New build...I'm already deeply in over my head!

[shadow 9er]

Howdy,

I'm new to this forum, but this seems like a good place to be to learn a few things about these trucks. I'm in the process of paying or a 53 M37 here in Colorado. The man I"m buying it from has already done a lot o the work for me, as the truck is currently a rolling chassis and the rest is completely disassembled.


This is before...


This is how it sits currently:













The seller assures me that it's a complete truck, albeit in pieces, and he is including a bunch of extra parts as well. I really haven't planned the build of this truck, and perhaps I can find someone here willing to mentor me through this mess I've gotten myself into! Maybe a project consultant, who won't lead me astray.

My intention is to end up with a resto-modded truck that I can drive on highway and off-road, not heavy-duty rock crawling, necessarily... I want to have a truck that I can drive for the next 20-30 years.
My vague plan is to (at a minimum) drop a different engine and possibly other drive train components in so that I can travel at 60-80 MPH safely with good brakes to stop with. I hope this doesn't leave too many folks here gobsmacked at the blasphemy of my changes...

I'd like to begin with swapping out the old flathead in favor of a Dodge 360/5.9L out of a Durango. I'm not locked into this idea, it's just a starting point. I need to find out what else I'll need, as far as a transmission, Transfer case, axles, etc to achieve my desired end result.

Does anybody have some advice, other than shoot myself in the head now, to save the trouble later?

[sturmtyger380]

Nice looking truck - er parts -

It looks like you have all the important parts and they are in good shape. This is the place to be. Read around and you will find info on disk brake conversions and folks that have installed different engines.

Welcome aboard!

[w30bob]

Hi Shadow,

Save the bullet........you're in the right place. The folks on here will answer all your questions, and you'll find the other conversations useful as well. It's a very friendly forum full of really knowledgeable folks. Now you're going to find that everyone has their 2 cents worth on topics like this one.........so here's mine in regards to your build. You don't mention how "handy" you are with mechanical things, but I'll assume you know a box wrench from a tire iron, and that you have both the time and financial resources to do what you say.

Unfortunately, both of those things can change, and if I were you I'd first re-assemble the truck with the parts provided and the original drivetrain to get it in a running and driving condition. Then you can assess what you really have and what things might be missing or don't work. From that point you have the option of modifying the drivetrain, resto-moding, etc, or if life forces some changes in your plan you have a good jumping off point if you decide for any reason you just don't want to spend the money or time continuing on with your plan. A fully assembled, running and driving truck makes for an easy sell and you might put a few bucks in your pocket if you have to go that route. As a side note......there have been a few folks who found the M37 didn't fit them well (in terms of seat and steering wheel position) or in the crappy ride quality.......and decided to move on to another MV that was more enjoyable to drive. You probably don't want to go the full resto-mod route only to find out when your done you hate your ride. Again..........just my 2 cents.......the folks on here will support you no matter which route you take.

Welcome aboard,
bob

[shadow 9er]

W30bob,

what you say makes an awful lot of sense. I think I'll take that advice.

Some background on me: I'm a retired veteran, I spent 4 years in the Navy as a firefighter on a Destroyer. Then, I joined the Army as a cannon-cocker in the Field Artillery for 3 years, and then transferred to the National Guard and continued in the Artillery for 8 more years before going over to the MP's for my last 6 years. I've spent time as a civilian fire/rescue guru, a cop, a theatrical stage tech, an electrician, and a few other things as a hobby or a profession... I'm a general specialist, if you will.

I can turn a wrench, and can usually tell the difference between an implement of rotation from a utensil of percussion. I'm not a master mechanic, I'd say that I'm handy with tools. I have rebuilt carbs, replaced bearings and races, removed broken bolts, rewired a vehicle, fixed minor body damage, etc...but I generally prefer to have someone to peek over my shoulder to make sure I don't get off track once in awhile. I've restored a couple of barn-find motorcycles, and swapped the engine on my old 58 Chevy Apache Truck. I am learning to weld, but I've got a ways to go before I"m proficient.

I'm currently working in law enforcement, as transit security on commuter trains. I've been married, not currently. I don't have any kids, but wish I did...and at 43 years old, I'm beginning to think that being a father may not happen for me. I'm not sure what all this says about me as a human being, but I try to be a good person to the people around me.

As to military vehicles, this M37 is going to be the first I've owned. I have a lot of experience driving M35's, Hemtt's/PLS's, Humvee's both armored and thin skinned, M109a3 Howitzers, M548's, MLRS's, and LMTV's, and M1117 Guardian's. One day I'd like to have a Daimler Ferret armored car. My finances...well, they have had their ups and downs before. I'm not wealthy, but they are adequate for now.

Declan

[Cal_Gary]

That's quite a dossier, Declan. Welcome aboard-great folks here to help you along; glad to have you with us!
Gary

[sturmtyger380]

Hi Declan, You don't have any contact info with your g741 ID. What kind of metal building is that in the picture that the M37 is kept in?

[k8icu]

Declan,

Welcome and there is nothing like jumping in head first into the deep end. As the truck sits putting back to stock configuration with new paint and wiring and making the brakes work etc...what I like to call a motor pool restore. Would not take that much time, effort and money. To swap an engine and transmission, put in disk brakes, new master cylinder, wiring, etc will be a lot more time and money and more skill. Depending on what motor trans combo you choose you may have to fabricate motor mounts. It's less expensive IMHO to swap axles for disk brakes and higher ring gearing then it is to update the existing axles, BUT! modern front axles are not a direct drop in and you need to either modify the axle or the mounts on the truck. I know because I'm doing that myself. Feel free to ask me questions or anyone else as there is a lot of knowledge here. Any project can be accomplished. Just need two things. Time and money.

Joe

[shadow 9er]

k8icu, I'm aware that modern axles will need the spring perches moved, and might need to be shortened. I'm trying to figure out what combination of components will work.

I have a line on two different 99 Dodge Durango's that could be donors for engines (5.9L/360Ci) trans, t-case and perhaps other parts like seats, etc...and I can get either of them cheap. since I know I want to re-engine this truck I may as well get one of the Durango's for that alone, for the price...$400 for one, $450 for the other.

I know that the Durango has IFS, so the axles wont work for me. This M37 comes with stock differential gears, AND 4.89's. do you know if the stock axles will be durable enough to get me highway speeds with bigger wheels/tires with a 5.9L powering them? I've been reading up on this site, and I'm pretty sure the tranny and T-case wont work out for me, but they might be ok for the moment until I get the rest of the truck sorted out.

Next thought, where to get 5 gallons of OD paint, and red oxide primer... Rapco may be the place to go, although in the past I've had very good rapport with Sherwin Williams for automotive finish products.

[shadow 9er]

sturmtyger380,

That building belongs to the man I"m buying the truck from, it's similar to a Quonset in it's construction.
I don't have the vehicle ID numbers on hand, but I'll post em when I get em.

...If you mean MY contact info, I'm new here but I'll fill out my profile...sorry, lol
I'm in Denver, CO

[just me]

Don't let anyone tell you these ride bad. It is MUCH better ride than my 90 D250 or my old 86 Ranger 4x4.
And if you paid the asking price on the project, you are in it very right. I was sore tempted to drive out and snap that one up, but it just couldn't be arranged in time.

[shadow 9er]

And if you paid the asking price on the project, you are in it very right. I was sore tempted to drive out and snap that one up, but it just couldn't be arranged in time.

Just me, yes indeed. I'm not complaining. I've been watching this one from many months back, when it first appeared on CL. I would have bought it then, but didn't have the budget or location for a project.

[k8icu]

If the stock axles have been reringed for 4.89 that will get you better highway speed than stock 5.10s. I put axles out of a 1979 Dodge w200 on my truck. Dana 44F in front and Dana 60 rear which give me 4.10 ring and pinion. Many people like to use axles out of Chevy trucks which is a Dana 60 front and Corp rear and they mostly have 4.56 ring. So the options are there including keeping the stock axles. The advantage of reaxling besides disk fronts and inexpensive rear disk kits, is a larger rim and tire selection than with stock. Also if using stock axles remember the rear axle is also offset to the passenger side. So keep that in mind when putting a new transfer case in.

The price on the Durangos is a great price. If you pull the motor make sure you pull all the electronics needed to make it run, unless you have plans to go with a carburetor setup instead of the EFI.

[billy]

I agree with putting it together and then seeing what exactly you have.
Besides
Then maybe you can drive it before you throw buckets of money at it