"Reconditioned" Data Plate

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

I was just checking out this M37 that popped up on Ebay. The link is "http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-Dod ... 1e7310bdbd". It's a 53 by SN, but the data plate said 1968. Being confused I checked the SN and sure as heck it was produced in 53. Then I took another look at the pic of the data plate and realized it said "Reconditioned in Accordance with TB9-2300-281-35". This data plate is located over the hole in the dash for the defroster. I've never seen a plate like this. Did any of your trucks come with this plate? Is it a pretty common thing? I'd post a pic but Webshots is no longer available for use......it's changed into something called SMILE.....so it's going to take me a bit to figure out this new BS.


thanks,
bob

[Carter]

Is this what you are asking about? My truck came with this one which indicates the truck was processed thru Letterkenny's shops for reconditioning. http://www.letterkenny.army.mil/

[w30bob]

Hi Carter.......yes, that's the plate I'm talking about. So did the trucks get these plates when they were reserviced for more military duty.....or for when they were sold to the public?

thanks,
bob

[Carter]

Bob; my understanding is that the army selected some of the best trucks to recondition then to return them to military service. Most of them that I have seen have been M42 radio trucks that were converted back to the cargo version but still retained the antenna mount holes that gave an indication of their former command truck usage.
I have never seen any M37s that were rebuilt by the army for the purpose if increasing the vehicles value at time of sale to the general public, when they are finished with a series of vehicles they were dumped on the property disposal as is and it was up to PDO to figure how best to dispose of them and that did not include having them rebuilt, they were sold in the same condition as received.

[k8icu]

Carter is right. It depended on the turn in requirements as to whether or not a truck was serviced before turning in. This might be nothing more than doing the POLs and changing out a tire. But if they were getting rid of the truck for a new serries (Like they went from M37s to M715s or if they were a Guard unit M37s to M880s in some cases) they wouldn't do anything to them.

That tag is for a rebuild program. Which means the truck was selected to go to a rebuild facility where it was gone over and rebuilt to specks. Call it a restoration if you will. That would give the truck a new lease on life. Being that it was rebuilt in 1968 it was probably rebuilt for use in a USAR or ARNG units as active duty units were getting M715s to replace the M37.
Joe

[Cal_Gary]

Army Motors 125 has a picture of the M37 reconditioning assembly line, for those who may be interested.
Gary

[T. Highway]

Gary,

Is that the issue that had the large M37 article?

Bert

[Cal_Gary]

Yep, the entire M37 story--I see that the back issue is still available....
Gary

[T. Highway]

Thanks Gary,

I will contact them later today and get a copy sent to me.

Bert

Sorry for the thread hijack.