Toughest task on your M37?

[Cal_Gary]

Just curious to read who's had the most trouble with what?

Mine could be considered unusual, but those doggone bolts holding the windshield top hinges were a pain-only one came out freely-I had to drill out and re-tap every last one of the others. I also hate the paint stripping and just might disassemble and cart the body parts and frame off to the sand blaster this year....
Gary

[WarrenD]

Removal of the driveline seals has been the toughest thing so far.....those things just don't want to come out! Pinion was the worst of the lot.

[RMS]

i always thought doing a valve job was one of the toughest tasks on the 37 or maybe removing the rear bumperets. but all of that seems easy after working on a rusted out powerwagon. I thought the pw and the m37 were close to the same animal but they are not. eight bolts and two hoses and the m37 rad pops out, no fuss, no cursing. the powerwagon on the other hand required the removal of all the front sheet metal and once i had the horse shoe and on the ground i still had to fight to get the rad out. i had to tear the cab off to get the steering box off and still it was a pain. i guess i shoud have puled the starter and MC to make it easier.
after working on the pw i took it easy and spent a day wiring up a friends m37 feel the rainbow

[Carter]

Finding the time to do the work was my biggest problem followed closely by never enough money then finding parts back in the days before computers, internet and forums like this and the help they provide, all at your fingertips. Last was trying to keep up intrest in the work while doing it alone, with no one to talk to about the truck or ask questions when stumped and being faced with a starter truck like this.

[T. Highway]

Gary,

The toughest thing to do was taking apart a running truck and miss out on the cruising around rush.

Bert

[Cal_Gary]

Great responses guys! I enjoy the pictures, too! I haven't had the fun of getting to the engine internals, but now that I think about it, removing the heater plug on the back of the head was a real PIA too.
Gary

[m37jarhead]

RUST! RUST! RUST! and MORE RUST!

Rust is the eternal and ever present enemy. Some of the pic's you guys post show
how you've dealt with extensive rust on your projects. I'm always amazed to see
the incredably great results! To call it a labor of love does not begin to describe
the dedication shown by M37 owners that are restoring or have restored one
of these pieces of history. I'm in awe of the work you guys do. Keep them
pic's coming. We all closely follow the pic;s Vinney & son and others post on the
progress of their restorations.

I'm lucky to have started a restoration on an M37 that spent most of it's life in
Arizona and not in a rust prone part of the country. While there's no major
rust problems on the frame, running gear or body the reality is the truck is
almost 60 years old and many parts ARE rusted or worn out and require a lot
of patience to take apart and restore. I like to brag that my "fingerprints" have
been on every square inch of the truck. The sub-projects never seem to end.

Keep up the good work.............

[rickv100]

Disassembling the bed floor. Most of the screws are rusted and not easy to grab.

Rick

[WarrenD]

I had good luck with an impact driver for those floor screws.

[m-37Bruce]

Bed floor & Zenith # 29 carburetor! The floor was actually easier.

[Rusty1340]

Im at the very early stages: Brakes Bearings and Seals other then being messy they were a breeze.





Dealing with rusty and frozen bolts not a big issue with heat, cut off wheels, and extractors.



With zero wiring and no lights on or in the truck thats going to be my hurtle.

I think.



Were running around hot wired

[Cal_Gary]

Nice "before" and "after" picture of the brake assembly! Thanks for sharing!
Gary

[topellis]

I can think of a number of things that have been a challenge. Figuring out drum brakes, brake lines, master cylinder etc figured out was my first challenge. I later put disc brakes on the front and new split reservoir master cylinder and while I was at it did replaced the inner and outer bushings in the front axle. That was a pain. Carb was no big deal to me, distributor was a learning experience to rebuild and get the vent lines back on and working. Rebulding the first generation tranny was a challenge and learning experience for sure. My current challenge is to finish what I call a Motor Pool Resto on the externals and replace the exhaust manifold and adjust the valves while I am that close to them. My truck sat for 15 years in a pole barn in Alpena MI, I drove fron GA to pick it up and the previous owner had put a good amount of stabil in the fuel system and after getting the distributor squared away all I did was drain and put new gas in and it fired up. Actually I pulled all of the plugs and motored it over with the starter to get good oil distribution before I actually fired it off but it started right up. Been tinkering with it since 2003. Just replaced the bed wood last week... it is always something lol. Not all that great with the pic stuff. Larger pics are in my gallery.

Good luck and have patience.
Before
Currently

[topellis]

Carter,
If that was your truck when you started.... You should have an incredible sense of accomplishment.

You should be commended for your determination for sure.

Cheers,
Mark

[Carter]

Thanks Top, it was one of a group of them that I was given years ago :
The one chosen for rebuild was missing much but the others provided some of the parts needed and some of the removed stuff from this truck was stored in the cargo box like bumpers, hood and other front end bits. Had to reinstall the front axle, hood and stuff just to make it look legal so it could be towed home. I chose the truck because I remembered the USA # from when it was assigned to my old unit and I used to drive it but it was the most incomplete one of the lot and required much repair.