Motor City

This is what i was talking about on the forum! As long as they were test fired they stand a decent chance of running again. A friend and myself were able to bring an old Michigan front end loader back to life after it was sitting for so long a tree had grown through the cab!

This is getting a bit off base for this Web site, but I would question whether or not the seals and wiring have dried out on these engines. If not, you would think someone could find an appliction for them somewhere. Does anyone know how old they are?

they've been there since the mid-late 60s, as far as i can tell.

they're LDS465 diesel or multifuel engines, for 2.5 or 5 ton military trucks and 6x6s.

I love your title Mr. Motts!

They would make terrific off-road vehicle engines.

More than likely, we the taxpayers funded these motors and they never made it to their place of destination. Maybe instead of a monetary refund on this years tax return, we could have some of these ole relics?

It would sure be nice for those that are restoring old cars...like Studebakers...heh duh. ; )

Hmm... It would be cool to see someone start one of those babys up! Vaarrooom!

These engines have nothing to do with Studebaker. They are old multi-fuel military vehicle engines. The plant was used as a storage facility for many years.

i was looking at the shiny blades then something caught my eye and it looked newer and i could see what looks like city busses in the top left hand side.

excuse me i mean right hand side

I see it too, Motts are those frames of buses in the right hand corncer or are they real buses.

If this isn't a wallpaper shot than I dont know what is!!!!

I did not even notice the busses..interesting.

Perhaps the busses and the motors have a connection?

Thank you Sir Motts for the amazing wallpaper

holy,, crap... wow..
damn

ALL THESE ENGINES WOULD DRIVE ME UP A WALL, NO PUN INTENDED.

JMAX pun intended or not that comment made my day lol.

f1 engines from the laaaaaate egyptian era

Where is this plant located?

I found the information on your site stating that the plant is indeed in South Bend, Indiana. Thanks!

didnt AM general have the use of these buildings? Am gen has had many military contracts,built trucks,the HUMMV,etc,prolly has to do with their work

lol,all the motors are painted olive drab,duh must be military ones-cummins?

Good stuff there Motts! Very interesting to see. Lots of curious speculation about this room. I'll add more. :o) We can see they were pulled from vehicles. All the shifters had been cut off to make that easier, and hoses cut, etc.. Most of the generators were taken. Generators were replaced with alternators in the early 60s in civilian vehicles, but I cannot say that for these mil-spec looking units. And there they sit. I would guess they came from a government contract and developed a problem, were defective in some way, were improper, something like that. I would say this, the circumstances surrounding them were likely an embarrasment and had cost some company or the taxpayers ALOT of money to correct! I think there's some kind of snafu connected to them or they would have been discarded/scrapped/sold a long time ago. Perhaps they sit and hide in "government stockpile limbo"? But... it sure is cool to see them and speculate, you betcha! Love the photos!

And I correct myself, the shifter handles are removable.

devnull knows exactly what they are. There's a list of the army trucks they were used in here:
http://www.g503.com/fo...iewtopic.php?t=46506

And here's the parts list:
https://www.logsa.army...ms/data/A/018424.pdf

And yes, I'm a wrench-head. ;o)

My two cents (and overpriced at that!): Studebaker DID build Army trucks (and the tracked "Weasel"). They had an active contract with the Army when they ceased operations and arranged for Kaiser Jeep to take this off their hands. Kaiser eventually sold Jeep to AMC, which in turn formed AM General division who built Army vehicles and busses. Yes Virginia, they finally morphed into Hummer. So, short story long, Studebaker is still sorta kinda alive in the form of today's Hummers. But then there's the modern Avanti and SUV but that's even further off topic. GREAT PIX!!!

I had gotten word that another company that will remain nameless here had converted a number of 2 1/2 ton army trucks for use by the Coast Guard. That may be an explaination for this large pile of engines sitting idle. That was not Studebaker that did that particular conversion, but I was told that Studebaker made some of the 2 1/2 ton army trucks as well as others. Lots of cool history on that patch of ground.

imagine you started all those engines :D

hehe, hmm as i am in the national guard maybe i could get some of those? for our army truck "replacement" engines....lol actually i have some major off roading passions with my fellow guardsmen...

one would think that a farmer could use the engines for irrigation pumps

ldt 465 some new some used-for sale yes none running $750. running $1000. twenty two days left how bad do you want them? hard to get parts these days I love the pictures good for the soul !

They are multi fuel engines that were made by White motor company.I have am general 6x6 with a multi fuel turbo.

holly fuck....i want some!!!!...anyone with a fork left wanna make some money??...i have a 53'' ft trailer...

the military bases all have auctions on the internet to sell off a lot of diffrent diesel & gas engines, some brand new in the shipping containers,look up military auctions.com

I bet the people never got around to repairing all thoes rejected engens

They are indeed LDT engines, probably returned from Vietnam where the drivers were none too careful with them. It resulted in a lot of engines having problems and they were simply replaced, and the old engines were sent back to be rebuilt. Then the EPA decided the engines needed to burn cleaner, and they had to be replaced with a new design - so the old ones piled up at the factory. That's the short version. The long version can be found on SteelSoldiers.com or G503.com.

Why did they leave all these motors here?

AM General made buses in the 70's in Mishawaka In.

Love the pic. I am in the National Guard where shops and depots are just like this. Such a waste that none of these engines weren't rebuilt or used as traing tools throughout the services. Seems to be enough to use in every fort, camp, base, depot, shop, motor pool and armory. What a waste, waste, waste.

That is an ocean of engines. I wonder what I would do if I had that mess of them. One really amazing sculpture could be made.