m37 combat rims

skinnedknuckles · Post by **skinnedknuckles** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:31 pm

I am new to this site and I'm wondering what a set of decent looking combat rims for a m37 would go for. I am looking to get a m37 possibly this weekend and I have found a set of 4 combat rims here in Wisconsin.
Paul in Janesville,Wi
Bitten bad by the O.D. bug

1945 CJ-2a
1946 Bantam trailer
1966 m416
1968 m105
1968 m105
1971 m35a2 w/w
1971 m35a2 wo/w
mvpa #31337

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:34 pm

Hi Paul,
M37s were never originally equipped with combat wheels. If you get some, be REAL sure that they are viable. I have several here that look great, but are totally rusted together and completely useless. Personally, unless they were really inexpensive, or free, I would only buy a combat wheel that I could see disassembled, or had a new enough tire that it was clear that it had been didsassembled recently. In my experience, a GOOD combat rim would be worth $100 to $125. The Budd rims that came on the M37 are worth about $75 each. Even the Budd rims are prone to rust, be careful buying them too.
Tim

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:50 pm

Hey Paul,
They won't work, just send them to me in Virginia.
Tim's right, unless they are in excellent shape, give 'em a pass.
BTW, Welcome to the fold! (They would look great)
[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/25 ... .jpg[/img][/url]

This is Kurt & one of his rigs w/ the Combat rims mounted, sharp looking.

skinnedknuckles · Post by **skinnedknuckles** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:46 pm

Thanks for the information. Looks like I am going to have to go and dismount the combat rims to see what they look like on the inside. The tires have been on them for awhile. outside they look good but.... I have had the fun

of dealing with tires rust-stuck to rims before and they are not a good thing! Hopefully between the bolt together section its not pitted with cake rust.
Paul in Janesville Wi

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:14 pm

Hi Paul,
Forgive me if you have done this already, but when disassembling the combat rims, air down the tire, then loosen all of the nuts, but leave them on, a full nuts worth. Then, using a clip on air chuck and staying a reasonable distance away air the tire up. This should, emphasis on should, allow the outer ring to move outward a bit and loosen its bond. This wont work if things are too rusted together but if you are lucky it will work. The only real danger in this is if the old rotted tire lets go you could take a chunk of tire to your person.
Good luck,
Tim

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:13 am

One more thing, If you get the ring to pop out to the slacked out nuts, dont get excited and pull the nuts off the rest of the way. Air the tire down first!
Tim

Nickathome · Post by **Nickathome** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:25 am

I recall reading that a few M37 prototypes had combat wheels, but to my knowledge, non of the production models did.

Wasn't there a guy making modern rims of various designs that would fit an M37? I recall seeing somewhere that this same guy also produced a simulated combat rim whereas the bolts were merely decorative, but had the look of combat rims.

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:38 am

You're right Nick-a couple of Supply Line issues back included the entire M37 story, and some of the pix had combat rims.

Thanks for the picture Bruce-Kurt and I have rummaged all around that shed for all kinds of M37 stuff!
Gary

russcal · Post by **russcal** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:18 pm

Hiya, y'all!

Yep, I've got several photos of early M37's or M37's used for test purposes that are shod in combat rims.

Now, I'm a relative newcomer to the world of M37's, but to my eye a combat rim doesn't look to be anything different than a split (Budd) type rim with an extra bolted on lip rim. I'd have to see an actual one to be sure, but it should be fairly easy to come up with a simple bolt on ring to turn a Budd rim into a combat rim.

Hopefully, I'm not over simpliying this, and look forward to hearing from our experts.

Russ
Proud son of Rose and Wes

KenInGA · Post by **KenInGA** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:33 pm

I'd say the real demand for the combat rims for M37 usage is so you can use the 11.00s. Like the picture posted above, with the Michelin XZLs, or whatever the letters are...

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:15 pm

Hi Ken,
I think people run the combat rims simply for the high cool quotient. I am running 11:00-16s XZL's on my Power Wagon on the stock Budd rims.
Tim

VROD02 · Post by **VROD02** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:54 pm

I think they look kick arse with xl combat combo,even if they aren't "correct". At least rims can be "changed" unlike well v8 swaps and d-cells.

just my .02

skinnedknuckles · Post by **skinnedknuckles** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:40 pm

Kurts truck sure looks great with them combat rims mounted up

definately has a cool factor

Maybe this weekend I will have time to go and see if the rims I found are in good shape. Hey Barry truck looks real good. Thanks , you made it worth the trip from Wisconsin to St Louis.
Paul

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:21 pm

Used to belong to Bob Thompson, I drove it while we were there a couple of years ago.

VROD02 · Post by **VROD02** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:00 pm

skinnedknuckles wrote:Kurts truck sure looks great with them combat rims mounted up definately has a cool factor Maybe this weekend I will have time to go and see if the rims I found are in good shape. Hey Barry truck looks real good. Thanks , you made it worth the trip from Wisconsin to St Louis.
Paul

Thanks Paul and it was a pleasure meeting you as well as your bride. Cant stand to see your quick progress thought!!

You got a solid truck with a really solid drivetrain. P.S. I forgot to tell you the dist. bolt is not tight.Its underneath. I was adjusting when I ran into fuel issues. Just thought that might save you some time when you fire her up.

m37 combat rims

m37 combat rims

BUDD Rims

Combat rims...

Kurt's Truck