g741.org

A little about me first. I am Darrin Johnson I own a paintball company in Hudson WI http://www.splattag.com and we have collected a number of Army vehicles over the years to have around the check in area as props. I am also a member of the Royal Guard, a mythical army in the Saint Paul Winter Carnival legend. The Guard org owns a 1952 M211 painted in the Royal Guards color "Royal Blue". I have been in this group since 1993.

Last Sept Splat Tag bought our first M37. I bought it off Ebay from Missouri and brought it up to the Twin Cities. The body was in very good shape but this was in no means original. It already had a 350 Chev motor, Chev training and aluminum radiator in it so I had no problem not making her look original.

This is what it looked like after I put all new wood benches and new turn signals on her.


Now the fun part. I took her to IState Truck Center in Inver Grove Heights for body and paint.





















Yes she is bright and she is Blue! She will be debuted on Jan 28 at 2pm in the Winter Carnival Parade and will promote Splat Tag for many years to come.

I will update this put with a done photo.

Special thanks to:
All the people that own her before me for taking great care of her all these years.
Paul from Missouri.
Ray at Mike's Complete Auto Care in St. Paul for wiring and many other repairs.
Nate and the guys at Istate Truck Center in Inver Grove Heights for paint and body work.
John from Midwest Military in Prior Lake, MN for countless trips for parts.
New Life Canvas in Menahga, MN for the custom Royal Blue top and chain covers.

Darrin
Splat Tag, Inc.
http://www.splattag.com

Royal Guards
http://www.royalguards.org

WOW, that looks great! Keep up the wonderful work, and keep us posted on the fun.

Looking great keep up the good work!

Thanks! I am very proud of how this is turning out

Pictures from Noon today.

Windows, seats, back wood and top being done today.

Nice work, love the color!

Man, that's some progress! Where've you been hiding?! Love those pictures, and welcome aboard!
Gary

Thanks for sharing the pictures. Nice truck.

Nice looking truck, I can't wait to see the pictures of it with the Royal Blue canvas on it.

I have one question. Do you have this tagged in MN or WI. I've never seen that style of plate before.

Bert

MN plates. Support the military plates.

Done picture with top.



Before bolts were painted.


Before window were put in.


Before top put on.




Saint Paul Winter Carnival parade 2012






The Royal Guard 1952 M211 in the Winter Carnival parade.

EZD,

Welcome aboard!! Great looking truck!! You do realize that now you have to bring that beast to the "Back to The Fifties" car show at the Minnesota State Fair grounds on the 22, 23, 24 of June. I'll be there with my "54" M37 and I would very much like to see that beauty in person.

I'm sick of being the only M37 (most years) out of 11,000 registered pre "64" classic cars/trucks that come to the show!!

EZD,

I must say that both of your trucks look very nice.

Bert

Update Dec 2012

Well we drove it a little to fast down the Hiway and destroyed the rear end

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Now I am looking for real U-Bolts.

Also looking for input from people that have done this before. Can the drive shaft go at an angle?? Do we have to move or change transfer case??

Next we plan to switch the front axle and steering wheel with the power steering. What do we have to watch out for??

Thanks in advance!!

Darrin
Saint Paul, Minnesota
darrinjohnson@comcast.net

Hi Darrin,

This might be a good read for you. http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks ... -101.shtml

Truck looks great!!

regards,
bob

Darrin,

I saw your post for u-bolts in the swap meet and I thought I'd recomend a visit to a local spring shop. They can bend up whatever you need, and probably tell how to measure and what not. Are you going to run the stock m37 u-bolt setup with threads down, or the donor truck setup with threads up?

Brett