1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Build and Restoration Threads Belong Here

Moderators: Cal_Gary, T. Highway, Monkey Man, robi

R1830
PVT
PVT
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Location: Duncan, BC

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by R1830 »

Here you go Andy.

Image

Image
Last edited by R1830 on Sun Dec 03, 2017 8:59 am, edited 2 times in total.
In Progress: 1952 M37CDN Teardown
User avatar
RMS
MSGT
MSGT
Posts: 930
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:18 pm
Location: Richmond BC Canada

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by RMS »

ya just forward of the 230 mounts. rad bracket mod, hood trim and toss the filler from rad to grill.

nice to see you have the stock t249 251cid "Long block" L head with 21 head bolts and a 25in long head . that 251 weighs in @ 610lbs bare and 845lbs with accessories. the 251cid has a compression ratio of 6.6:1 a 3 7/16th bore with a 4 1/2inch stroke and a rod ratio of 1.75 to 1. four mains support the 31 1/32nd inch long 90lb high carbon drop forged crank. a six blade fan, sodium filled valves, bronze guides, stellite seats. a brass water distribution tube.

I see most of the hardware removed from the manifold are the long ones through the exhaust being a pain ?

rebuilding the 251 ?
Image
.............................. use it ...............
R1830
PVT
PVT
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Location: Duncan, BC

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by R1830 »

Hi Robyn, thanks as always for the pointers. The long bolts through the exhaust might be a pain, I just haven't got to them yet. Was busy taking off the other hardware and getting the cab prepped for removal. Now that it's off I'll finish stripping the engine down and hopefully get it pulled in the next day or two. From what I was told by the previous owner the engine was a 0 time rebuild from military stock and he put very little time on it. That said while I have the truck apart it seems prudent to at least have a good look at it and see if it is as advertised. It was running a couple years ago and turns over nicely now. If you have any advice or parts I'm always open to what you have to say.
In Progress: 1952 M37CDN Teardown
ashyers
MSGT
MSGT
Posts: 820
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 8:20 pm
Location: Oakland CA

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by ashyers »

R1830,
Thanks for the photos. I'm now kicking myself for not picking up the 251...

It looks like a swap would be pretty easy. I picked up a copy of the David Doyle Dodge books and there's a bit about a 251 powered prototype for the US. It was canned for a variety of reasons, but I guess it lived on up in your neck of the woods!

Andy
R1830
PVT
PVT
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Location: Duncan, BC

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by R1830 »

Not a lot of photos lately as the progress hasn't been exciting. Steadily working away at getting the frame stripped down. Finally got there today. The plan is to straighten the rear crossmember on Sunday and then it is off to be sandblasted, primed, and painted.

Image
Last edited by R1830 on Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:04 am, edited 2 times in total.
In Progress: 1952 M37CDN Teardown
Cal_Gary
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4236
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:51 am
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by Cal_Gary »

Excellent work! I still need to do that with mine.
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
R1830
PVT
PVT
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Location: Duncan, BC

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by R1830 »

More work done today.
Got the banana bend out of the rear frame crossmember, also straightened the front fuel tank support and ground the rivets off to separate the front and middle crossmembers so the sandblaster could get in there to clean them up.

And got the frame delivered to the sandblaster. This time next week she should be cleaned, primed, and painted.

Image
Last edited by R1830 on Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:08 am, edited 2 times in total.
In Progress: 1952 M37CDN Teardown
R1830
PVT
PVT
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Location: Duncan, BC

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by R1830 »

All primed and waiting for paint.

Image
Last edited by R1830 on Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:09 am, edited 2 times in total.
In Progress: 1952 M37CDN Teardown
User avatar
RMS
MSGT
MSGT
Posts: 930
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:18 pm
Location: Richmond BC Canada

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by RMS »

no messing about there! what have you decided to use for paint ?
Image
.............................. use it ...............
Jess
SSGT
SSGT
Posts: 306
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:41 am
Location: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by Jess »

Looking good! Lots of grinding to get those riveted pieces off, but they won't be a problem after you prime and paint. Once you get the rest of the parts and have them done, it will go back together nicely.
Thanks for posting the pics.
R1830
PVT
PVT
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Location: Duncan, BC

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by R1830 »

Thanks guys. It is a 2 part epoxy primer and 2 part epoxy gloss black paint that is going on it next. I'm getting it done through the local heavy truck repair shop where I have some contacts so the paint is whatever they use there. They say it hold up well on their trucks.
In Progress: 1952 M37CDN Teardown
R1830
PVT
PVT
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Location: Duncan, BC

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by R1830 »

Quite a bit has been done in the last couple months.

Frame is all painted up and back home. The paint is armourshield.

Image

Also stripped out the old cab so I can get it out the door and bring in the new one.

Front and rear axles are apart as well. I'm going to pull the axles from the parts truck and see what kind of shape they are in internally then do a parts order while the axles get blasted and painted. Hoping to be back on a set of axles by summer.

Got the rims all cleaned up and repainted as well and mounted Yokohama Geolander M/T+ 315/75R16. CHarles T used them on his builds for a while and had good things to say about them. Tubes and flaps were hard to find but eventually an old tire guy came through.

Tubes, flaps and tires may also be available through universal vintage tire:

https://www.universaltire.com/catalog_f ... ize=900-16


Image
Last edited by R1830 on Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
In Progress: 1952 M37CDN Teardown
k8icu
1SG
1SG
Posts: 1261
Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 5:23 am
Location: Cleveland Ohio
Contact:

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by k8icu »

Nice Tires. Can you post more information about them?
M37s are HMMWV in my world!
R1830
PVT
PVT
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:46 pm
Location: Duncan, BC

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by R1830 »

A bunch of progress since the last post but I didn't have photo hosting figured out again until now.

There was a lot of priming and painting done over the summer:

Image

Springs were all taken apart, cleaned up, fixed loose rivets and broken leaves and then got new hardware:

Image

Built up brakes with new wheel cylinders.

Image

Back on 2 wheels, front axle was rebuilt with new seals, gaskets and bearings etc.

Image

And back on all 4 tires, rear axle and hubs also rebuilt.

Image

Running boards straightened and repaired. There is still some minor pitting but I'm planning to put bedliner on them so it shouldn't be visible when done.

Image

My truck has lockout hubs, they are different brands but functionally the same. They were looking pretty rough so cleaned them up:

Image

Then finally got the engine up on the stand. It was apparently overhauled and installed shortly before the truck stopped being used 20 ish years ago. I did get it running when I bought the truck but I still want to have a look inside and clean it up. Upgrades planned here are electric fuel pump and electronic ignition.

Image
In Progress: 1952 M37CDN Teardown
Kaegi
SFC
SFC
Posts: 517
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 5:44 pm

Re: 1952 M37 CDN Restoration

Post by Kaegi »

RMS wrote:ya just forward of the 230 mounts. rad bracket mod, hood trim and toss the filler from rad to grill.

nice to see you have the stock t249 251cid "Long block" L head with 21 head bolts and a 25in long head . that 251 weighs in @ 610lbs bare and 845lbs with accessories. the 251cid has a compression ratio of 6.6:1 a 3 7/16th bore with a 4 1/2inch stroke and a rod ratio of 1.75 to 1. four mains support the 31 1/32nd inch long 90lb high carbon drop forged crank. a six blade fan, sodium filled valves, bronze guides, stellite seats. a brass water distribution tube.

I see most of the hardware removed from the manifold are the long ones through the exhaust being a pain ?

rebuilding the 251 ?

are you sure the Canadian 251 has the sodium filled ex valves and bronze guides? i have only seen that in industrial and larger truck mopar flatheads. Never in a 1 ton or under truck engine. but, I have never pulled a Canadian M37 version either one and looked inside. . that would be awesome if they do. you could never burn a valve!
Post Reply