So here we are at Kimpo AFB in 1951. We have recently "Aquired" a Army M-37 for our needs in the EOD unit and we need to install some radios to help with communication to the team. After removing the spare and relocating it to the door by using the mount from the M-43 got wrecked when a bunch of ground crew had met up with a bunch of nurses from a local MASH unit at Rosies bar. We now have the perfect location to mount the radios and still have useable space in the bed.
Using a 1/4" piece of plate steel stolen from a engineer outfit down the road, it was notched and bent to fit the corner of the bed. We also used some hacked up angle iron and bolted it up at locations to help support the corner of the table.
I drilled the holes for the MT-327 radio tray and got that installed. One of its mounting holes also dictated where my leg support would attach to the plate.
Personally I like the set up. Thought I am having trouble with my NOS mount as apparently it was made on a friday and I am having problems with one of the power cables being not indexed correctly.
I have also added the RT-70 on the end.
In the morning, I need to swap it back to the right as the cable lengith is closer than being on the left.
Green Mountain Military Vehicle Club Army Transportation Association Vietnam
52 M-42 wrote:Installation looks great. It should be stout enough.
I couldn't see how you hooked it up, but does everything work?
How do you like your spare on the door?
52 M-42
Have not got it hooked up yet. Still doing research on how the Rt-70 is incorporated on this set. Right now I have a cable that is too short to make it work. I have owned the radios for years so I don't know if they will work. They look good internally.
As for the spare, I mounted the tire last night. I like the look but no comment on my true feelings.
Green Mountain Military Vehicle Club Army Transportation Association Vietnam
Sorry for the comment about the spare on the door, but it couldn't resist teasing you about it. It is one of the reasons my radios will be the last thing to be set up / installed. I keep hoping for a "deus ex machina" solution. Hardly ever happens in real life.
Yes, the door mounted spare looks cool, but it is a PITA.
The MT-327 is not meant to have a RT-70 attached to it. It is supposed to be just the R/T, PS & aux R on that mount (R/T 66, 67 & 68 series). The MT-297 is the one with the added R/T 70 unit (A/N GRC-3, -5 & -7). A stand alone R/T 70 unit takes the MT-300 mount. I didn't know if you knew all this, but it may be why you are having problems hooking everything up.
Good luck with your project, Keep posting pics; it'll be fun to watch.
52 M-42 wrote:Sorry for the comment about the spare on the door, but it couldn't resist teasing you about it. It is one of the reasons my radios will be the last thing to be set up / installed. I keep hoping for a "deus ex machina" solution. Hardly ever happens in real life.
Yes, the door mounted spare looks cool, but it is a PITA.
The MT-327 is not meant to have a RT-70 attached to it. It is supposed to be just the R/T, PS & aux R on that mount (R/T 66, 67 & 68 series). The MT-297 is the one with the added R/T 70 unit (A/N GRC-3, -5 & -7). A stand alone R/T 70 unit takes the MT-300 mount. I didn't know if you knew all this, but it may be why you are having problems hooking everything up.
Good luck with your project, Keep posting pics; it'll be fun to watch.
52 M-42
Ha. I wondered but thanks for confirming my thoughts. I would rather have a RT-110 but I had the 70 so I thought I would try it. Guess for now it will fill the gap. The 70 did come with the stand a lone tray.
Maybe some day I will get another set together as I do have another RT-68.
Green Mountain Military Vehicle Club Army Transportation Association Vietnam
You could probably trade your extra 68 for a R-110 plus some extras.Then you could mount your 70 on either of the cargo bed seats or on top of your MT-327 set up. The RT-70 is a wonderful little unit for shows and rallies because of its short range and legal bandwidth (if you are a HAM - general class minimum, I think). The other Old Family radios all have one band I think that is legal for HAMs, but because they are so broad (as opposed to more narrow modern radios) they could interfere with other HAMs. While not illegal, it is rude. No need to make people mad for no reason.
Let us know how your progress goes, and more pics please.
Btw, John at MWM has the plug and harness that goes from the battery box to the hole in the front of the bed for the radio hook up, if you are interested.
52 M-42 wrote:You could probably trade your extra 68 for a R-110 plus some extras.Then you could mount your 70 on either of the cargo bed seats or on top of your MT-327 set up. The RT-70 is a wonderful little unit for shows and rallies because of its short range and legal bandwidth (if you are a HAM - general class minimum, I think). The other Old Family radios all have one band I think that is legal for HAMs, but because they are so broad (as opposed to more narrow modern radios) they could interfere with other HAMs. While not illegal, it is rude. No need to make people mad for no reason.
Let us know how your progress goes, and more pics please.
Btw, John at MWM has the plug and harness that goes from the battery box to the hole in the front of the bed for the radio hook up, if you are interested.
52 M-42
Ok, how do I go by mounting the RT-70 on top??? I really dont need a 3rd antenna but that would be neat. I would like a remote switch box though for the RT-68, I think it would be nice to have in the cab as I also have a working map light for the dash.
I plan on keeping the RT-68 as I have another NOS MT-327.
Thanks for the tip about the power cable but I have had a NOS one for a while now. The MT-327 has cables all made up that go direct to the batteries so instead of drilling another hole, I was going to put a rubber gromet at the existing location and run the cable through.
Green Mountain Military Vehicle Club Army Transportation Association Vietnam
The C-375 is your remote switch box for that radio set up. They are still pretty available (Fair Radio, MWM, G503, Murphy's Junk,etc). As for mounting the RT-70, Just use another small piece of 1/4 inch plate and build an upside down L bracket over the existing MT-327 unit. You should be able to use an antenna switch for your antennas if you don't want to add another one, since the RT & R would use the same one and I wouldn't expect to need a "higher or lower level command monitor" at most rallies or shows.
Btw, I forgot ask, can you please tell me more about the "working map light"? Pictures would be nice too. I am especially interested in the connector that plugs into the dash receptacle. Any information you would care to share would be much appreciated.
The dash receptacle is the same size as that on the distributor, but reverse gender. You can sub the whole thing, nobody will notice. Hooking the ground requires a bit of creativity in the plug part.
The radio recep in the bed is the same as on the generator, those are everywhere, and you can sweat off the connector from an old generator-to-regulator cable and use that to power your radios in the bed.
"Hooking the ground requires a bit of creativity in the plug part."
That part right there is where I'm having the trouble. Attaching the ground to the case of the plug is easily said, but difficult to accomplish.
Any suggestions?
The plug for the forward wall of the bed is readily available right now. Receptacle and cap with the proper wires (gauge and length) to hook to the battery makes a nice little addition.
Going to bump this to the top with all of the recent radio chatter. I hope to get back on this project soon. I get lots of comments on the radio install.
Green Mountain Military Vehicle Club Army Transportation Association Vietnam
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Nice install!
