g741.org

choppa wrote:nice looking rig there, RMS!

4500 and ONLY lacking 4:89 gears and manual locking hubs? Thats a good deal then, I think.

thanks choppa.

well thats 4500 out of pocket 1500 for the truck, 150 tow, 150 running motor, 100 glass, 400 in paint, 400 in wire/connectors/ heat shrink/loom, 800 in hoses/lines/fittings/gaskets /seals/fluids and a grand worth of parts off the shelf: starter, carb, dizzy, water pump, bell housing and trans. if I can get 10,000 i will make around $5.50 an hour

the best project one can buy in my opinion is someones failed project.

the process: acquire, clean, strip, bag/box, catalog, source, blast, weld, bang, machine, prime, fill, paint, assemble and enjoy

Here's my truck 7 years ago:



Here it is today:



As I said, roughly $5K in it. But I and a friend did 99% of the work. The engine didn't need rebuilding, just refreshing. It's possible my math is fuzzy, to protect the innocent dollars spent during the restoration.

That is one nice truck, John. I hope mine looks that good once I refurbish it.
Gary

Gave 5k for mine, prob have 4-5 into it between paint, parts etc..... Another 3 probably this winter with the 4bt conversion

Mine wasn't cheap to build the way I wanted it.

The front D60 has at least $2500 in it alone, and its really nothing special other than new Spicer shafts, Chromo stubs, 4.56 gears and a Detroit locker. The sad part is that I got great deals on everything I purchased. There's probably $600 bucks in the hanging pedal assy. after the new brake booster and Clutch MC are included, $1000.00 bucks in drive shafs, and $800 bucks in exhaust work, $600.00 bucks in tires (used) and $500 bucks in a full set of H1 bead lock wheels which I'm not using right now anyway. $800 in the rear 14 bolt including the disc brake swap, new gears, and bearings, $500 in the power steering setup, and another $300 between the refurbished rad and oil coolers. Factor another $1000.00 into the gauges, sending units, and wiring harness and $300 for a Divorced tcase and the coins just keeps rolling out. It would be easy to add another $1000.00 into just misc. fasteners, paint, and shop supplies and building materials.

That adds up to approx. $9900.00 so far and I'm leaving out most of the shipping costs as I just don't remember what those were. Thank god I didn't have to pay someone to do it for me, although it hurts a little more when I ad the $3500.00 purchase price of the truck itself into the total, offset only slightly by the sale of the winch and PTO for $1200.00.

I'm into the truck for at least $15K including most of what I've forgotten to list, and I haven't done any body work yet. But, I have the truck I want, so that too has to count for something.

I don't keep track and here is why. It's a hobby. I do it because I like MVs and I like to turn wrenches. When I got into the hobby 30 years ago things were a lot cheaper than they are today. But in that 30 years if I added up all I've spent on Vehicles and parts I'd probably end up deep throating a shot gun...so I'll spend what I need to, try to get the best part at the best price and enjoy the hobby.

k8icu wrote:I don't keep track and here is why. It's a hobby. I do it because I like MVs and I like to turn wrenches. When I got into the hobby 30 years ago things were a lot cheaper than they are today. But in that 30 years if I added up all I've spent on Vehicles and parts I'd probably end up deep throating a shot gun...so I'll spend what I need to, try to get the best part at the best price and enjoy the hobby.

I agree absolutely!

It's entertainment.

$3000 in truck and cabs, $2500 in 4bt Cummins and 5spd, $1500 in seats, $900 in donor 92 Dodge w2500 for dana 60/70's, and another few thousand in misc parts. Still need to spend lots more!!!

Well have to agree with k8icu on the fact it's a hobby. But since were talking money... Lets see 1800 for the truck, a bottle of $100 wiskey to sandblast and prime frame, into the engine for 5500 and not done yet, redo springs 700 bucks.. the amount of beer bought for buddies to help with tear down.... priceless. The amount of money to put this truck back together... well lets not go there and say we did. BUT the look on my boys face when we drive the truck for the first time, will be priceless.

I'm probably 15k in, here's what I've got:
Granted there is a donor truck under the tarp and a whole pile of parts behind the garage, but you get the idea!

I like those tires-what are they?
Thanks,
Gary

I'm just getting started with mine,but i bought the truck for a $1000.00 with a winch and a hard top. I have pics in the gallery.

Then you got a screaming deal on that truck. The winch alone is worth more than you paid for the truck. The original hardtop is also a very nice accessory that is not easy to get.

You are off to very good start.

Thanks for the reply.
The top has some big dents in the top, but I should be able to get most of it out.
I just have to work on getting a title for it and it would be worth even more with that.


Tom

I have a similar story about my m37.I am am northern calif and purchased one 2 years ago.didnt know what one even looked like or let alone ever seen an m.till a customer brought one in to my auto upholstery shop for top repairs.once I drove it for 10 or 20 feet I was hooked .looked om the internet to look to see what they were ,and lo and behold I was driving in my home town of Healdsburg and ther was one on a trailer for sale ,paid 6000.00,it did not run,has no wiring,top no brakes.i have put in about 4000.00 on top of the initial purchase,found all the front winch parts it was not a winch truck at the time.buffed out the paint added the rick Larson stars and #s,put both my sons who are currently in the army so I put there military mos on the bumpers.new wiring harness 12 volt .left running gear alone many hours of frame clean up.new fuel lines carb etc.i just sold it to a guy in bucks county pennsyvania. he saw it on his vacation in front of my shop.he had to have it si I put a 15,500.00 price on it and it is leaving next week.i guess maybe calif can get better prices ?hope this helps u.i am going to miss it,there is a complete m37b1 I block away from me and it is a winchtruck.but I don't think I want to put that much work in another one I think I will look for a more complete one or maybe a different type military vehicle.sorry to be so long winded but u asked .thanks jack