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I always thought the real pleasure of owning a true tactical military vehicle is it keeps one out of dumbass auto parts houses.

Support the established surplus vendors, and at the same time, you won't be driving on substandard parts...

So plan ahead, and stock up a bit on the most 'mortal' items so you won't be caught up short when something breaks.

Dennis

PoW wrote:I always thought the real pleasure of owning a true tactical military vehicle is it keeps one out of dumbass auto parts houses.

Support the established surplus vendors, and at the same time, you won't be driving on substandard parts...

So plan ahead, and stock up a bit on the most 'mortal' items so you won't be caught up short when something breaks.

Dennis

those "dumbass" parts joints are sometimes a fraction of the cost and they are everywhere

billy wrote:

PoW wrote:I always thought the real pleasure of owning a true tactical military vehicle is it keeps one out of dumbass auto parts houses.

Support the established surplus vendors, and at the same time, you won't be driving on substandard parts...

So plan ahead, and stock up a bit on the most 'mortal' items so you won't be caught up short when something breaks.

Dennis

those "dumbass" parts joints are sometimes a fraction of the cost and they are everywhere

And some of the NOS parts are suspect due to age or storage over the years. Also, some of the new parts are far superior to the old stuff, such as seal technology.

i think of my beloved m43 as about as tactical as an antique tractor.
an off the shelf 4x4 will out perform it any day of the week
but an off the shelf 4x4 doesnt make lil boys do the happy dance when i drive by

Billy, you underestimate the capability of these trucks. In good tune and proper mechanical condition, these trucks would go places no 'pick up' truck would go, ford deep water river crossings with large round rocks that stopped their replacements dead. They were not designed to be speed demons, but tactical trucks but to be tasked for a specific purpose. The M43 is longer than the M37 and that will change what or how you cross ditches or climb over stuff. The relative lack of power compared to today's pretty boy trucks is not as big a disadvantage as some think. Power sometimes just gets your stuck faster and further into the bush. I have owned a number of trucks over the last 40 yrs, 4x4 pickups, Landrovers, Jeeps and I could go places in my wife's Chevette that they couldn't by driving it for the conditions. The M37 and its variants can be modified to overcome some of the issues that 65yr old truck design present, but beyond brakes and maybe power steering the rest would be for personal comfort or the need to drive at 70mph all day long. Enjoy your truck for what it is, if you want a mud bogger, then get one and have fun if that's your thing.

Just my opinion, so have fun whatever you do.

Jess wrote:Billy, you underestimate the capability of these trucks. In good tune and proper mechanical condition, these trucks would go places no 'pick up' truck would go, ford deep water river crossings with large round rocks that stopped their replacements dead. They were not designed to be speed demons, but tactical trucks but to be tasked for a specific purpose. The M43 is longer than the M37 and that will change what or how you cross ditches or climb over stuff. The relative lack of power compared to today's pretty boy trucks is not as big a disadvantage as some think. Power sometimes just gets your stuck faster and further into the bush. I have owned a number of trucks over the last 40 yrs, 4x4 pickups, Landrovers, Jeeps and I could go places in my wife's Chevette that they couldn't by driving it for the conditions. The M37 and its variants can be modified to overcome some of the issues that 65yr old truck design present, but beyond brakes and maybe power steering the rest would be for personal comfort or the need to drive at 70mph all day long. Enjoy your truck for what it is, if you want a mud bogger, then get one and have fun if that's your thing.

Just my opinion, so have fun whatever you do.

my 63 kaiser/willys cj5 (bone stock)
could go places new 4x4s couldnt dream of
because of its tiny size and the 86-1 crawl ratio
max speed 45mph
but i never went that fast because i liked it and didnt want it to die

ill never take this big heavy thing full on 4 wheeling
after reading pages and pages of how weak the axles are and how the brakes suck yadda yadda
i dont trust it very far offroad at all.
so i will just tool around and hope i dont kill myself or anyone else with an antique tractor that looks like a truck

billy wrote:ill never take this big heavy thing full on 4 wheeling

why not? the m37 surpasses any stock 1/2, 3/4 or 1ton. made it to many places and passed fully locked up jeeps and they ask: how the ....





check out slow old and green for more pics and adventure http://www.g741.org/PHPBB/viewtopic.php ... +and+green

my m43 is 1233lbs heavier than the m37 and from the little ive driven it so far feels tippy

bearings, seals, hubs, shoes, whl cyls. backing plates, knuckles, drive flanges, diffs, all the same as WW2 WC 3/4 tonand Dodge Power wagon. Only difference in the 2 is the width of the assemblies. M37s have a narrower track than the WC or the PW. WC and PW the same. M37s were made narrower to fit into planes better