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I'm planning some work on the bed of my M-37 including troop seats, bows, canvas, etc. During it's previous life as a fire truck they modified the fender/wheel wells inside the bed to fit the water tank. The top of the wheel well was cut down and a patch was welded on to provide a flat-topped area for the tank to sit on. The patch is also folded 90 degrees up the inside wall of the bed about two inches and then welded around the edges. The wheel wells cannot be removed now without cutting the patch or grinding off the weld around the edge of the patch. Here's a photo.



I don't particularly mind the top of the wheel wells being flat but I'm not sure how troop seats would work in this situation. Does the center area of the troop seat actually rest on top of the wheel well in the lowered position? If so with my truck modified in this manner would there be insufficient support in the center area of the seats with them in the lowered position. I'm guessing the top of the wheel well is now about two inches lower than the top of the well in a stock vehicle. In reality the seats would probably not be used for seating often but I definitely want the ability to do so.

And on an unrelated note............ Here is what a few of us did on a beautiful Sunday in Kentucky.........



My Birddog, a '58 M-37 W/W (not mine), and a '40 VC 1 (not mine either, but I wish...)

John, What a beautiful L bird. That is a great shot. Thanks for sharing. Do you know the person with the VC1? My father drove one of those and rolled it just before the war broke out. I would love to get some close up shots and share the owner of that truck the story and pics of my dads accident.

I am not sure if the troop seats rest on the fender, mine were not installed when I got my truck. If they do I am sure you can engineer a brace. I am sure you will get an answer soon

PS, nice P47 shot in your ID. I just saw Neal Melton's Hun Hunter in Tennesee 2 weeks ago at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation. Got to see his C45 fly also. He has a Razorback carcass pulled out of the Pacific jungle on display, very cool. Gotta love those Thunderbolts!

Av8r wrote:I'm planning some work on the bed of my M-37 including troop seats, bows, canvas, etc. During it's previous life as a fire truck they modified the fender/wheel wells inside the bed to fit the water tank. The top of the wheel well was cut down and a patch was welded on to provide a flat-topped area for the tank to sit on. The patch is also folded 90 degrees up the inside wall of the bed about two inches and then welded around the edges. The wheel wells cannot be removed now without cutting the patch or grinding off the weld around the edge of the patch. Here's a photo.



I don't particularly mind the top of the wheel wells being flat but I'm not sure how troop seats would work in this situation. Does the center area of the troop seat actually rest on top of the wheel well in the lowered position? If so with my truck modified in this manner would there be insufficient support in the center area of the seats with them in the lowered position. I'm guessing the top of the wheel well is now about two inches lower than the top of the well in a stock vehicle. In reality the seats would probably not be used for seating often but I definitely want the ability to do so.

And on an unrelated note............ Here is what a few of us did on a beautiful Sunday in Kentucky.........



My Birddog, a '58 M-37 W/W (not mine), and a '40 VC 1 (not mine either, but I wish...)

Love the pictures! The troop seats have a small metal bracket that tie the boards together in the middle. This bracket does rest on the top arch of the rear fender. I'll post a good picture of mine for you later on.

Yes John,
Very nice looking L19. The weather is what is making us north central folks envious. If you ever need help on the L19 just hollar. I have two I maintain up here.

What a picture, love that od on most anything! Back to your problem. First the wheel well is already welded to the side of bed panel from the factory, so that isn't an issue.
I think David mentioned a brace fabb'ed and added to the wheel well it self, I'd plan on that Field Expedient, once done, all of the older flats/beads could be re-ground smooth, most would think that its the way it supposed to look?
JMHO,

I used to work on bird dogs in the civies. We used 3 for glider tow planes and on a Saturday kept them so busy that from sun up to 30 minutes before sun down we handed pilots food through window and they pee'd in a can. Those things could handle the rough treatment the low time glider pilots dished out. Great a/c to work on especially with no interior.

My M37 seat center metal bracket doesn't not hit the wheel well until it has over 150 pounds directly in the center. Afer that any fatty might crack your wood if it doesn't sit on the wheel well since yours is lowered. Could add an extra wood block to take up the space. Jut won't be original but that only matters if you care - LOL.

Thanks all. Just the kind of advice I was looking for. After reading the responses I'm thinking for the short term just making a rectangular wood block to fit the flat area and just thick enough to make up for what was lost when the arch was cut down. Just paint it OD and bolt it to the flat area and it would look pretty much like it belongs there. Might even leave it that way long term as well.

My M-37 is in pretty good shape mechanically but is missing most of it's original equipment. I was wanting to camp with my L-19 at a nearby fly-in recently and decided that original bows and canvas on the 37 parked by the Birddog would be far better than a tent. So getting the bed fitted out is my winter project. Problem is finding the free time because I use the truck so much.



David, the VC1 lives in Lexington, KY and belongs to the friend of a friend. I just met him on Sunday when I flew over to my friend's farm for a small fly-in get-together. His Command Car is beyond immaculate. I will see if I can get you some contact info for you as I'm sure he would be interested in any stories or photos you have.

As for the P-47 photo in my ID..... That is a photo of me flying a P-47 over Geneseo, NY about 10 or 12 years ago. At the time it was in the colors of Big Ass Bird II, and was later repainted as Tarheel Hal. At the time it lived in Louisville but now resides with the Lonestar Air Museum in Galveston. I was just the guy who had the unbelievable fortune of getting to fly it in airshows around the country. I stuck it in my ID because the hours flying the Jug are among the most wonderful memories I have. And also because it is probably the most incredible military vehicle I will ever drive. Believe me, few things can ever top taking a P-47 down the runway at 20 feet with the throttle wide open! Here's a better view of the photo.



Thanks again for all the input.

Thanks , If you could get me that info that would be great.Your a warbird pilot as well, how cool is that? Your da man! I believe I saw the Tarheel Hal incarnation at Oshkosh one year? I may have some photos.
I get excited taxing in the rear seat of a T6, I could only imagine feeling that big P&W in a Jug throttling up. The closest I get is cranking the sub-woofer on my PC's speakers when I play "Fighter Ace" In a way (not to sound blasphamous)I am looking forward to not having to wrench every weekend on the truck this winter so I can get down to the hanger more and get some time wrenching on warbirds.

I'm going to have to make sure my wife doesn't see that load of hay or I may not be able to put the rear cover on mine.

The only thing better than wrenching on a warbird is flying one! I recall commenting to my wife over 20 years ago after my first P51 ride that her headaches were not an issue anymore!

cuz wrote:I'm going to have to make sure my wife doesn't see that load of hay or I may not be able to put the rear cover on mine.

The only thing better than wrenching on a warbird is flying one! I recall commenting to my wife over 20 years ago after my first P51 ride that her headaches were not an issue anymore!

Cuz,

If the MV bill passes in Wis. you won't need to hide the hay pcture from her. Unless you are going to haul it for a parade or take it to a show. Sounds like they're going to restrict driving MV's for daily drivers.


DJ

Don't believe everything you read. Especially that stuff generated in large domed buildings!

cuz wrote:Don't believe everything you read. Especially that stuff generated in large domed buildings!

X2

cuz wrote:Don't believe everything you read. Especially that stuff generated in large domed buildings!

Oh come on...those guys and gals have our best interests at heart...