A V10-powered 1967 Kaiser M715? Yeah, that’s unique, and so is this vintage truck’s story. The truck belongs to Joe Schigel of Milford, Michigan. He’s a Vehicle Performance Development Engineer at Toyota Motor Company. Joe has decades of off-road experience that began behind the wheel of a 1997 Ford Ranger when he was 16 years old. The story of acquiring and building his M715 includes being in the right place at the right time to score both the truck and the engine.
The Perfect Truck And a $50 V10
Joe says, “I had been searching for a new project vehicle after I moved to Michigan to start my career in automotive. I worked for Jeep at the time and really wanted a CJ-5 or a J10. One day at lunch, I found the listing for the M715 about an hour away from me, and as soon as I saw it, I knew it was the truck for me. I got a friend with a trailer to help me bring it home, and it was mine by the weekend.
“After getting it home, I was able to get it running and driving on the original Tornado 230 engine. I drove it like that for two summers before diving into a build. As I was preparing for the build, I was spitballing engine ideas with co-workers since the Tornado was on its last leg. Jeep 4.0? Hemi 5.7? Dodge 6.4? That’s when a friend chimed in with, ‘I have a V10 you can have.’ He wanted $50 for it, so I went and got it that weekend.”
Rebuilt Powerplant
Joe’s plan was to build the truck into a highly capable off-roader that he could take on adventures with his buddies and, maybe one day, to Moab. Part of that formula was the 8.0-liter V10 engine. The engine he acquired had been removed from a Dodge Ram 2500 to make way for a Cummins turbodiesel swap. It was partially disassembled, so Joe finished the job and completely tore it down. With the help of friends, he rebuilt the engine and completed all the necessary modifications to graft the new powertrain into the truck.
The completed engine includes decked heads, sits on custom mounts, and utilizes the factory 1996 Ram EFI system. Other underhood mods include a custom cowl-inducted intake, a custom exhaust with a Flowmaster muffler, and a Howe aluminum radiator with a Flex-A-Lite fan and controller.
The engine is one of Joe’s favorite features of the rig. He says, “The torque is addicting, and the sound of the exhaust burbles on hill descents.”
Fitting the new powerplant had its challenges, including creating the custom wiring harness. “Have you ever tried to graft a 1996 Dodge EFI harness to a 1967 Jeep using parts from a 2001 Dodge donor vehicle? It’s a bit tedious,” Joe notes.
NV4500 Five-Speed Mated To A NP205 T-Case
Backing the V10 is an NV4500 five-speed manual transmission sourced from a 2001 Dodge truck. A Sachs HD clutch kit delivers a solid bite, while power is routed to the axles through an NP205 transfer case pulled from a 1983 Dodge truck. An Advance Adapters kit mates the two together. Additional drivetrain upgrades include a NorthWest Fab/Wilwood driveline brake and Tom Wood’s custom driveshafts with 1410-series U-joints. The T-case is shifted via the M715’s original lever.
Upgraded Steering, Modified Leaf Springs, And More
The M715’s original closed-knuckle Dana 60 still handles front axle duties, and the gears are protected by a beefy 1/4-inch-thick diff cover. The steering system also received attention with Jeep J10 components, a BJ’s Full-Size Jeep Parts heavy-duty steering shaft, and a Rancho steering stabilizer mounted with custom-fabricated brackets.
Out back, the original Dana 70 remains in place and is loaded with an Eaton Detroit Locker. Both axles still run the factory 5.87:1 gears, giving the truck plenty of crawl-friendly grunt.
Joe also massaged the factory suspension for better trail performance by removing the first and third leaves from the rear pack, extending the front bump stops, and installing Rancho RS5000X shocks.
The rig rolls on 37×12.00R16.5 BFGoodrich Baja T/A tires wrapped around Trail Worthy Fab re-centered Humvee double-beadlock wheels.
Details, Details
Joe left virtually no part of the M715 untouched during the build. He cleaned and repainted the entire chassis, added thermal insulation under the cab and across the firewall, repaired sections of the cab floor, and installed a roll cage along the way.
The vintage military truck also packs a long list of functional upgrades, including Trail-Gear rock sliders, a custom front bumper with a Warn M15 winch, a custom Rhino grille, and Holley LED headlights. Additionally, a Tyri 1313 hood light, Humvee taillights, and a New Life Canvas custom top. Joe also outfitted the rig with a custom removable bed-mounted Tepui tent, a spare tire rack, a Tractor Supply-sourced bed box, and early Bronco electric windshield wipers.
Interior Mods
Inside, the M715 blends vintage style with real-world functionality. Features include Stewart-Warner gauges, a GPS speedometer, and a modified center console/battery box that doubles as the rig’s audio system using Clarion marine components.
Trail Use Is The Norm
Joe’s M715 regularly hits the trails, including several weeklong adventures through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where Joe has helped lead trail runs. He says the area has quickly become one of his favorite destinations. “The terrain is beautiful and the trails are winding and frequently littered with deep sand and deeper water. But the Lake Superior shoreline is the ultimate payoff.” Honestly, it sounds like the perfect proving ground for a V10-powered M715.
Photos by Joe Schigel
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