The Restoration....

[m37brat]

For years I have been looking for a nice, restorable M43 ambulance. Well on 9/20/2010 we frond a very nice one and bought it from fire fighter Rick in RI. We have been working on it almost every day and are not about 75% done. Should be no problem having it ready for parade season.

Here are a few shots....

Day One.


First step, fix the damage and get the "red out"....




Then the real fun begins...



What a blast......

[Rick C]

Um, I was just kidding...can I have my ambulance back please!!!!!! Looks soooo much better OD..
Rick C

[rixm37]

That is very nice looking . Good work !!!

[monkeymissile]

I wish I had bought this truck, it's in so much better shape than mine!

[Lifer]

Very nice looking meat wagon, indeed! I've never seen an M43 with the fording exhaust pipe, but it looks pretty good to me.

[SOTVEN]

VERY NICE TRUCK!!! WILL YOU REINSTALL THE BUMPER OR ARE YOU GOING WITH A WINCH?

[Tom @ Snake River]

I am not an ambulance expert.
But, the raised exaust pipe makes sense in that the fumes are exausted out high rather than under the vehicle so that the potential of the people in the rear do not get "gassed".

[monkeymissile]

I am not an ambulance expert.
But, the raised exaust pipe makes sense in that the fumes are exausted out high rather than under the vehicle so that the potential of the people in the rear do not get "gassed".

I think the M43's came with a slightly longer tailpipe extension to get the exhaust further away from the upper intake vents for the fans that service the rear compartment. Oddly enough, the raised pipe puts the fumes closer to the fan (looks like they had to remove the fan grill to get the pipe to fit?)

[Rick C]

The M43 had a short extension on the exhaust to get it out from under the truck. Those vents on the top of the body are exhaust not intake...... I never saw one with the fording pipes either but there are threaded holes in the body for them....
Overall I'm just happy she went to someone that didn't want to make a camper out of it!!!!

[monkeymissile]

Those vents on the top of the body are exhaust not intake......

duh, exhaust....thanks for catching that Rick!

[HingsingM37]

Looking good. Enjoy the restoration. Thanks for sharing the pics.