The tear down begins.....

MikeOneSix · Post by **MikeOneSix** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:32 pm

Howdy

Man! I wonder how many threads were started with that line

? Well, I'm almost at a "stopping point" with the ferret where I'll have to wait for warmer weather to come around again to continue working on it. But I've got a lot done on it so I'm content to wait. While I'm waiting though, I desided to pay my M37 a visit. Sitting alone in it's storage unit, I brought my tools along

.

Today, over the course of 4 hours I removed all four tires (truck was lifted, sitting on jack stands) the front bumper & mounts and brush guards. Tomorrow, I plan on removing the windshield frame, hood, engine side panels and front fenders. Saturday, it's into the cab I go...

My goal is to strip everything off of the frame and have it all blasted, primed and painted. Nothing is going to be over looked everything is going to be rebuilt or replaced.

This is not my first rodeo (did the same with a '44 WC51 & '67 M151A1) but it is my second M37 and the fifth Dodge built MV I've owned. Like I posted earlier (on another thread) working on this truck today made me feel right at home.

Some guys are "jeep guys" and that's it. Others, are into just armor or deuces-hey that's fine. For me, it's Dodges and mutts. that's what suits me, that's what I like to fool around with. I'll keep the forum up to date with what developes. Wish me luck!

Regards,
Matt

Captnsim · Post by **Captnsim** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:52 pm

Lots a luck Matt!!!

Looking forward to the updates.
Where's the pics???

Didn't ya bring your camera?

HingsingM37 · Post by **HingsingM37** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:33 am

Ahhh, the fun begins Matt. Enjoy and take some pics. Good Luck

m37_power · Post by **m37_power** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:05 am

pics man...we need pics...lol. seriously though...keep us all updated on your progress!

MikeOneSix · Post by **MikeOneSix** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:17 pm

Alright guys!

I'm working on the pic sit. But for now, I'll have to paint you a picture with my words

.

Slipped back over to the storage unit today and removed (with little difficulty) the running boards, cab doors (who ever posted that they were heavy wasn't kidding). Both head light buckets, BO marker lights & mounts and hood have all been added to the growing pile of parts in the back of my pick up bed getting ready to head to the blasters.

Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be back over there removing more parts. On my short list to remove are the engine side panels, the cross peice forward & above the radiator, front fenders, floor "boards," driver's & passenger's seats.

Good times......Good times....
Matt

Captnsim · Post by **Captnsim** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:57 pm

Go Matt Go...

Darn, at the rate your going it'll be done before you know it.

MikeOneSix · Post by **MikeOneSix** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:52 pm

Got everything on the "short list" today as well as the windshield (complete). If I get some time this weekend, I'll remove the bumperettes, drive shafts, glove box, battery box and radiator.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement!

Matt

Captnsim · Post by **Captnsim** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:42 pm

Good stuff Matt!

Got all of your list, and some extras.

Keep it up!

m-11 · Post by **m-11** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:27 am

Good luck. I have mine down to the rolling frame w/engine and fuel tank still installed. Hope you have plently of room in your storage area especially when you pull your cab off. My trucks spread over an area of a two car garage. Of course you've done this before so you already know.

MikeOneSix · Post by **MikeOneSix** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:26 pm

It's snowing here and I feel under the weather (Ha! get it?

) so I didn't go over to the Su today and mess with the M37.

So far, I haven't encountered and fasteners that have needed removal by cutting. I have had a couple break off but at this stage of the game I'm not to worried about it.

One trick that I learned while working on the WCs was to take a spray bottle of penatrant and just "hose down" any & all fasteners. Even if it's not a project that I am currently working on. I'll take a few mins to do this and by doing so, it makes the job of tear down that much easier.

M-11
It's funny how something as small as an M151A1 can fill up a garage when you strip it completely down isn't it? All I can say is shelves, plenty of shelf space. My gagrage is full of ferret parts and the storage unit is full of M37 stuff and I need to build more shelves

.

Matt

MikeOneSix · Post by **MikeOneSix** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:20 am

Well the weather has turned warm again and I'm back at it. Removed the radiator, shroud, brush guard. Have removed the floor boards and took the wheels to a tire shop to dismount (and dispose of) tires from the rims. I used a pnumatc needle scaler to remove a lot of the loose (black) paint that was on those rims. I'm currently trying to remove the steering wheel (yes, I know there's a multi page thread concerning this in the tech forum) and it's been tough going. When I finally remove the steering wheel, I'll then remove the colume and steering box.

When I remove something from the M37, I put it in the bed of the truck. I joked with a friend of mine that I was going to see if I can fit a whole M37 into it's own bed!

Since purchasing the M37 about two(?) years ago, I've been "hosing" down all the fasteners with penatrant so when the time comes to remove something it should be easy. So far, this has really worked out.
During that time, I removed the spark plugs and dumped a little WD-40 into each cylinder and replaced the spark plugs (don't want any crud falling in there). I also had some old diesel laying around and that got dumped in there as well. After I removed the radiator, I was able to get a breaker bar and socket onto the crankshaft pully nut and whoa! the engine turned freely! It wasn't seized! When I brought this Dodge non running, the power plant's condition was unknown. Not sure what kind of compression the engine has at this time, guess I'll have to wait and see.

I'll keep the forum updated with my progress on my project.

Matt