grease wont stop water

[@davidbeer]

You have an exceptionally interesting yard and it just gets better

[@JohnZombi88]

Thank you for showing everything thats not original on this. It's irritating when somebody comments about not restoring junk. You're not responsible for the mods made in the last 80 years to something. It's commendable you're even working on this as it would've ended up scrap in most yards

[@robhamill7941]

When fighting with rusty bolts I’ve never seen anything better than mixing acetone with transmission fluid 50/50 and dousing the threads. Works miracles

[@sampointau]

The gearbox has a spring support only because the half track drive axle was bolted to the vehicle frame and didn't move or have suspension, therefore the spring support was only there to support the gearbox when the engine flexed on its mounts with revving or the clutch being dropped. I only know that because my Dad, who was the Australian Pacific manager for white trucks used to talk about it, the half track didn't have a bolted down gearbox support whereas the white M3 scout car did.

[@LowBuckGarage]

That's interesting, I had assumed they made the scout cars the same. Thanks for the info!

[@Thinker2-truth]

The best part of your video is your sense of humor.

[@Frank-Thoresen]

What about making a military Hummer half track? That would be unique like the Land Rover Centaur half track

[@teamidris]

They are rubbish, but look great :o) That would be a sweet looking build .

[@benspeedschannel888]

What a cool idea!

[@jlucasound]

The 3-D printed manifold cover is genius!! Either you will thank yourself one day, or someone you've never met, 100 years from now, will be very thankful! (Maybe Mustie3 or 4?). 😂

[@crushingvanessa3277]

I have a 1/35 model of one of these and wanted to make it something rough and butchered like this. The parts are more valuable than the whole vehicle, glad your not throwing anything away.

[@garymccord4277]

Enjoy seeing one man work his A---- off saving everything for the next person that really needs something from this beast. You never know what small part that will be needed by a collector or just some good old guy that needs that part. I too am a horder of stuff that I need to save for someone I do not know..

[@deepbludude4697]

Yor killin it with these uploads I always look forward to them!

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks, glad you like them!

[@69Dartman]

Sad what they did the vehicles after the war. There were a lot of them and they were dirt cheap so folks did what they wanted to make them work for their purpose. 80 some years later there aren't many left and what are are pretty picked over. My 41 Power Wagon had a huge hole cut in the center of the dash and a round gauge cluster from a 34 Plymouth jamned into the hole. The bad part is the factory gauges were there in the proper spot and worked, even the speedometer. I'm pretty sure I still have the instrument cluster I pulled, and the extremely rare blackout light bracket that mounted on top of the left headlight cage that protected the headlight and glass. I never broke a headlight even pushing through thick brush and small trees.

[@TestECull]

That's also why tractor pulling has been dominated by Allison V-12s and Pratt 18-cylinders for *decades*. Hordes of these engines were sold off for basically scrap value in the years following WW2 and hotrodders hoovered them all up for all kinds of shenanigans.

[@redlight722]

Get Er Done !!! I’m enjoying the half tracks.

[@carlsutter5275]

The one wire to the rite side frame rail is for the passenger side fuel tank gas gauge fuel level sender. I know about halftracks. Your video's brings back a lot of memories.☺🙂🤔

[@fw1421]

This could be restored to its original condition if you wanted to. Just look at what the Australian Armor Museum does with tanks that were flown up and buried. All it takes is time,funding and talent. I’ve been astonished at some of the vehicles they’ve restored to like new condition. They are amazing.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@kurtscustoms]

I love all your different projects!!

[@stevestarling8564]

You have the patience of a saint, man. Fascinating stuff all the engineering in this machine. Really enjoy your videos!

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thank you very much!

[@captainzoll3303]

considering it's too far gone to restore, it'd be kind of cool to put a 50s white truck cab on it with a flatbed, and some kind of more modern engine that's more regularly usable.

[@paulhare662]

Those Superpower trucks are beautiful. The cabovers that looked like the Jetsons robot maid were cool too.

[@gunfisher4661]

Nothing is ever too far gone to restore in the mil-surp world, it`s all about how much money and how many tools you have. Though your idea would look cool. I`ve seen some that took old WWII era light tanks and put various truck and car bodies on them and they look really good and have quite a modern touch too.

[@2009Berghof]

I recall Tommy Hunt of the long gone Southern Parts Corp. - "World's largest supplier of halftrack parts," asking me if my halftrack still had the armor protection under the oil pan? Mine was long gone. He advised that that was the first thing to remove and toss away unless you were planning on driving through mine fields. Back in Memphis in the years of the early 1970s, you could buy from them a fully rebuild halftrack for $4,400. I did see the remains of one M15 halftrack in their yard sans its turret.

[@jlucasound]

@ 6:52 Oh, the memories! I remember using that technique! It works so well. HA! Gotcha, stubborn screw!

[@dirk4926]

Ultra screw loose is my name for you..that's not an insult, rather a great complement

[@R.Sole88109]

If you work on old vehicles I've found it beneficial to be insane in the membrane😄

[@albatrosnh]

Great video again! I some feel your entire fleet shares 2 batteries and 3 boat fuel tanks. No more than 2 things can run at once!

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks! You're very close, 3 boat tanks and 3 batteries. Though 2 of the boat tanks are semi-permanently in vehicles (the tow tug and red Jeep), so I only have 1 that moves around normally...

[@jlucasound]

@ 19:42 Just like real life. You take the strong points of different "people" and get the job done! You think much like I do, sir! Well done!

[@robsdeviceunknown]

I can not imagine a more fun project. MAN i hope i can find something fun like that. I would do a frame up rebuild. CUstom as much as possible to make it truly one of a kind.

[@hellbillypete.7898]

Watch your channel growing is awesome!! If you have the time, it would nice to see you throw parts in theblaster, paint and renovate them, like everything from the frame to the smallest thing, an then put it in store for some furhter use. Cheers from Sweden!

[@markuschampos5750]

Sweden here to!👍

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

I'm new here, as a new pair of eyes I can see that you might have have taken on too many jobs. Your Crane and forklift need to be finished before you start something new. The close up of the forklift tyres as the virtually crumbled before our eyes was hilariously funny. The Forklift is a necessary tool, please fix it up. You'll look very professional.

[@markuschampos5750]

You can never have to many projects going on! Also, gathering parts for these kind of things takes time, especially if a guy wants to keep the cost down. Therefor it's possible having many projects going on at the same time.

[@davidkohler7454]

Wow I can't believe how much I enjoyed this video. Where there is a Will there is a Way. And You Good Sir have an abundance of Will. You earned my subscription, can't wait to see more. I love these old halftracks.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@knirbnezner]

My grandfather made half tracks at Diebold in canton ohio. They had a test range inside where they tested armor with a 50caliber machine gun.

[@w2slav]

A good place to check out would be steelsoldiers or g503, they have some halftrack stuff.

[@kenh9508]

Really making it work with the forklift!

[@dennishudson9723]

Do you know what would look absolutely amazing on that frame? An early power wagon stake body, 1940s may be 1950s also have the stake body be a dump bed

[@charleshopp3881]

all those body panels should be useful in future projects. I could see half hood as floor pan, it's a treasure trove.

[@Acavando]

That is just a beauty wow.

[@tallonvexgaming]

One of the very few car channels I sub to, I dont even sub to Vice Gripper anymore. Good job bro!

[@jeep2003]

Cool to see how they work. My grandpa drove them in Korea

[@johncollings6799]

I know it's not low buck but Kroil works excellent for loosening stuff

[@johnmoar7658]

hi ,a gem ,rommel loved them ,fit them with anything ,hevy machine gun ,anti tank etc

[@gerard4444]

Its fun to watch you, thanks Your very smart 👍👍👍

[@TerribleTim9692]

Love your videos, man! Keep em coming! 😊

[@irish3335]

Great channel love the half tracks - be neat to see them finished for new purpose!

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks!

[@mouldyboats]

You need to Armour All those forklift tires quick like.

[@kornami8678]

I noticed your tow truck with the four-wheel steering. I had to do a triple take on it.

[@michaelnugent8285]

Just found your channel, my personal idea for something like this if it was in my possession, would be keep the half track trans but take a Chevy 350 with a 2wd transmission and make a adapter to go to the half track trans. With some tractor tires on the front wheels and what ever body on it. I'd love to own that.

[@dandailey1857]

Gm cab over engine with a long flatbed

[@jlucasound]

@ 4:45 Just to put things in perspective, that is a full size, 14 oz. aerosol can. 🤣

[@emrehalitkoc7985]

İ've always wondered what was under the metal sheet. Thanks mate.

[@randypricert7247]

It’s ready for the chrome shop

[@josephjohnson3073]

A lot of pre-WWII vehicles had the radiator right over the front axle with the engine behind the front axle. Think of the Model A Ford.

[@Roboticus_Prime_RC]

Part of restoring very old equipment is knowing when to use one for parts to fix another.

[@justincooper5189]

I'm thinking something could be done with the back axles.Maybe make the lower half into a runner, and if you live in snow country, make it into a snow plow.Maybe stuff a regular truck cab on it so you could have working doors and such, then a flatbed above the tracks. Motor wise, 12 valve Cummins could motivate it.

[@teamidris]

How does a person twist the half shafts on a half track? Easy to do on wheels, but they must have been doing something evil to it with tons of weight on the back :D

[@garrysgarage1958]

That was some serious work in that thing ….to bad about the forklift .. hope it is not terminal

[@williamhoward8319]

my uncle was a machine guner in korea with quad 50 cal

[@andrewmacdonald4833]

love following these vids...great fun.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Glad you like them!

[@paulosborne6517]

Still some good meat on that chassis - as you know. A full set of serviceable running gear and rubber tracks is a great score for a start. Is it possible to get the tracks 're-trod' with fresh rubber, or do they have enough miles still in them?

[@LowBuckGarage]

These tracks should be ok for now, as long as I don't go to fast. They might start flinging off chunks at speed. I do have a spare track, so I'm good for a while.

[@johnknox5692]

the tech that is built in to that is nice

[@rasungod0]

On the 3D printer you could Instead of using a raft print on glass which gives you a flat bottom from the get go.

[@thomaslockard9686]

Like the Coleman tug in the background.

[@NuffMan_]

10:20 for nuts and bolts like that, i smear grease all over to keep the water out. I have a srew conveyor that transports salt, water condenses to salt and its covered in salt saturated water. you may imagine how quickly it will rust :) I have smeared to whole thing with grease as the bearings and whatnot require changing quite often, even after years the bolts havent rusted at all and will open easily. Before i did that the heads would get rounded within months from rust

[@jlucasound]

You look so much like the famous author, David Hatcher Childress! All you need is a "👽" in the pocket area of your T-Shirt! I am a big fan of both of you, by the way. Actually, David looks like you, but I am pretty sure he can't rebuild a half-track. 😲You're Awsome David Childress!

[@LowBuckGarage]

I had to look him up, interesting guy, I ordered a book. Thanks for the tip!

[@Thedavidsavage]

Chronicles of the ghost forklift operator

[@williampankratz600]

Half Track from the last war that the U.S. actually won,,, and you have two of them ,, if only I could subscribe twice ......................

[@davidkellogg2582]

Intertaining as always

[@TestECull]

27:27 I say you take another stab at getting the engine running. Drop the armor plate down off the pan, drop the pan, figure out the oil pressure. If it's fixable down there and you have a viable engine, then put a quasi-comfy seat on the frame and roll around in just a frame for a while! Hell it'd be a neat thing for parades and such, drive around just the bones of one so people can see what makes them work.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Yeah, I agree. I need that armor plate for my other one anyway, and now I can remove it a lot easier. Then I'll drop the pan and see what the damage is.

[@TestECull]

@@LowBuckGarage Will be a good video looking up inside an 80 year old engine that likely hasn't had very good care done to it in any one of those years. My guess is there's trash caught in the oil pickup. Sludge or somethin' that sloughed off of a counterweight when you went to revive it(Or even just towed it home) that got sucked in there and plugged up the works. If that's the case, easy fix.

[@billcovert3473]

Spring at back of transmission to prevent broken flywheel housing from the heavy leverage length of transmission hanging on flywheel housing.

[@easydeon]

Looks like we are due for a forklift repair video.......

[@CoalChrome]

i think the tow tug is the fan favorite

[@LowBuckGarage]

Mine too, that's my go-to move heavy stuff rig for pretty much everything now.

[@RCshockwave]

Nice comfy seats 😆

[@Ratkill]

Gotta love it when people tell me what to do with my own shit

[@benjaminstarcher802]

I've never seen a motor block like that unless it was in a boat a lot of boat motors are like that maybe the military knew something that we didn't lol 🤣

[@kcraig51]

Most people say I have an ultra screw loose! There's something I really like about those fenders. They'd be good for something, I just don't know what....

[@edwardanenberg349]

Mount that forklift unit onto the tow tug , you’ll have something really cool 😎

[@retr0bits545]

To be honest I would really like to have a halftrack. Heck I would even like the one you have just to make it into a flatbed for around my uncle’s farm.

[@josephlacy9397]

Looks good always wondercwhen i drive by

[@rs2143]

Looking like a burning man project .

[@thejunkyardnecromancer]

How many vehicles does it take to remove the hood off of a half-track? haha. Super cool vehicles and great video!

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks! Yeah, it did get a bit ridiculous, I had planned on a quick and easy job.

[@fetus2280]

How TF ive missed your channel is beyond me ... Must be YT and it failing to promote good stuff ... I eat this stuff up! I Subbed to you mate .. Cant wait to watch more :)

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks, glad you like it!

[@robertjohnson3550]

Good videos

[@BaileygaskellGaskell]

I would stick some for the 1930's truck body on top of that chassis and make it a flat bed

[@davewall2184]

I have a 1948 international kb5 cab and front clip that would be awesome on that half track frame

[@9Antonian]

Hey are you in Albuquerque by any chance.....there’s a guy down in the south valley off of Rio Bravo that has two old half tracks in his back yard.....they are in pretty decent shape.

[@tectalabyss]

Liked and shared. All my best.

[@LowBuckGarage]

Thanks!

[@jeremywilson4326]

I like that half track better. I like the front clip that was on it. .

[@dodgydaryl8366]

Ever thought about taking two half tracks and making a 4 track?

[@gunfisher4661]

They may have made the trans mount that way to allow some flex to the frame as I`ve seen in off road vehicles of that era, is that they don`t get around off road that well compared to modern vehicles where the frames flexing allow for better traction off road. Theory #1 any way.

[@JohnLee-sm8op]

Chrome Nickel alloy was to make the engine block literally bullet proof.

[@nickj2508]

I like your array of projects. 👍will your aircraft tow truck also get a new paint job?

[@LowBuckGarage]

It will eventually, probably next year.

[@markroderick3300]

them blue Chep pallets are rental/lease pallets that are supposed to be returned to Chep

[@LowBuckGarage]

We don't have one of those around here, I got it under a used swamp cooler when I bought it. It's broken underneath, so I doubt anyone wants it back now.