m37 hard top

[firepower84]

I just picked up another 1953 Air force m37, it has a hard top on it. Does any one know if the trucks came from dodge with a hard top on them. This unit came with caution yellow and a white top, with blue underneath. The top is blue inside and out, and has no rope hooks on the back of cab, It also has a slider.

[m37jarhead]

The hard tops were mostly, if not all, US Air Force. The Strata Blue gives it away. If you plan on keeping the top
I'd suggest you take down the inner liner and check for rust. The original stranded fiberglass insulation was great
for "wicking" water towards the leading/inside edge of the top. It was also bad about holding the moisture and
allowing rust to start in other areas. The past two M37's of mine had hard Air Force tops and rust was evident everywhere.
I stripped out the fiberglass and replaced it with a non-water absorbing product after treating the rusted areas.
Just a tip here.

[m37jarhead]

More thoughts: The slider is OEM Air Force. One of my M's had a body that WAS Strata Blue and the other US Army o.d. Both my M's had rope hooks so the hard tops were probably an option for USAF. Some M's have hard tops from old Deuces and require modification. You've got, in my opinion, the better top with the rectangular sliding glass window. Makes it easier to throw the empty beer cans into the bed.

[k8icu]

I am working on a 53 USAF truck and it to had the hard top with sliding rear window. It was also Strata Blue under the brown, white and red paint layers. It was how the fly boys wanted their trucks. As a friend of mine said to me once. "The Air Force always had better things than the Army...heck they were talking high tech before the Army even knew how to spell it!"

[firepower84]

Thanks for all the intel, my hunch was correct, I have already checked out the inner liner on the top and it will need to come out. I had a top on a jeep that was pitted and I had it line-x which filled the holes but added weight. It was easier than cutting out the rusted area and installing new skin. After a trip to the sandblaster I will assess the pitting. The first M I got was air force as well, the army got a hold of it and painted it with a camel hair or something close.
I haven't figured out why the Army puts the hood star on backwards. Hard tops here in Oregon are a blessing, especially in the Williamette valley.
I did find some golf balls and tee in the glove box...cracked me up something fierce.

[1953M-37]

I have a hard top on my M37 Marine Corp truck. Is this a factory or a real Marine Corp hard top?

[Brett]

Miles,
It looks to me like your top is homemade. You see alot of different versions of them that were done after the trucks left military service. Yours is at least better than mine was. Mine was made of plywood that was cut with a chainsaw, and it looked like they lost their tape measure too.

Brett

[NorthWind]

Speaking of hard tops, I have mine all apart and have been killing rust and knocking out the dents. Does anyone have a source for the weatherseals on the rear sliding window? I've checked the usual suspects and nobody has anything for a hard top. My weatherseals are totally shot and that is the source for all the water that rusted some of the slider track pretty bad.

Paul
Wasilla Alaska

[F18hornetm]

An old post, but what I'm working on fits in. Our 1953 M37 has a hard top as well with rear square slider. It is air force for sure as the data plate says so as well as everything is blue. Under all the other colors. Just now working on getting the top off, but afraid I may not be able to save it. It has had several places patched up by previous owners. The front, inside lip that bolts to windshield frame is all but gone. I had to cut all the bolts. The rear inside part that meets the rear of the cab is also about gone. 2 more bolts to cut off and hope to have off soon. Then will decide if worth repairing. My wife really wants the hard top, I would just put canvas on like all my other trucks but hey its hers. Has anybody seen the fiberglass tops from VPW?? Just wondering as I may have to go that route.

[just me]

When I get home, I'll shoot some pics of my homemade hard top. Might give you some ideas on a DIY top. That glass top does look like a nice option, however.

[F18hornetm]

Thanks a lot.
I've done a lot of metal work in my life but this top may not be worth the time. There comes a point when $$ vs time vs longevity of repair adds up. I will really make up mind when I get it off. Not one single bolt came out of windshield frame, and still have 2 more to cut off. Hate to trash it as what I've read, seems its original factory top. Its been repaired several times appears.

[52 M-42]

If you don't want the hard top (if it is an original metal top with a sliding rear window) I would probably be interested in it. I've been looking for one for awhile and would be willing to put the time and money into restoring it.

Please let me know before you scrap it.

Thanks,

52 M-42

[F18hornetm]

I'm pretty sure its original. It has rear square slider and fits the truck really well. Doesn't look like somebody homemade it, of modified it from something else to fit. I'll attach a couple pictures, see if you think original. Will try to get it off this week, and then see how bad. I would like to keep original, as they seem to be somewhat rare. Its been a bear getting off. The worse spot being where its bolted to windshield frame. As you know almost impossible to get in there with anything to cut bolts off. Only 2 outside ones left to get off The whole metal mounting strip where attaches to windshield is almost gone. And just know found out the out side of the front edge is paper thin as well. That ugly green paint did a good job of holding it all together. The picture on the trailer was when we brought it home from New York. Ill let you know if decide to part with it. I would rather see fixed than in scrap metal dumpster.

[52 M-42]

If I ended up with it, I would restore it (I would replace the the insulation with something more modern and less hydrophillic).

I probably wouldn't install it, but I would really like to have one for the "accessories accumulation" I've been working on for decades.

52 M-42

[Jess]

Don't scrap it for sure. I have worse and they are repairable without going overboard. The inside metal liner and fibreglass insulation can be replaced by a closed cell foam and modern headliner. Anyone looking for a top would be happy with that one as they are not common south of the 49th. Up my way, all M37CDNs had hardtops but age and rust are taking their toll on them. The one off my parts truck went up the road to a friend doing a restomod and with a some work it looks like new. We had to use the recip saw to get it off the truck as it had the same issues as yours. He just replaced the mounting strip as part of the reburbishment, long with a few other rust issues. Depending where you are will determine the values 'as is' but I can guarantee that you will get fair value for it and the buyer will be prepared to travel to get it.
Jess