g741.org

Hi guys, I happened onto the old M-37 quite by accident. when I can I will get some pics up.

Welcome aboard-looking forward to the pictures!
Gary

Welcome to the site, can't wait to see pictures of the M.

Bert

Hey guys, I am trying to to figure out if the engine in my truck is original or not. The engine is now 12 volt, and the starter works off from a key. The carb does not look like pics of original either. can these parts be easily swapped out ? Where are the numbers on the block ? Are the the same as the vin if original ? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Someone told me (How reliable? Donno') but I was told to look at how the oil fill tube is attached to the block. If its 2 bolts on a flange its an M37 motor. If press fit? It ain't.

Have fun with it!

-jim lee

CAM wrote:Hey guys, I am trying to to figure out if the engine in my truck is original or not. The engine is now 12 volt, and the starter works off from a key. The carb does not look like pics of original either. can these parts be easily swapped out ? Where are the numbers on the block ? Are the the same as the vin if original ? Thanks for any help you can give me.

The engine serial number is stamped on a machined face on the left front corner of the cylinder block, just under the cylinder head, and behind the generator (or alternator, as your truck has been converted). The engine s/n will probably start with the letter "T", then three numbers, then a dash, then five more numbers. If it's a military spec engine for the G-741 series (M37, M42, etc.), then it will begin with "T245-xxxxxx".

The vehicle serial number will be stamped into the outside vertical face of the left frame rail, just forward of the front axle. This one might be hard to see if it's been painted over multiple times, or damaged by rust. The frame serial number and the engine serial number will not be the same. If you click on the link at the top of this page marked "Production dates", you'll see a list of the various production groups and the frame serial numbers. The frame s/n should also be on the metal ID plate affixed to the glove box door in the cab.

If you order the build card for your frame s/n from Chrysler Historical Services, you can determine if the engine block in your truck is original. These trucks were rebuilt by the military, and then often led hard lives in civilian use, so the engines were switched around, and non-military engines were frequently substituted. Chrysler built this same basic Plymouth/Dodge/Chrysler Industrial/Chrysler Marine short block flathead six from 1933 through the 1970s, so there were a lot of candidates.

The 12v conversion is not uncommon, and could be done without changing out the engine, although some accessories, such as starter, distributor, generator, regulator, etc. were usually changed or bastardized.

The carb is not original, and the military intake air horn and air cleaner are missing.

Looks like Elwood covered it; I just got my Build Card and it includes the engine serial number as well as the VIN and other info. One note-the tag on the firewall (If it's still in place) is for the cab and is not the VIN.
Gary

Thanks, Gary, for bringing up the body tag on the engine side of the firewall. I forgot about that one.

Cam, if you order the build card, you'll (hopefully) get something like this:



The frame serial number is in the lower left corner.

The engine serial number (the engine that was in the truck when Dodge assembled it at Warren Truck) is in the lower center: "245-60264". For this particular truck, the machine printed engine s/n was corrected by hand for some reason.

The date of final assembly is in the lower left corner.

And the military registration number (which would also be stencil painted on both sides of the hood) appears as a handwritten number above the serial number: "2442419".

Thanks guys , this information will keep me busy for a while.

looks like it came with fairly nice tires, if they are all matched

Yes, I got lucky there, 4 new tires just a couple of years ago.The fellow that was trying to get it on the road past away a few months after buying them, then the truck sat until I bought it. I think they are traction king tires.