1963 M37B1 and introduction
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- Explorer0863
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1963 M37B1 and introduction
Hello everyone,
I discovered this forum while looking for information about M37s. My name is Tony and I am the owner of two 1963 M37B1. One is a running truck and the other is a parts truck. I am also a USAF vet and spend half of my time in FL and the other half in PR. You see, the FL winter is too cold for me.
In December of last year I went to see and potentially buy a 1955 civilian Power Wagon. It turned out that it was in a very bad shape. Rust everywhere and bondo everywhere. Broken transmission, no papers and a terrible homemade truck bed. So I passed on that one.
But the guy also had the M37s for sale. We started talking about it, did some research and a couple of weeks later, drove it home. I bought both trucks with intention of making one good truck using the components of both trucks. The body of the parts truck is shot, but it has a solid chassis with a rebuilt original engine, gearbox, t-case and both axles/diffs.
The running truck is in better shape but it needs a lot of work. The chassis is not good so I am going to transfer the body and drive train to the good chassis of the parts truck. It was converted to 12 volts (luckily he saved the original starter, generator and the regulator). He also changed the carburetor, but again, he saved the original carb. It has an electric fuel pump and no wipers. It will need a complete wiring harness and new tires. My bank account just dried up while typing this!
Currently I am getting the chassis ready for the transplant. I removed the body, fuel tank, transmission, shocks and yesterday I removed the steering box with the steering wheel still attached to the column. Removing the steering wheel is going to be fun! Thanks to previous posts and restorations well documented here, I’ve been able to learn a few tricks on how to do certain things and I am very grateful for this site. I am fairly good searching for info, but I’m sure that once in a while I will have to ask questions and suggestions. Any help will be sincerely appreciated.
It’s the first time that I am working on a military vehicle like this one, but it’s not the first time that I worked on an old 4x4. In the past I rebuilt a 1969 Land Rover Series IIA and later a 1957 Land Rover Series I. Hopefully I can put that experience to good use while working on my new project. I am not a mechanic, but I already downloaded the TMs and as you know, those manual are key to learn about the M37s.
A pleasure to be here and please, stay safe.
I discovered this forum while looking for information about M37s. My name is Tony and I am the owner of two 1963 M37B1. One is a running truck and the other is a parts truck. I am also a USAF vet and spend half of my time in FL and the other half in PR. You see, the FL winter is too cold for me.
In December of last year I went to see and potentially buy a 1955 civilian Power Wagon. It turned out that it was in a very bad shape. Rust everywhere and bondo everywhere. Broken transmission, no papers and a terrible homemade truck bed. So I passed on that one.
But the guy also had the M37s for sale. We started talking about it, did some research and a couple of weeks later, drove it home. I bought both trucks with intention of making one good truck using the components of both trucks. The body of the parts truck is shot, but it has a solid chassis with a rebuilt original engine, gearbox, t-case and both axles/diffs.
The running truck is in better shape but it needs a lot of work. The chassis is not good so I am going to transfer the body and drive train to the good chassis of the parts truck. It was converted to 12 volts (luckily he saved the original starter, generator and the regulator). He also changed the carburetor, but again, he saved the original carb. It has an electric fuel pump and no wipers. It will need a complete wiring harness and new tires. My bank account just dried up while typing this!
Currently I am getting the chassis ready for the transplant. I removed the body, fuel tank, transmission, shocks and yesterday I removed the steering box with the steering wheel still attached to the column. Removing the steering wheel is going to be fun! Thanks to previous posts and restorations well documented here, I’ve been able to learn a few tricks on how to do certain things and I am very grateful for this site. I am fairly good searching for info, but I’m sure that once in a while I will have to ask questions and suggestions. Any help will be sincerely appreciated.
It’s the first time that I am working on a military vehicle like this one, but it’s not the first time that I worked on an old 4x4. In the past I rebuilt a 1969 Land Rover Series IIA and later a 1957 Land Rover Series I. Hopefully I can put that experience to good use while working on my new project. I am not a mechanic, but I already downloaded the TMs and as you know, those manual are key to learn about the M37s.
A pleasure to be here and please, stay safe.
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
Sounds like a fun project! Any pictures?
1951 M37 "Brutus" w/Winch and 251 engine
- Explorer0863
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Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
I have many, but I just tried to upload a couple and the system came back with this message: “The file is too big, maximum allowed size is 256 KiB”. The pictures that I have are from my iPhone and I don’t know the size or how to shrink them. Did a Google search on how to do it and received so many different results that I don’t even know where to start. Sorry.John Mc wrote:Sounds like a fun project! Any pictures?
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
Do you know how to email a picture to yourself from the iPhone? When doing so, it gives you an option for how big a file you want to send. If that's not your cup of tea, many of the programs on your desktop computer that can open picture files can also resize them.Explorer0863 wrote:I have many, but I just tried to upload a couple and the system came back with this message: “The file is too big, maximum allowed size is 256 KiB”. The pictures that I have are from my iPhone and I don’t know the size or how to shrink them. Did a Google search on how to do it and received so many different results that I don’t even know where to start. Sorry.John Mc wrote:Sounds like a fun project! Any pictures?
1951 M37 "Brutus" w/Winch and 251 engine
- Explorer0863
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Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
I think I can do that. Let me try.
This the running M37 the day I found it.
This the running M37 the day I found it.
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- 1963 M37B1
- M37_1.jpg (119.51 KiB) Viewed 1720 times
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
- Explorer0863
- PFC
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:13 am
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
Hey! It worked! Thanks for that. Here is a side view.John Mc wrote:Do you know how to email a picture to yourself from the iPhone? When doing so, it gives you an option for how big a file you want to send. If that's not your cup of tea, many of the programs on your desktop computer that can open picture files can also resize them.Explorer0863 wrote:I have many, but I just tried to upload a couple and the system came back with this message: “The file is too big, maximum allowed size is 256 KiB”. The pictures that I have are from my iPhone and I don’t know the size or how to shrink them. Did a Google search on how to do it and received so many different results that I don’t even know where to start. Sorry.John Mc wrote:Sounds like a fun project! Any pictures?
- Attachments
-
- 1963 M37B1
- M37_2.jpg (119.58 KiB) Viewed 1720 times
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
- Explorer0863
- PFC
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:13 am
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
- Explorer0863
- PFC
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:13 am
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
The parts truck today. A lot of progress has been made, but still more work is needed. One day at a time.
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- PT_3.JPG (105.48 KiB) Viewed 1720 times
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
Hard to believe the frame on that parts truck could be in such good shape, given what the rest of it looked like.
1951 M37 "Brutus" w/Winch and 251 engine
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
My sentiments as well, great frame!!
Bruce,
1953 M-37 w/ow
Retired Again
Keep Em Rollin'
VMVA
1953 M-37 w/ow
Retired Again
Keep Em Rollin'
VMVA
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
Welcome Tony and thanks for saving another one! As you can see, the Team is already assisting with your "how tos" so keep the posts, questions, and pictures coming-glad to have you with us!
Gary
Gary
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
- Explorer0863
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Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
I was surprised too! That’s why I bought it as a package deal. Both or no deal. There are some usable body parts, plus an extra engine, transmission, transfer case, and diff.John Mc wrote:Hard to believe the frame on that parts truck could be in such good shape, given what the rest of it looked like.
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
- Explorer0863
- PFC
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:13 am
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
Thanks Bruce!m-37Bruce wrote:My sentiments as well, great frame!!
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
- Explorer0863
- PFC
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:13 am
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
Thanks Gary! This site is great!Cal_Gary wrote:Welcome Tony and thanks for saving another one! As you can see, the Team is already assisting with your "how tos" so keep the posts, questions, and pictures coming-glad to have you with us!
Gary
Tony
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
USAF SP/SF Vet
1963 Dodge M37B1
1955 Dodge Power Wagon
Re: 1963 M37B1 and introduction
I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures and progress on this project - looks like great fun!