new truck, big tires, needs some carb work

[isaac_alaska]

Saw this posted on Alaskaslist and just couldn't resist it. came with a real nice (home built) triple axle trailer, along with the tires shown, plus a set of the original ND tires, plus a set of big dc3 slicks with full set of chains, and a set of smaller slicks that i haven't seen yet. Couple buckets of nuts and bolts, some spare distributors, etc., and another drivetrain all the way from the engine to the axles. Whoever owned it before was a good mechanic and kept it in nice shape, and his wife was a professional upholsterer (is that the right word?) and re-did the entire interior as well as made a new covered bed with vinyl windows. Thought you guys would enjoy some pics.

I need to get some pics of the carb and get some help identifying it so i know which rebuild kit to order, it's acting like the accelerator pump isn't doing anything, and it doesn't like to run without about 1/4 to 1/3 choke, although it starts best with the choke pushed all the way in, and then immediately pulled out as soon as it fires.

[Cal_Gary]

Man those are the "meatiest" tires I've ever seen on an M37! Looks like a fun project!
Gary

[isaac_alaska]

I topped up the empty master cylinder, did a quick "field bleed", and hot-wired the fuel pump. Drove it off the trailer, around the block a couple times, and back up on the trailer to stick it in my yard. It's a runner! Previous owner did a really nice, thorough job lifting the body about 2.5" to help accommodate the monster tires on it.

[ashyers]

What size are those things?!

I've seen multiple photos of m37's in Alaska with giant tires. I'm curious to know how they are used. A friend of mine spends summers in Chicken and there is a local m37 that appears to have the DC3 tires and chains you mentioned. I suspect they must be interesting to drive.

[w30bob]

Very cool truck........love the look. But if you only get a few thousand miles out of NDTs.......how many miles do you get out of those monsters??

I'm betting they're probably not cheap to replace.

regards,
bob

[isaac_alaska]

the tires say something like 16.1-16, i gather they are 16.1 inches wide on 16" rims, and they are approximately 40" tall. the truck isn't really heavy enough to make them flex like they should (i think?) so the initial few laps around the block were kind of rough, finding the flat spots in the tires from sitting on the trailer. hoping they will round out and ride smoother. i don't think they are highway tires, these will be used almost 100% offroad. it's pretty slow and cumbersome for blacktop.
now i will have to make a trip to chicken just to see the truck you mention!

[52PLOWERWAGON]

[quote="isaac_alaska"]Saw this posted on Alaskaslist and just couldn't resist it.

I don't think I would be able to either

[isaac_alaska]

What size are those things?!

Finally got around to getting pics of the tires, they are Apple R-1 tires, size 18.4-16.1, on 16" rims. I'm not entire sure how to read that, if it means the tire is 16.1" wide on a 16" diameter rim, or what. Hopefully one of you guys will post and let me know how to read that!

oh yeah, they also say "tube type" but the valve stems do not look like tube stems to me, what's up with that?


Found the main problems with the carburetor. For one, the linkages from pedal to carb were badly worn, so full throttle at the pedal was translating to around 1/2 or less throttle at the carb. Also, the gasket between the carb and the intake manifold was leaking badly, the outer nut (easy to access) was properly tightened but the inner nut (real pain to get to) was only a bit more than finger tight, and the gasket was burned and brown and fell apart in dusty, crumbly pieces as i lifted the carb off. Hopefully the engine wasn't hurt by being run for a while with such an air leak (nothing much above idle, i'm thinking probably no damage was done.)

[Jess]

What size are those things?!

I've seen multiple photos of m37's in Alaska with giant tires. I'm curious to know how they are used. A friend of mine spends summers in Chicken and there is a local m37 that appears to have the DC3 tires and chains you mentioned. I suspect they must be interesting to drive.

I was in Chicken a few weeks ago and have a couple of pics of that truck. Its currently sharing the duty of holding up a stage for 'Chickenstock' with an old deuce. If anyone wants to post them for me, send me a PM and I'll ship the pics along. My success rate with posting pics is not good...

Jess

[isaac_alaska]

i don't know how to embed a reduced-size preview of the images, so here is a link to the album i've uploaded them to.

http://g741.org/photogallery/main.php?g2_itemId=14987

[isaac_alaska]

Here's a photo we took today, got the topper put on it. it's a pretty old top and the zippers are falling apart and the mosquito net is shredded out of it, and one window is torn. but it might be good for a pattern to make a new one out of some better canvas..this stuff is more like vinyl and won't be flexible at all in cold temperatures. Kind of seems like the top of the bows have been replaced with steel square tube, but i can't see for sure since the bows are sewn into full-length pockets that run along the top of the cover.