1962 M37 Newbie Restore

[jrodjared]

Some minor work done this weekend, nothing crazy. Got the front passenger brake drum on. Should have only taken me 30 minutes, but it ended up taking hours because I broke a stud

Broken stud

IMG_0416.jpg (64.29 KiB) Viewed 5519 times

Weld a chisel to it? Nope

IMG_0417.jpg (91.03 KiB) Viewed 5519 times

I've done it now

IMG_0418.jpg (85.23 KiB) Viewed 5519 times

[jrodjared]

I ended up drilling it out and using a reverse drill bit to extract it. I had to keep stepping up because they just wouldn't grab. Luckily the last one worked! I didn't want to heat it up because she was all painted perty.

IMG_0419.jpg (88.55 KiB) Viewed 5518 times

IMG_0420.jpg (77.29 KiB) Viewed 5518 times

All ready for the engine

IMG_0422.jpg (134.03 KiB) Viewed 5518 times

Now that the front end is FINALLY together, I can move on to the engine.

[Elwood]

Looking good.

As frustrating as that broken stud was, probably best it broke in the shop and not out in the woods somewhere.

Is that a Snap-On stud remover set in the red box?

[jrodjared]

@Elwood yup that's the Snap-On stud remover. It was stupid expensive, something like $250 but worth every penny when you are trying to save and reuse parts on these old truck.

[Elwood]

I thought it looked familiar. The set in my toolbox has gotten a good workout on my M37.

[T. Highway]

It is usually the simple looking tasks that turn into a several hour project when one small problem happens. Glad to see you had the correct tools to finish up the RR of the stud.

Bert

[jrodjared]

Been a while since my last post so I thought I would share an update. Been busy the past few weeks for sure. Decided to tackle the donor:

IMG_0535.JPG (164.77 KiB) Viewed 5441 times

It was in a precarious spot so I had to use a lot of straps and come-alongs to help persuade the cherry picker in the direction I needed. They also acted as kind of a safety because that engine is heavy and there were certainly a few close calls!

IMG_0537.JPG (174.02 KiB) Viewed 5441 times

Out she comes.

IMG_0539.JPG (144.74 KiB) Viewed 5441 times

[jrodjared]

And then came the rain.

IMG_0540.JPG (151.76 KiB) Viewed 5441 times

Back at it. Notice the angle of the stand I had it strapped to my van for safety, and I surely needed it!

IMG_0541.JPG (132.66 KiB) Viewed 5441 times

My prize has been claimed.

IMG_0543.JPG (111.89 KiB) Viewed 5441 times

[jrodjared]

The lights on my van came in handy that night

IMG_0544.JPG (79.31 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

A week went by and ready for more. Before tearing in to the engine I brought the tub out to get blasted:

IMG_0551.JPG (128.32 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

In the blast room:

IMG_0553.JPG (88.46 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

I'll post some after pics when I pick it up.

[jrodjared]

Today I started the engine teardown. First separated the transmission from the bellhousing.

IMG_0557.JPG (150.02 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

Bellhousing off, now the flywheel:

IMG_0559.JPG (145.98 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

And then all the accessories, down the short block. This is my dad, the original owner of the truck.

IMG_0562.JPG (133.1 KiB) Viewed 5439 times

[jrodjared]

I went for the selfie too. Figure I don't appear much in these photos!

IMG_0564.JPG (121.13 KiB) Viewed 5438 times

OK enough of that. Got the engine on its stand then pulled the head. It looked pretty rusty and nasty in there

IMG_0568.JPG (131.1 KiB) Viewed 5438 times

There was a bit of water because the engine got rained on while it was out for a few days. I know I should have covered it, but I didn't. Hopefully it doesn't mean anything. I'm planning on rebuilding it anyway,

Pulled the oil pan to see what the bottom looked like. Pretty clean, no obvious damage that I can see yet.

IMG_0569.JPG (134.35 KiB) Viewed 5438 times

Tomorrow I am going to try to tear in to the crank, pull the timing cover, etc. Break it down to the block so I can bring it to a machine shop. I've got a lot of reading and research to do at this point. This is all uncharted territory for me, not that I have had any idea what I am doing up until this point! All I can do is take some pics and learn from my mistakes. Worst it could do is not run, right? How's that any different than where I am now? hehe.

[52 M-42]

Ah yes, working in the dark and the rain! How else would you possibly do it? You surely wouldn't want to waste a nice sunny day doing a job like that (unless you had a heated, lighted, cement floored garage). I loved your jerry rigged, Rube Goldberg extraction machinery too (reminded me of some of my early adventures).

It looks like you you are off to a very good, traditional start to your restoration adventure.

Good Luck on your project and keep the pictures coming!

[jrodjared]

Thanks 52 M-42!

[F18hornetm]

Just read all your posts and realized your in Baltimore. great progress on your restoration. Really coming along nice. When you get it done, drive down to the good part of Maryland [or the out house side of Maryland as one governor called it]and I'll buy ya a beer and a crab cake!!

side note: Not sure you remember, but that comment from a former governor caused him to have a whole bunch of tractors and manure spreaders show up around the capital!!!

[jrodjared]

F18hornetm are you going to go to the Tuckahoe Steam and Gas show in July? That's out your way no? I'll be out there, let me know if you make it.

Back at it in the garage today. Found out why I wasn't able to crank it over:

IMG_0571.JPG (151.13 KiB) Viewed 5396 times

I'm guessing my head gasket must have been bad or something and some water got in there. They were all kind of nasty but this one was particularly bad. All the pistons came out with a little persuasion, but not this one!

So we went with the BFH

IMG_0577.JPG (135.45 KiB) Viewed 5396 times

Finally she came out, but I don't think I will be reusing these pistons.

IMG_0580.JPG (124.43 KiB) Viewed 5396 times

At first I was trying to keep stuff as organized and labeled as I could, but at this point I just kind of gave up because it looked like nothing was serviceable.