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Hi Guys,

Picked up a set of NOS running boards, but noticed something funny........they don't have the notch cut out at the end that's at the back of the cab. Anybody know which M37 variant they were used on? All 4 smashed up running boards on my 2 trucks have the notch, and the ORD I have only shows one PN per side. Mounting holes are the same and I don't see any reason they won't work.........just curious about the application.

thanks,
bob

I noticed that to! I have 2 of the notched ones on my truck.
Maybe to let the rain water roll off the cab and not onto the
running board???!! Save metal in a later contract??
Rick

Rick,

Weird, ain't it? I looked under the cab and there's no reason for the board to be notched......so I'm stumped. I did see a set of M37 running boards made in France when they were using these trucks and those looked different.....the holes in our running boards are punched from the backside so the sharp side is up. The French did it the opposite way and punched from the top with the holes sharp sides down. And the hole pattern was different.

Good fun,
bob

Hi Rick,

This is fun. These boards really have me stumped. On real-close inspection I can see there's light pitting in the metal under the paint and the square holes for the carriage bolts that mount them are all tweaked (not square anymore).........so these boards were installed on a vehicle........the question is what vehicle? I'm going to look thru the new US Dodge books I got from David Doyle this weekend and see if any of the prototype M37 vehicles had un-notched running boards. Very interesting.

regards,
bob

Isn't the notch for use on models with the short exhaust (M43 ambulance, contact maintenance truck, etc.) where the service body intrudes on the space where the normal M37 exhaust pipe turns out from under the cargo box? I'm not sure why they'd notch the driver's side running board, though.

Elwood,

Can't say for sure about that, but the ORD9 only lists 2 running boards (left and right) for all the M37 variants it covers. I've got some old damaged running boards in my shed........I'm going to go out there in a minute to see if any of them do not have the notch.

regards,
bob

I noticed the absence of multiple part numbers, too. Neither the 1954 ORD 9 SNL nor the later 1972 TM9-2320-212 versions show more than one part number for each side (and they all show the same part nos.)

I'll check my inventory ( ) tomorrow, and see if I have full, notched, or a mix.

Elwood,

I checked my shed and I did find another set of well used running boards without the notches. I also checked my AF M37, made in 1952, which has it's original running boards....and they have the notch. So they don't seem to be rare, as I now have 2 sets of notched boards, and were not used in 1952.......so they are either from early trucks......or possibly later trucks (B1s? ). You could say they were notched to save money........or changed from notched to un-notched to make them stronger (an upgrade) for later trucks.

regards,
bob

My 53 are both notched. M37.

I have two pairs of boards on hand, and both are notched.

My '54 has the notched ones.

My 53 has both, notched and passenger side no notch?

Hmmmmm.............the plot thickens. I've been looking at M37s on the web and all the ones where I can see the end of the running board have notched boards. So I don't know what's up. I don't believe any other Dodge truck used the M37 running board and none of the ORDs list more than one part number for the right and left board. I give up.

Might be a good question for the MVPA tech advisor for M37s.......whoever that is.

regards,
bob

the 52, 53, 54 and 55 cnd m37s in the yard all have notched running boards.

I forgot to mention, one of mine was a replacement, the notched one, it came from AB Linn as I recall?