M43 Ambulance rear body removal

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monkeymissile
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M43 Ambulance rear body removal

Post by monkeymissile »

Has anyone ever fully removed the rear body from an M43 before? I can see see most of the bolts that attach it to the frame rails, but it looks like the cab roof may be welded to the top of the windshield frame? I'd love to figure out if I can simply un-bolt it, jack it up and roll the chassis out from under it.
Any help would be great.

thanks,
Justin
1953 Dodge M43

Fail often to succeed sooner
Rick C
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Re: M43 Ambulance rear body removal

Post by Rick C »

If you remove the inner panels from the cab area you can access the bolts holding the roof to teh windshield. The Manual shows teh windshield assembly being removed by pulling it straight towards the front of the truck after removing the screws
Rick
monkeymissile
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Re: M43 Ambulance rear body removal

Post by monkeymissile »

Rick C wrote:If you remove the inner panels from the cab area you can access the bolts holding the roof to teh windshield. The Manual shows teh windshield assembly being removed by pulling it straight towards the front of the truck after removing the screws
Rick
Thanks Rick, I sure hope that's the case. I just hit all those inner panel screws with Kroil last weekend so next time I'm up in NH I'll try to pull all those panels and check it out. Which manual has the diagram you're referring to?
1953 Dodge M43

Fail often to succeed sooner
Rick C
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Re: M43 Ambulance rear body removal

Post by Rick C »

Those sheet metal screws are a bitch..... The Powertrain, Body and Frame manual had it in it. Never actually got to pulling the center panel on mine before I sold it but looked pretty straightforward to ghet windshield off.
monkeymissile
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Re: M43 Ambulance rear body removal

Post by monkeymissile »

Rick C wrote:Those sheet metal screws are a bitch.....
too true, all the lower ones for the ventilator fan access panels on mine were toast and had to be drilled out. When I eventually got the panels off I was greeted by nasty mice nests made from the fiberglass insulation (gross!). Respirator and shop-vac took care of those, but all that mouse piss seems to be the reason for the ruined screws, so corrosive. The screws on the ceiling panels seem to be in better shape.
I'll check out the manual in more detail. Thanks again!
1953 Dodge M43

Fail often to succeed sooner
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