Letter from America: this 1967 Kaiser Jeep M715 looked destined for the wrecker’s yard. It hadn’t moved in half a decade, all its tires were flat, and it needed a new engine.
The body of the truck wore years of filth but the frame was in good condition.
The aim of the rebuild was a restored truck that could get into the woods, comport itself on the highway, and carry just enough camping gear to make any patch of dirt feel like home. But first, it needed an engine. The original showed 19,000 hard miles and had long since given up, prompting some brainstorming.
So, the ubiquitous AMC 4.0L inline-six? Its power output was similar to the Tornado and fuel injection would make it more desirable off-road.
Perhaps something crazier, like a 5.7L Hemi out of a later-model truck?
Or maybe just go extreme with a Magnum V-10? Yes.
With the V10 in the workshop, the build needed a drivetrain.
An NP205 transfer case and an NV4500 five-speed transmission were added to the pile.
From the fuel system and brakes to a custom-built winch bumper, engine mounts, and roll cage, a fair amount of the truck is hand-built or fabricated, including a rack for an over-the-tray tent.
Under the front of the Jeep is a closed-knuckle Dana 60 axle retained by factory leaf springs in ‘spring-under’ configuration. Shock absorbers are Monroe Gas-Magnum shocks. Extremely short diff ratios of 5.87:1 are rock-crawling ratios.
The Dana 70 rear axle has an Eaton Detroit locker for traction.
Removing leaves one and three from the Kaiser’s factory leaf pack made the rear end more pliable and 1/4-inch steel differential covers from 999 Off-road keep the internals safe.
Rear suspension on the 1967 Kaiser Jeep M715 overland build includes stock leaves and Monroe gas shocks.
The 37-inch Goodyear HMMWV tires aren’t the quietest or most road-capable things ever, but they do fit the look of the Kaiser.
A 15,000-pound Warn winch is mounted on a fabricated steel front bumper.
Trail-Gear rocksliders welded to the frame are good insurance on rough trails.
Contrasting the well-worn exterior of the 1967 Kaiser Jeep M715, extra work went into the cab, making it every bit as sharp-looking as it was comfortable and clean. The door panels are covered in plaid flannel fabric, the seats reupholstered in new leather.
These trucks might be quietly rusting in back yards in the Ozarks or the Carolinas but they are very rare in New Zealand, more so than the J20 pickup, which was sold here new as a right-hand drive truck.
