I am finally getting around to putting a canvas top on my truck. I noticed that the rear of the cab tub, the edge behind the seats, has two clips attached, both are jammed up under the lip of the body. Here is a link to a photo of one of them:
I have looked through all the available manuals, even the manual on how to install and remove the top, and cannot find any reference to these clips. Nor have I seen any photos of these on any other truck. Does anyone know their function, and are they supposed to be there? There was a lot of other "field modifications" that I have removed from the truck....these may be another one of them!
Sorry, I've never seen those before, but maybe someone else here has.
You are right about "field mods" and there is also "commander's discretion". If the first sargent or captain wanted something done to a vehicle it usually happened (I was in the Army when these trucks were being used). At the time ('68 to '71) there were a lot 17 to 19 year old kids and these trucks were great toys!
I believe MM and Rick C are correct.....they certainly do look like clips to hold wiring or piping. Here a few additional photos, one from the rear and one showing the clips after removed them. Someone must have removed them from the underside frame rails or wherever, and screwing around, fastened them to the cab. It is surprising after all the POs and years, they remained there!
Cal_Gary wrote:Odd spot for a wiring clip since the bulkhead fitting is a bit lower on the back of the cab. Perhaps a field mod to help secure a hard top?
Gary
No clips like that found on either one of the two "hardtop" M's that I have/had.
Maybe some enterprising G.I. used them, as suggested, for some kind of field mod.
Or, the G.I. hung them on just before the M went to surplus and was just trying
to mess with us.
JB
Pretty much the reason I asked if there was a photo of the outside. My M with the hard top didn't have this clip. A photo of the outside would show how it was fastened if at all. Somewhere someone had that clip in his hand and was wondering what to do with it. OH this looks like a good spot, I'll put it here.
I'm in the middle of a redo on my 1969 M151A1. I removed all the wiring , fuel and brake lines. Today going through some clips I found the same clip as in your photo, No mistake, it's the same clip. If you know someone with A M151A1 see it they could use it. It holds the battery cable going to the starter. If needed I could pull out the TM and get the page and item no. Mystery solved.
Those are not the same as the battery cable hold down clips on a M151. There is no bolt hole to bolt it to the body. Not sure what these clips are for.
It's been a little while since I removed the wiring from the 151, However I remember thinking,now that's different no screws or bolts holding this in place.They clip on the side wall going up to the dash. Take a look at TM 9-2320-218-34P page 130 item 17. page 131 description for federal stock no. 5340-00-168-7178 clip battery to starter switch cable. I unfortunately didn't take a picture of this prior to removal. However there is a M718 just up the road from me I plan on taking some photos for reference.