M37 or M715??

[Paul in Kempner, TX]

How many Jeep fans actually had maintenance responsibilities for any M715's?

As was pointed out above, there were differences between military and civilian engines. I never had anything to do with the civilian ones. I do know that there was an AMC V8 that was practically a bolt in replacement and I know some folks that had them.

Our biggest maintenance problem was that no one liked to drive the M715's - mostly because of actual injuries caused by the battery box between the front seats. So these trucks did not get used when there was any alternate.

Mostly they were driven for supply runs and other short trips. When they actually "went to the field" they were driven very slowly - again the result of the damn battery box - so the driver and passenger could be comfortable. The limited use and the slow driving in the field led to the most common problem. That was excessive carbon build up in the engines. A standard fix was to dispatch the M715's for a trip on the Seoul-Pusan highway and instruct the drivers to drive them as fast as possible. It was amazing to see them taking off in a cloud of black exhaust smoke that gradually changed to brown and then cleared up. We called that the "pedal to the metal" tune up.

The second problem in Korea was the lubrication of the overhead cam. The lube performed poorly during limited use and severe cold. Remember, the Army was not into synthetic lubricants.

Those engines did not have the slow, lugging capability of the Dodges. That always made me wonder why an engine that was okay in normal street driving ended up in a tactical vehicle. If the military and civilian engines were different, did the factory get them mixed up?

[greencom]

I've looked at a few of both model trucks and noticed that very very few M715's had as much sheetmetal left intact on them as the M37's did. It looks to me that the M715's being basically civvy trucks have much thinner metal and have more internal cavities built into their cab and bed structures that trap moisture and rot out to a much greater extent. In short they last about as long as any old pickup does. It is my opinion that the M37's holds up incredibly well over the decades, even by 1952 beater is in far better shape than my 1984 Ford F-150 which is turning to dust just as many M715's that I've seen. The M37 was designed from the ground up as a military truck, the M715 was not. Just my unprofessional opinion.

[k8icu]

A roomier cab, how do you figure that with that dang battery box taking up huge space, I don't see it.

Well.... I guess you have to be a tad on the larger side to see it.... I've always been a big guy and the M715 offers a little more room than the M37 does. I think that has to do first with the drop peddles vrs the through the floor peddles of the M37. Also the space between the seat and the dash seems bigger than on a M37. I have never taken a tape to either one, but I'd hazzard to guess that physically the M715 is a larger cab than the M37s. Plus if you pull that battery box out and move them under the hood you can fit a passinger seat from an M35 in there no problem. Don't believe me go over to the M715zone and check out some of the mods done there.

How many Jeep fans actually had maintenance responsibilities for any M715's?

Oooh oooh oooh... I did. It was mine. I owned it and it was my daily driver. If I didn't maintain it I walked!

[cuz]

When the engine started loading up we just loaded up some 115/145 Avgas and ran them "pedal to the metal" down the taxiways.

I liked the old girl. I liked her appearance and her ride. But I never cared for the civvy Gladiator version.

The 230 OHC engine was introduced in the 60's wagon and the gladiator pickup. My understanding was the Army's testing of the truck revealed bearing and oil issues and Kaiser resolved those issues for the Army issue engines but never upgraded the civvy engines.

But I am perfectly satisfied with my M37.

[SOTVEN]

OPA!!!! KI ALLOS ELLHNAS!!!! GEIA SOU BAIE!! WELCOME ABOARD!! WHICH PART OF GREECE ARE YOU FROM? I VOTE FOR (U GUESSED IT) M37!!!

[b78]

SOY ESTILA MNM

[MikeOneSix]

I posted a similar thread over on www.g503.com a while back and got quite a few replies. I've owned and driven a couple of M37s and while I've not driven (yet) an M715, I'd still have to side with the Dodge.
I've been told that the jeep, due to it's longer wheel base has a much smoother ride. It also has a longer bed which is a plus if you plan to actually use the truck for hauling stuff. As previously stated, the M715 is easily adaptable to a varity of modifications but arguably so is the M37 just go to www.uglytruckling.com and see for yourself.

Either truck looks good in full military dress w/canvas and all. But when they are both "tactical" -no canvas, windshields folded the M37 is the better looking truck (my opinion) out of the two.

Baios is from Lamia. I know this because I'm his friend from over on the g503 "buggyman". Welcome to Dodge Country!

Matt

[Monkey Man]

I would have either, both trucks have always had a lot of appeal to me but as odd as it seems, an M37 might?? be more common in Australia than an M715.....

Regards - MM

[b78]

Baios is from Lamia. I know this because I'm his friend from over on the g503 "buggyman". Welcome to Dodge Country!

Matt

Hi Matt I m glad that U are here too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lifer]

I would have either, both trucks have always had a lot of appeal to me but as odd as it seems, an M37 might?? be more common in Australia than an M715.....

Regards - MM

That's probably because we used a lot more M37s during our southeast Asian days.

[Monkey Man]

Probarbly right Chuck but it'd take Bruce (Sydney M37) to tell me if there are any 715's on the big Island, I have never seen one here....

Regards - MM

[wvcharlie]

I own both an M37 and an M725 ( ambulance version of the M715) I love both of them . As has been stated before, It just depends on what you want. I think the M715 has gotten a bad rap over the years . Although I have restored my M725, I have done nothing to the motor other than routine maintenance . It runs great. I even drove it to the Aberdeen show from here in West Virginia , a round trip over 500 miles including over the eastern continental divide on the intersates at about 55 mph ( except going up the hills). It always starts immeadiately, even on the coldest mornings after sitting for a week. All that being said, I love my M37. It just has that look . It is one tough truck. I would say that it was built sturdier than the M715. I would also say that it has the nicest ride of the three vehicles I own.

[b78]

How economical is with the fuel???Some frends here afraid me telling that it eats the fuel very fast!!!!!!!!!!!!5km with 1lit of benzin?????????????????????????Is that true?????

[Master Yota]

How economical is with the fuel???Some frends here afraid me telling that it eats the fuel very fast!!!!!!!!!!!!5km with 1lit of benzin?????????????????????????Is that true?????

Depends on how you are using it. My first M37 had the 251ci. Flat head six, and while it did run, it probably wasn't tuned very well. I recall plowing snow one afternoon and starting with a full tank. I refilled the tank when I was finished, and my fuel consumption worked out to more than 1 imperial gallon per mile or almost 5 liter's per 1km...

Not great mileage. I think the average for just cruising around, in flat country was about 6-7 miles per gallon or about 2km/p/L - again not stellar at all.

[wvcharlie]

I got 11 miles per gallon on my long trip to Aberdeen in my M725. I thought that was pretty good considering it's weight and a lot of long pulls up a lot of long hills. My M37 gets about 9-10 miles per gallon. It has a civilian carb and lock out front hubs.