did 1954 m37 trucks have the fuel primer on them

[davek]

i just bought a 54 m37 and wanted to know if they came with the fuel system primer. i live in washington state and it gets cold here in the winter time. thanks dave

[52 M-42]

The primer pumps were generally part of the arctic winterization kits. However, they also were available as a separate item. They are an "accessory item" so they can be found on any year. Location is more important. You would not find them on trucks in Vietnam, but you would find them on trucks in Alaska or Korea.

As for living in Washington state, it will all depend on where you live in Washington State. I live near Lake Washington, and it honestly never really gets cold enough here to ever need it (very seldom, anyway). If you live in Omak or Colville, you may be very glad to have it; especially if your truck lives outside in the winter.

I have a primer pump system in my truck, and I've used it in the winter when my truck lived outside. I didn't "need" it, but it was convenient and I think they are kind of cool (I also love the floor starter pedal because you never see them anymore).

So, it's mostly just a matter of taste unless you are in a part of the country that gets frigid in the winter.

52 M-42

[w30bob]

Hi Dave,

On the Production Changes page it says the Engine Priming was discontinued in May of 1952 (SN 80026807).

regards,
bob

[pwrwagonfire]

I cannot tell you about where they were found originally, however I have seen a couple NOS ones for sale on ebay in the last month or so, so they are available if you keep looking in the right places!

-T

[w30bob]

52,

Like T said....they're around. When I got my AF truck year before last I didn't realize the primer kits were available, as I didn't know the military vehicle hobby at all and didn't know about all the NOS parts available. So I ended up in a bidding war on Ebay when I thought I struck gold and found an NOS primer kit still in the box.......and I stupidly won. I think I paid something ridiculous like $150 for it. Since then they pop up pretty regularly on eBay and go for half that price. As dumb as I was.........I've seen people pay as much as $250 for the kit. It's the same kit used on the M38 and M38A1, so when you search check those applications too. The primer for the M35 is physically bigger and I don't know if they offered a kit for the M715.

regards,
bob

[ZGjethro]

Is the primer pump you guys are talking about the manual lever on the mechanical fuel pump? I pulled the pump off of my '52 truck when I went to an electric pump, but I have saved it along with other original take of parts, like the air intake and oil bath filter.

[Tuko]

It's a dash mounted primer located lower left of the steering wheel

[RMS]

do all the 230 military intakes have three np threaded ports for the spray nozzles ? all the Canadian trucks I have seen have a provision on the dash is it the same for American 37s?

I was thinking it would be fun to connect the suction line up to a bottle of white oil and have a on board fog/smoke machine

[Jess]

All four of my CDN M37s have the primer equipped. I haven't ever really needed to use them to start but then its not really that cold here. I like to have all the gadgets and will keep mine operational. As RMS mentioned, the military intakes all have the connections from the primer, civilians are not drilled and tapped.

Jess

[ZGjethro]

It's a dash mounted primer located lower left of the steering wheel

Thanks. I have not seen this before. Can anyone post a picture of this system?

[w30bob]

ZG,

Here you go.........this is the whole kit.

regards,
bob


primer by w30bob, on Flickr

[ZGjethro]

Thanks for the photo Bob. I just wanted to know if I had anything like it on my truck, which I don't.

[Elwood]

Just in case someone needs to know if their kit is complete, or how to install the engine primer kit, I have scanned a copy of the original instructions. PM me if you want a complete version in PDF format.

[Cal_Gary]

I saw no indication of plumbing,etc. on my '54. I've started the truck at minus 6 degrees with no difficulty-just pulled the choke and cranked her over.
Gary

[refit1701]

Mine was built in March of 53 and had no evidence of a primer. I have heard in the past (probably here) that they were prone to leaking and eventually the thought of having fuel in the cab was considered a bad thing.