My 1952 Dodge M37 re-building process

[ashyers]

Time to verify your compression tester! If it's correct I'm surprised that thing will start.

Do you have a leak down tester?

[Argie1978]

Do you have a leak down tester?

Haven't see it in the shop to be honest. I am returning when the radiator is arriving to test again and see.

[Argie1978]

Update on the engine:
We did a CO2 leak detection test and in a matter of seconds the reactive changed color
No need to also mention that it started making bubbles but, well,...the problem is there.
For sure we have pressure transmitted to the cooling system. This means A) the head gasket is bad; B) the head is nor properly aligned or C) there's a fissure in some cilindre. Hope there's no D.
I pray for option A, or B at least. I cannot imagine taking the engine out again and losing more time.

In other news I received the ETW-1 from Daytona Parts in Florida thanks to Midwest intervention. The thing looks like brand new. Astonishing.



Also made some instructions to the guys at the shop as they asked me about the support brackets for the oil bath as they didn't seem to figure out where to put them (interesting enough, it was hard to find pictures of this).



While we wait for the machine crew to come over and take a look at the engine's issue (...because guarantee), I've got a load of screws, bought 15 litres of vinegar and epoxi to start restoring this jerrycan. I even got the same year of the truck LOL.





At least just to get me distracted in the meantime.

[Cal_Gary]

Nice updates, Sebastian!

[Argie1978]

The fixing of the rad's upper chamber(*). Actually it's a new chamber.



We will need to cut the cover that acts as support for the hood.
Just for information, the cap reads 10 Lbs. It was decided by the radiator shop. I currently don't have further info.
By applying a new chamber I got rid of the unusual elbow the inlet tube was holding. I mean, for some reason it wasn't original and was pointing up, making a weird curve for the water to get in. In this old picture (Oct 2021) can be noted.



Recalling this thread by Andy I took a picture of the cap to note that the upper seal rubber is not present.



On the other news, the machining crew took off the head and will work on it and see if there is a problem with the gasket they used. I will have news in about a week.

(*)I simply don't know how to call it.

[PoW]

It is the upper tank.

DG

[Argie1978]

Some update after months of complete hiatus.
New gaskets kit for the T-214. The important one is the head's but everything is useful.
As stated before, there is a chance there's a crack in one (or more) cylinders. But after removing the head when passing the finger on the it's surface, you can tell it is not straight. Very bad milling. You can see the traces of the ink that is used for checking during the process (sorry, no pic).
Well,...I cut all conversations with the shop. I ended up just paying for parts, not the job. The only good thing they did was the paint.



When checking the windshield for replacing the glass the inner frames cracked due to big corrosion. Note this part was not blasted and coated before. Not possible to be restored so new parts to look for.



Not the best news lately.

[PoW]

Keep in mind your windshield frames are the same as what is on the M35 2.5 ton, M54 5-ton, and 800-series 5-ton.

Might be easier to find over there.

Just not the 900 series 5-ton.

Dennis

[Argie1978]

Indeed Dennis, I have already reached out to people in the US for this. As usual, the complications raise at the time of shipping.

[Argie1978]

Hi everyone.
It is been long. Well, the thing is that 2024 is kicking hard in my economy, and had to put the M37 on complete hiatus in February. This, of course, started raising issues with the shop because they wanted to move forward and had no money to drop. Nada.
So I pay the last bill (....after long), and changing the place.
New shop, new crew, new ways of dealing with this process and hoping to reduce costs. I will update in a few weeks when (re)starting.

[PoW]

Keep the faith, the time & funding will become yours in the future.

The old Dodge won't mind, it already knows you love it.

PoW

[Cal_Gary]

Hang in there Sebastian-we're here to support you!
Gary