Spare Tire Door Latch PICS NEEDED

[vtdeucedriver]

Ok. What have you done for a table in that area?? I got a piece of plate steel cut and bent on a angle to match the bed. Originally i was going to leave the spare mount as a table support but a local M-37 restoration needed one so I traded it for some work they did for me. My next plan is to use the troop seat leg support off a deuce n half. If that does not work to my liking. I will bend a piece of steel to pick up the spare mounting bolts in the floor.

[52 M-42]

I have the stock M-42 table which hooks onto the side rails with adjustable legs. As for the radio mounting, I'm thinking of building a welded up rack that fits at the forward edge of the bed so all that weight (about 600 to 700 lbs) is in the middle of the truck. I also have to keep that load as low as possible so I don't create a top heavy condition. For now, I'm just making up a couple of 3/4 inch plywood (trimmed with white oak for rigidity) palates that the radio mounts will bolt to that can be clamped to the seats (I don't want to drill holes in my seats, not stock, but oh well). These things will sort of look like medical "backboards" with the handles at each end for lifting.

I've also got 2 CUCV power distribution junction boxes I've got to overhaul to provide power to all this equipment (I've got a nice little military generator 28V .5 kw).

There were some pictures of a nice M-42 radio truck on the steel soldier website awhile back that you might want to check out. I can send you pictures of any of my stuff if you want to see what I've done (am doing). Just send me your email in a PM and then I won't clutter up this forum with a private conversation.

52 M-42

[vtdeucedriver]

I was thinking about starting another thread........lol Figuring that interest parties of M-37 owners like to see something different and out of the norm.

[DAP]

Hey 52 - M42 I would like to try and build my own M42 map table but I can't find the adjustable legs and other fittings. Pictures and info in the manual is to vague. I assume the wood table part is plywood. Where did you get your hardware parts to make a map table?

[52 M-42]

I got my table from John Bizal at Midwest Military.

I don't know if he has any more stuff for them but you can try calling him. He's a great guy to deal with and he'll probably be able to point you in the right direction if he doesn't have what you need.

If you need photos or measurements, let me know (send me your email in a PM) and I can take photos and get you measurements. No need to clog up the forum with project details.

52 M-42

[vtdeucedriver]

Well today in my frustrations that I continue to keep forgetting that I have installed the spare rack on the door. I made a attempt to fix the issue!!!

[PoW]

The spare rack on the door is a pain only if you don't do a simple fix:

Drill out the top rivet in the little rubber block just forward of the latch hole, at the edge of the door lip.

Close the door and the rack.

Drill through (1/4" size) the door lip, using the hole in the rubber block as locator.

open rack & door, then insert from inside door a 1/4 X 1-1/2" cap screw, through a piece or 1/4" rubber tubing 1/2" long, then through the block and rack, using a Nylok nut on the outside.

Adjust the tension on the new screw to allow the door and the rack to both latch with a usual slam.

You have now joined the two items together, and they will track just fine like that. When you pull the door closed, the tire comes with it. No more having to roll the window down and pull the tire closed.

I first saw this on trucks at the Yuma Proving Grounds, so I did it on my M-37's years ago and never looked back. The tire on the door is so iconic, and keeps rif-raff away from you.

Pow

[52 M-42]

Wow! Thanks for that little tip!

I have a copy (maybe it is an original) of the original MWO-ORD-G741-W7 "Relocating the Spare Tire Carrier". There are some parts of this "service bulletin" that are very confusing, one of which is the description of a "sliding door bolt" mechanism on the outside of the door to make the rack and door work together. In all the years I've had the Door Mounted Spare Carrier, I've never met anyone who had this part of the kit, or knew how it worked. After reading your description it now all makes sense.

So, once again, thank you very much!

52 M-42

[PoW]

I just posted a few photos in the gallery relative to this thread under my name, Dennis Gilliam.