4 Door Concept

[crike2000]

I don't think you would need the portal axles on the M37, since the stock tires are already 36".

[spookymyo]

If your going to spend that much money for axles then maybe you should give thought to coil spring set up instead of leaf springs? Just a thought. My other question ...can you get parts for those axles, bearings, brake parts etc from the local parts store or will you have to order them from the company? Brakes wear out as do seals and bareings. 4K for axles is a large chunk of change that I would think could be better spent on other stuff. I'm not trying to discorage you it's your project and your money spend it anyway you want. I am just not sure that prortal axles are going to give you that much more of an advantage with this heavy truck.

That's why i came to this forum...seeking the knowledge of people that know a whole lot more than me. If you guys don't think portal axles will be worth the expenditure and hassle then i will definitly reconsider my options. With access to that junk yard it's possible i could find a suitable axle substitute. Maybe a dana 70 in the rear and a 60 in front.

The coil spring setup was already on my to do list, also with remote reservoir coil over shocks, hydraulic bump stops and limiter straps. I'll definitly be going with all new U-joints and a more rugged drive shaft.

Keep all the ideas and concerns coming! Thanks!

[Monkey Man]

Portals, although expensive are possible (with disc brakes) and Daniel Tibus with his Dad, Wolfgang can help you out but at the end of the day the M37 diffs or the Dana diffs are a good option.
Daniel can be contacted at their site http://www.killeraxles.com/bolt_on_portale_e.html
I have a pair of his rear axles in my standard diff and they are awesome. His project truck (now sold I think) http://www.killeraxles.com/dodge_M37_e.html

Best Regards - MM

[crike2000]

If you want you can come down to El PAso and look at my Dana 60 axle conversion. My axle conversion is done but the truck isn't

[spookymyo]

If you want you can come down to El PAso and look at my Dana 60 axle conversion. My axle conversion is done but the truck isn't

You know that would actually be good. I would love to see the axle and also take some measurements of your M 37 and some pictures too if thats possible.

I won't be getting my trucks until around september because i can't take off work to go get them so i would like to be able to get as much stuff ready as possible; measurements and pics would help me do that.

Edit: I really wasn't using my head. I was going to take some leave later on and go pick up the M-37's but the light bulb just flickered on; i'm getting ready to get out of the military and go back home. It'll be a pain to drive down to TN and pick them up just to turn around and have to get them back. I'll leave them at my dad's for now.

[spookymyo]

Welcome aboard Spookymyo! 2 for $700 is a certain bargain-nice find! Your concept truck brought m376x6's truck to mind with it's twin rear axles-you'd definitely have the only one in your neighborhood.

I'd love to find an M151a2 as I drove one for 16 months at Ft Ord in ''77-'78....
Again, welcome!
Gary

Gary got me thinking, so i looked up some info on the 6x6's. There longer than the 4x4 version and that makes me wonder if its possible to stretch the 4x4 effectivly.

I'm thinking now that an M37 thats similar to an F150 or even an F250 in size would be ideal. It would be great to have the truck as a quad cab with a decent size bed. With 2 M37's i might have enough material to stretch it and make that happen.

I guess it would be a matter of chopping it in half where the bed meets the standard cab and then welding in the frame and supports and adding the rear cab.

Thanks Gary for fanning my little spark of a dream into a raging fire of a nightmare...but ooh how fun it will be! If it's even possible that is.

Thanks for all the insight and help from you guys.

[k8icu]

Have you read this thread? http://www.g741.org/PHPBB/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3450 Retiredguy is doing a great job using a moder truck frame. A dodge 2500 truck frame with the M37 body on it. Since will have two cabs welded together you might still have to cut the bed down, but maybe not. If you found a 2500 that had an extended cab I think that would work to give you the truck you're looking for. Though I have to admit the cut down bed is really neat looking in that photochoped pix of yours.

[spookymyo]

Have you read this thread? http://www.g741.org/PHPBB/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3450 Retiredguy is doing a great job using a moder truck frame. A dodge 2500 truck frame with the M37 body on it. Since will have two cabs welded together you might still have to cut the bed down, but maybe not. If you found a 2500 that had an extended cab I think that would work to give you the truck you're looking for. Though I have to admit the cut down bed is really neat looking in that photochoped pix of yours.

Thanks, that's some usefull info.

I photochopped some more pics with the long bed. I'm not sure which looks better. The long bed would give me some more room for extra accessories and it would also fix my issue of where i could put the spare 39" tire. All though the shorter one would be better off road.

4 door, long bed concept, drivers side:


4 door, long bed concept, passengers side:


Whaddya think?

Also, what are those doors for on either side at the rear fender?

[k8icu]

I think the short bed looks fly, but the stock bed makes more sense. If you shorten the bed you have what a 4ft bed? Even a cross over truck has a 6ft bed. Again if you use the frame, drive train and motor out of a modern pickup with an extended cab and full 8ft bed. You should have plenty of room to make the above truck. But you have to put all those additions on like the roof rack and the canvas top.

[spookymyo]

I think the short bed looks fly, but the stock bed makes more sense. If you shorten the bed you have what a 4ft bed? Even a cross over truck has a 6ft bed. Again if you use the frame, drive train and motor out of a modern pickup with an extended cab and full 8ft bed. You should have plenty of room to make the above truck. But you have to put all those additions on like the roof rack and the canvas top.

Well i used to have a Ford Explorer Sport Trac and they came with 4' beds and i used the bed all the time. I don't think that a 4' bed would be that bad.
I've shown both sets of pics to several friends a family and most of them agree that the short bed looks cooler. My dad reminded me that it wouldn't be a hauling or towing rig anyway; i should get a truck for that. I've been wanting a deuce and a half any way; i can use that for all my towing and hauling needs. Plus there's a lot less modification work on the short bed version. It'll be just a bit linger than a Jeep Grand Cherokee. A 4' bed plus the roof rack will cover most things i would need to do in the short bed version.

I also think i'm going to go with a hard top instead of the soft top; i can fab the sheet metal myself and i won't have to pay for a custom soft top.

[SOTVEN]

REGARDING UNIMOG AXLES, I THINK THAT WHAT I AM REFFERING TO MUST BE THE 406 MODEL. NOT QUITE SURE, SINCE THE ONES I HAVE SEEN NEVER HAD A MODEL DESIGNATION ON THEM. THEY DO HAVE DISK BRAKES FROM THE FACTORY, AND AT LEAST IN THE FRONT AXLE I REMEMBER THEY HAD DUAL CALIPERS. THERE WAS A TIME A FRIEND WAS INTERESTED IN A MOG, BUT AFTER HE FOUND OUT THE COST RELATED TO THEIR MAINTENANCE AND PARTS, HE IS STILL RUNNING. PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE GEAR REDUCTION FOUND IN THE PORTAL AXLES, BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR HIGH PRICE I WOULD NOT BE TEMPTED. AS FOR THE HIGHER GROUND CLEARENCE, I WOULD SIMPLY BEEF UP A PAIR OF ORDINARY AXLES AND HAVE THEM SLIDE OVER OBSTICLES IF THAT WAS NECESSARY. SHORT BED VS LONG BED? PROS AND CONS THAT ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE WHICH FITS YOUR NEEDS. MY -BACK IN THE DAY- PLANS FOR A FOUR DOOR, INCLUDED A 4 FOOT BED AND DUALLY REAR WHEELS. (YOU CAN MOUNT DUALLIES ON A STOCK M37 REAR AXLE JUST BY USING SOME INNER/OUTER NUTS AND THE OFFSET RIMS FROM AN M101 TRAILER) AS FOR THE SOFT TOP, I HAD FABRICATED MINE WHEN I HAD GOTTEN MY M OUT OF TENT CANVAS, WIRE ROPE FOR THE SLIDERS, GROMMETS FOR THE BACK, AND A "STICH OWL" TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. IT TOOK ME 3 DAYS TO COMPLETE, IT FIT THE TRUCK PERFECTLY IN ALL ASPECTS. ONLY DOWNSIDE WAS THAT THE CANVAS WAS BRIGHT WHITE, BUT SOME RUSTOLEUM TOOK CARE OF THAT. HAD IT FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS, BUT I WAS PARKING THE TRUCK UNDER SOME OAKS, AND MOLD OCCURED ON THE TOP PART OF THE TENT AND ROTTED IT. I AM SURE THAT IF I MANAGED TO MAKE A SOFT TOP OUT OF SCRATCH, PERHAPS YOU COULD DO ONE FOR YOUR 4 DOOR CONCEPT ALSO FOR MUCH LESS THAN $2400. THE DOORS IN THE FRONT OF THE FENDERS ARE A TOOLBOX THAT RUNS UNDERNEATH THE BED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER.

[spookymyo]

A friend of mine that is going to be helping with the build said i could also just box in the rear and make it an SUV version. I photochopped some pictures, but i'm not sure about it. I think it looks too much like a heavily modded Jeep JK style vehicle. What do you guys think:

SUV Version, 4 Door, Driver Side:


SUV Version, 4 Door, Passenger Side:


I'm not sure if this will be as unique looking as the versions with the bed and cover.

All though with the Jeep Grand Cherokee seats that i already have i could utilize their folding feature and if i needed some extra storage space i could just fold them down and probably have close to the same amount of space as in the stock M37's bed, i'm not sure though because i don't have any measurements.

Oh and i think i'm just going to scrap the 4 door full bed idea, too much fabrication and work, plus as others have mentioned i think the shorter version looks cooler.

[m-37Bruce]

I like the enclosed bed idea, looks a little like a WC Carry-All, but more related to our M-37's!

http://www.powerwagonadvertiser.com/for ... 1171857566

Here's a sweet-one from the PWA. BTW, This thread is the largest thread over there, enjoy it.

[xm708]

There was a nicely done four door m37 with what looked like a full sized bed for sale awhile back. It had a mitsubishi diesel in it and it was for sale in NY or VT I thought. I wish I could find the ad though..

[spookymyo]

Well i gave been bending everyones ear i can find about my 4 door concept. I just talked to a guy here a the vehicle shop on base and he told me i could buy an old military Humvee shell cheaper than i could buy those portal axles. He said there would be a lot of chopping and welding involded but it would be doable. And after seeing Retired Guy's thread I think it would be possible.

He even told me that DRMO had a few Humvee shells for sale. I went over there and found one that doesn't have a motor or tranny or transfer case, there's no wheels and the interior has been gutted but all the suspension components are intact. They're asking $3500. I think that's a pretty decent price. But before i buy it i would like to know if any of you guys think it's possible.