newbie here....paul the maple syrup guy sent me

safire · Post by **safire** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:49 pm

how-do all, just pointed to this site by paul, the" maple syrup guy" in n.y.
have been lurking for a few days now and must say i am very impressed at the info and ease of finding help. i promised my wife i would start on my newly aquired '53 m37 until after my next promotion test, however- i couldn't stand it anymore......i am using my workshop to study in since i don't get bothered out there. anyway, i put my little jewel under the carport of the workshop and could hear it clling my name, soooooo i went out and just kinda started looking at it and decided i will start by pulling off the hardtop and set it in the workshop to media blast it. well, i removed all the screws in the back of the cab and the two in the upper top corners where the windshield meets the roof above door frame, and also the ones in the door post by the latch. is there anything else? it appears the previous owner welded the windshield to the roof in the corners and in the back. was the roof meant to be removed or was it welded originally? appreciate any help, and if you haven't met paul , the"maple syrup guy", it's hard to believe he is from new york cause i would describe him as a true southern gentleman, very friendly and a wealth of info. thanks a bunch paul, one thing i believe in is that "what goes around, comes around" and i hope to be able to help you one day.
bill

refit1701 · Post by **refit1701** » Wed May 06, 2009 4:51 am

Welcome!

I'm pretty sure they weren't welded, but a previous zealous owner may have done so.

More info about your truck would be good to hear, as we are all crazy about '37's.

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Wed May 06, 2009 5:45 am

Welcome Bill! Lots of good info here-feel free to post "at will" because very few posts go unanswered, and be sure you add your M to the registry. You will also find this forum very user-friendly-someone (sometimes several!) forum members will weigh in based on their expertise, leading to some lengthy, lively chatter at times. Glad to have you with us!
Gary

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Wed May 06, 2009 12:10 pm

Hey Bill,
Sounds like your holding one of a kind welded roof to the windshield frame Dodge M-37!! Congrats!
You are right about Paul, and a craftsmen to boot.
My truck had a homemade top welded all over the place, what a mess that was.
Your in the right place, did you meet up w/ Paul on Joe C's page?

safire · Post by **safire** » Wed May 06, 2009 3:17 pm

i met paul at the referral from another texas gentleman, my m37 was a volunteer fire fighter brushtruck in its previous life. i guess it's only fitting that i get it. paul was a wealth of info and fun to talk to. my plan is to put a 4bt and nv4500 in it and i am wrestling with what to do with the axles, keep the originals or put in a set or newer one tons with disc brakes. i would like to keep the originals , however i am planning on using it as my daily driver to the firehouse and i am concerned about parts availability, especially when i take it on a roadtrip to bigshell. bigshell is 65 miles of nothing on the texas coast and if an axle breaks there, the cost to get towed off the beach is anywhere from 3-7 THOUSAND bucks.......greedy bums. anyway- that is the main reason for swapping to one ton axles, if one of them breaks- i can get a ride to the local auto parts and get needed parts to limp home. i am planning on taking it down to the frame and media blasting everything to kill any cancer and bring back to like new shape. i have wanted one of these for as long as i could remember and finally found one. i will have a bunch of extra parts that i will not be using. i plan on keeping the original transfercase,frame, etc. so far i have a starter, flywheel, bellhousing, transmission, and throttle linkage.
if i can post pics, i will try to do that and as far as registering my m37, what is involved with that? what do i do? i would love to learn the history of this truck also, where its been and such. all sheet metal is in surprisingly good shape, only really bad rust areas are in the bed at the front where it comes up to cab. i also dont have a tailgate, anybody need some of the parts i have for a tailgate?
thanks for all the info guys, will try to post pics soon.
bill
p.s.- when a brush truck, it was named the "fire frog"....gotta come up with something more fitting and snappy.....

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Wed May 06, 2009 5:03 pm

They are almost as rare as "hens teeth" some repro's are around but pricey.
Also they show up from time to time needing a little gussie'n up.
Registering is a lot easier, just above your "Post a reply" 11 buttons w/ tents, the second one is the registry tab, click it and follow the instructions.
If you got a pic, add it there or even here.
Again, Welcome 2 The Fold,

HingsingM37 · Post by **HingsingM37** » Thu May 07, 2009 1:30 am

Bill,

Welcome aboard. Ditto what the guys said already. This forum is fantastic and has helped me along the way. A great group of folks with great trucks

safire · Post by **safire** » Thu May 07, 2009 5:37 pm

ok- need some more pointers here.........maybe i am just an eeeegit, however- i am trying to register my m37 and it keep telling me that my serial number is not a correct number. i have title and data plate in hand and getting info from same. my serial number starts out t245aXXXXXX, and my model is t-245, here is what is on tag---
M37b1-wow
federal stock number- 2320-542-4636
contract no. DA-20-018-AMC-0090T
mfg. ser. no. 03085 model T-245
date del. 1-63 inspected- here is where metal was stamped with a box containing a spread eagle with 3 stars above it.

title lists it as a 1953 dodge cargo 3/4 ton.

sooooooo- what do i have here? this is the same info i attempted to put into the registry and it would not take it. what should i do now or am i just not doing something correctly?

any help would be appreciated,
thanks
bill

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Fri May 08, 2009 5:16 am

I believe the serial # is actually stamped on the frame in the left wheel well, I am pretty sure the T245# is the serial # just for the engine.
there's a helpful page right on this site......
http://www.g741.org/ProductionDates.html

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Fri May 08, 2009 5:47 pm

T245 is Dodge's model number for the military 230 cid engine.

The manufacturer's serial number shown on your data plate is the VIN and shoulod match the number on the frame unless a few parts have been swapped here and there. Take the info back to the DMV office and let them know that the VIN is correct. I seriously doubt that any of the clerks down at your DMV office are going to want to crawl underneath your truck to verify it.

newbie here....paul the maple syrup guy sent me

newbie here....paul the maple syrup guy sent me

Welcome

Tail-Gate!