Most Practical Modification Thread

[m37jarhead]

All great mods !! If possible, post pic's, costs and sources for the mod parts installed.
Any pic's and info. greatly appreciated.
Jerry

[RMS]

hi Rick

I was wondering if you could elaborate on this:

10. 4:89 gears - took them out hated them, made the truck a "pig"

I love my 4.89s they make my truck drivable and with them I can almost keep up with hwy traffic.
now I do have a 0.040 over 251 @ 8.1to1 and i get 14 hwy and 17 city. granted i do reach for 3rd on steep grades and my buddy with goat tiers(41s) and 5.83s out powers me in the bush.

[milstencil]

Let's see,
4:89's only for a re power, an engine with more torque and horse power, or larger tires.
My son had a WC54 with a 251 in it and he used to beat my pants off going up
hills and on the flats.
Lived on Longiland (yes, I meant to spell it that way) and had a home in the Berkshire Mountains,
and wanted to pick up a little speed. Worked great on the flat lands, but sucked in the mountains,
especially when I had to plow snow, we're in the snow belt from Albany to Worcester
In the mountains I was always down shifting and it would just not make it up the hills.
I've never had to plow snow in low gear, but with 4:89's I was always in low gear and it would just not "push" the snow.
Pulled them out and have been a happy camper ever since.
45 is the speed limit here anyway, if the guy behind me (mostly those Connecticut people) doesn't like my speed
he can wait for the passing lane and pass at their own risk.
Rick

[Tuko]

Q78x16 super swampers, Fit great, look great, ride great same if not cheaper then the super lug from VPW



maybe someone crafty can turn this pic upside down too

[Cav Trooper]

Dual master cylinder
Front disc brakes (could not get brakes worth beans until I put the discs on the front, now I'm not afraid of running over a Toyota in an Estop) worth every penny for the conversion. Yes, I did drive these when they were new and never remember brakes as bad as these were and all parts were new.
Pertronix ignition
Fender mount heater
Front winch
Fully functional ANGRR5 and RT246 radios
M2HB mount and gun (Ma Deuce)
Tire on driver door (ma deuce mount required it)
Electric fuel pump with marine filter and shut offs before and aft of pump/filter assembly
In cab rifle mount with M14 repro
removable tailgate ladder
Lockout hubs

[MarkPick]

Pertronix ignition
Mutt heater mounted under the glove box
Lockout hubs
Electric wipers
Proper T-245 engine ( was driving me crazy knowing I had a Plymouth engine in there) Rings were shot anyway.(Anyone need a back up or spare parts off the block?)
New 9x16 Powerkings
Both front windshields and frames
Updated pinion seals

Things still in the box but will go on soon:
24 volt electric fuel pump
Weather striping all over
Right hand mirror
Battery disconnect

[pwrwagonfire]

I know they've all been mentioned...

Bit for MY truck I will be:
-Electric fuel pump
-front and back turn signals
-snow plow mount like Carter's

and a wooden bed floor...check out this thread at SS, I want to replace my floor with white oak.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread ... oor-in-M37

[JimC]

On my 37
Big Block Chevy (installed about 1967)
Muncie SM-465
KS-22 No-Spin differential in the rear
Warn Hubs (they aren't available anymore, are they?)
Braden winch

On my 708
Nothing (would like a Braden winch)

I have a second KS-22. Should I put it in the rear of the 708, or the front of the 37 ?

[RMS]

Warn Hubs (they aren't available anymore, are they?)

you can get knockoffs for a cool $1000.00 or the real deal for $1500

http://www.dodgepowerwagon.com/classifi ... fieds.html

[JimC]

Wow.
I paid something like $150 for mine new, but that was a long time ago.

[RMS]

I noticed a very practical mod on my buddys truck the other day what do you guys think?

[Monkey Man]

Cool Mod, simple and what looks like what should have been standard issue.....

Re the hubs, I was going to take mine off some time ago and run flanges, I haven't got to it yet, I always forget and refit the hubs, I may get to it one day

MM

[Hemiman]

Truck 1 - Stock Engine:
Locking hubs
Dual circuit Master Cylinder
Synthetic lubes throughout engine and drivetrain.

Truck 2 - 241 Red-Ram Hemi
Locking Hubs
4 Wheel Disc Brakes & Dual Circuit Master Cyl
4.89:1 Gears
Autolite 4100 4bbl carb (Ford)
Headers

[Hemiman]

I should emphasize the results of the synthetic lubes in the stock truck. The results were remarkable! When you have 90 hp trying to move 6000 lbs, every HP matters. Wish I had a copy of the report I did on the old Big-E site.

In short:

The truck gained 5 mph top end. It would run at 60 mph with the original 5.89:1 gears. However, I only did that for short periods.
It ran much quieter at road speeds, (45-55) mph.

Performance when cold was far better than with the organic lubes.

The engine, and more importantly, the drive-train ran cooler, especially the transfer case.

I would recommenced this be a first "mod" for anyone using these trucks as a driver.

[m37jarhead]

I noticed a very practical mod on my buddys truck the other day what do you guys think?

This mod just fixed a very annoying problem on M37's.
I'm gonna do this. Thanks for sharing and the pic.
Jerry.