MILITARY M54 REO 5 ton 6x6 TRUCK.
I love this truck. The sound of the multifuel engine and turbo is amazing. They are known as the Whistler for their unique sound. They are known as a Deuce and a half, which is derived from the2.5 ton trucks, this truck is a 5 ton Cargo Truck.
Not much is known of the history of this truck. It is believed the original colour was white and may have been used on the "Dew Line". The Distant Early Warning Line, also known as the DEW Line or Early Warning Line, was a system of radar stations in the northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the north coast and Aleutian Islands of Alaska, in addition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland. It was set up to detect incoming bombers of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and provide early warning of any sea-and-land invasion.
The M39 (G744) series was designed as a 5-ton, three-axle all-wheel-drive off-road truck to replace World War II-era trucks such as 4- and 6-ton 6×6s built by Brockway, Diamond T, Mack, and White. Rushed into production by International Harvester in 1951, soon Kaiser (renamed Kaiser-Jeep in 1963) also became a major manufacturer, with Diamond T and Mack building smaller numbers. The M54 5-ton 6×6 truck (G744) was the basic cargo model of the M39 Series truck. It was designed to transport a 10,000 lb, 14-foot-long cargo load off-road in all weather. In on-road service the load weight was doubled.
The M39 series were originally powered by a Continental R6602 engine, a 602 cu in (9.9 L) overhead valve inline 6 cylinder gasoline engine. The -A1 upgrade had a Mack ENDT-673, a 673 cu in (11.0 L) turbocharged inline 6 cylinder diesel engine. The A2 upgrade had a Continental LDS-465-1A, a 478 cu in (7.8 L) turbocharged inline 6 cylinder multifuel engine. Diesel (A1) and multifuel (A2) models have a vertical exhaust stack and air cleaner on the right fender, however a very small number of the earliest A1 models and some A2 gas/multifuel conversions are seen with same style of down swept exhaust as on gasoline models. Of important note, A2's with a factory build date prior 1964 originally were gas engine models. Most of these conversions received the overdrive-5th transmission found in "pure" -A1 and "pure" -A2 models. However, some converts retained their original gas model direct-5th transmission which gave closer gear ratios but a top speed of only 45 mph with a multifuel due to the lower top rpm allowed on that engine compared to a gas engine.
All M39s had a Spicer 5-speed manual transmission. A 2-speed transfer case engaged the front axle automatically if the rear axles slipped and moved faster than the front axle. Timken axles were used.
The M39 series had a ladder frame with three live beam axles, the front on leaf springs, the rear tandem on leaf springs with locating arms. There were three chassis wheelbases (measurements are from the centre line of the front axle to the centre line of rear tandem). The M61 short wheelbase chassis, used for tractors and dump trucks, is 167 inches, the M40 long chassis, used for cargo and wreckers, is 179 inches, and the M63 extra-long chassis, used for long cargo and expansible vans, is 215 inches. There was also an M139 heavy duty extra long chassis for extreme service, including the Honest John rocket launcher truck.
Many M39 series were equipped with a front-mounted 20,000 lb Garwood winch, intended for self-recovery. A winch weighed 714 lb and added 15+1⁄2 in inches to the length of the truck.
The M39 series had both single- and dual-rear-tire models; very few single-rear-tyre trucks were built. Most models had 11.00×20s with dual rear tyres; tractor wreckers had larger 12.00×20s. Bridge trucks and all M139 chassis-based trucks had 14.00×20s. A standard military cab, designed by REO, was used. It had hinged doors with roll-up windows, a folding windshield, and a removable canvas roof. Cargo trucks and tractors could be fitted with a ring mount for a M2 Browning machine gun. A hard roof could be fitted.
The M54 was the standard cargo version of the series. It had a 7 ft (2.1 m) × 14 ft (4.3 m) low-sided box with a bottom-hinged tailgate. Side racks, troop seats, and overhead bows with a canvas cover were standard.
The standard body sides could secure a load but could not be loaded from the side by forklifts, so a body with drop sides was standardized as the M54A1C
Dimensions:
M54 Cargo 179 in (4.55 m) 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m) 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m) 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) 19,945 lb (9,047 kg)
29,945 lb (13,583 kg)
The M54 5-ton 6×6 truck (G744) was the basic cargo model of the M39 Series truck. It was designed to transport a 10,000 lb, 14-foot-long cargo load off-road in all weather. In on-road service the load weight was doubled.
The M54 was the primary heavy cargo truck of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine forces during the Vietnam War, and was also used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and ARVN forces.
THE BEST SOUNDING DIESEL.