1954 Rear Crossmember Design

[ken mcculloch]

Mike, the pintal on my 54 looks like the one that Sal posted the picture of. I don't have a data plate so I don't know an exact delivery date but according to the S/N, it left the factory in April, 1954.

It has the zerk fitting & I do NOT need to rotate it in order to open the pintal halves. My plate seems to have 8 mounting holes though. 4 of them are around the outside of the plate near the corners but then there are 4 more that are set on a smaller bolt hole pattern and the bolts also appear to be of a smaller size.

[DAP]

I was going to include a picture but my Board quota has been reached. Monkey Man can I send them and you can post?

M37 rear cross members A & B were off trucks that were made after 1954 and have the wide spacing and large hole for the rotating pintle hook. C has the holes for the fixed pintle but looks like someone drilled holes for the rotating pintle plate but then never bored out the hole.

FYI - A & B are now sold. C is still for sale ($50 plus shipping) if anyone needs another rear cross member.

Edited by MM - Dan's Pic attatched...

[mike_l]

Hi Ken,

Thank you for the feedback. It matches up with the other '54s. There is one early style with a February delivery date that I'm waiting on confirmation but all the others so far have been the late style/one-piece pintle, at least back to January.

My pintle will open without turning it but it won't lock all the way open without turning it. Seems to be another common remark I've gotten.

[Milsurp]

Thank you all for the excellent info. All ya'll are a great bunch. Good info and an awesome thread.

[mike_l]

Hi DEP,

I see, A & B are definitely the early style, 4-hole crossmember design. Interesting they came off post '54 trucks. As '54 was the last year for the early trucks, were they on B1s or do you mean late '54 trucks?

C is the late style, 8-hole crossmember. The quickest way I recognize them is the 4 vs. 8 holes for the early vs. late patterns, respectively.

By the way, they all would have had a rotating pintle when in service, I believe, just different design. If a pintle is bolted to the crossmember, as in fixed and non-rotating, it usually is that someone put an early style pintle on a late style crossmember.

Thanks MM for getting the photos posted.

[DAP]

If I remember they all came off of 50s trucks none were from a B1 model. Unfortunately I never wrote dates or serial numbers down so I am relying on my memories of 10+ years ago, not always a good idea for me - LOL

[macibell111]

I have a 53 early one ,do u know which would fit mine ,cause I can measure mine tomarrow,can they be shipped to calif??

[DAP]

All the cross members should be interchangeable size wise. I can ship any where in the USA. California is not a problem but will bee costly.

[Cav Trooper]

I have the one piece swivel pintle with the "C" cross member. Don't know delivery date on my 54.

[mike_l]

Thanks Cav Trooper,

Yours falls in line with the rest of our '54s. If I am correct, the SN on your truck correlates to a May 54 delivery.

With the exception of DAP's crossmembers, it looks like the '54s generally had the late style, one-piece pintle which we've always associated with the B1s. This weekend I'll send a note out to the '53 owners and see how far back they are being reported. Results to be posted.

[macibell111]

hey guys <I have been reading about the pintles u have ,I have a early 53 and I have a rotating pintle on mine don't know the production date but will try and find out,would it be on one of my data plates.? my crossmember is bent so I am replacing it.

[DAP]

All 3 cross memebers are now sold.

[mike_l]

Macibell111,

It would be on the top left plate on your glovebox. It will be labeled as "Date Del." If you look at DAP's photos of the crossmembers, which hole pattern does your damaged one have?

[4gotn1]

Mine has a rotating pintle and was built 3/24/54.

[Tom P]

I have the two piece rotating Pintle hook. Del. date 11-7-52 on my 52.
The 53 you asked about is a parts truck close by, but not here. Next time I go to the bone yard I will look for you and report back.
TGP