original color of frame?

[06boblee]

I know this has been discussed in the past, but does anyone know what color the frame was when it left the Dodge factory? My frame has many layers of OD, but seems to be black under it all.

[Carter]

All of the ones I have seen looked to be semi-gloss black after being exposed under layers of OD.

[w30bob]

06,

Not only was the frame black on my AF M37, but so were the front and rear axles/diffs. I suspect very few parts came from Chrysler's vendors in any color other than black. It would sure be cool to find someone who worked on the assembly line when they were building these trucks.....but they'd be what.......in their late 70's to early 80's now if they started when they were 20?

later,
bob

[refit1701]

They started out black and then after their first motorpool paint job with a wet cat, were whatever the body color was.

[sturmtyger380]

Hey, a wet cat applicator explains by my GI MERDC cammo shows no resemblance to the manual scheme. Well maybe it does in some places.

Alan

[Murf]

They came to the assembly plant from the vendors in black. At the end of the line the trucks were sprayed green. BUT you have to remember, it was pretty much only what could be reached. I watched a documentary and the spraying was heavy, fast and crude with guns that only had hoses connected to them.

[mike_l]

Murf,

Were these the WWII era WCs or the M37s? I remember a Discovery channel show years back that showed them doing that to WWII WC trucks and I've seen still photos of the same. I've not seen any of that with the M37s. Some time back, Lifer had some info from the Dodge historians that said they rolled out with black frames. My '54's frame and axles were black under all the coats of paint too.