My 1953 Dodge M37, 4x4 3/4 ton Military Truck
Yes I'm green. I've been recycled.
This M37 was bought at a closed bid county Highway Department Auction in MO with only 26,366 miles on the odometer. I was the winning bidder and am now the proud owner. The truck hadn't run or been used in a few years, but the engine was not stuck. Tires hold air, and rear tires are like new. Some rust in the usual areas on an M, under the headlights, and the bed floor is gone. Other than that the only major body issue is the Drivers Door has been opened up against the fender (door check busted) way too hard. Plans were to use the engine and drive train from a donor 1994 3/4 ton Dodge Ram 4x4 and make a great modern powered trail truck. Now after checking into the issue of putting the modern axles under the M (Narrowing Axles and Steering), I've decided to stay with the M's axles and add Disc Brakes and Lockers. I've bought a 1968 Dodge W200. with a 318 V-8 and a NP435D3 Transmission that will now be used to Power the M37.
| TRUCK, CARGO, 3/4 | TON. 4x4, M37 WoW |
| ORD. STOCK NO. | 62741-8358322 |
| Mfr. Ser. No. | 80257890 |
| Contracting. | 12107 |
| Date Del. | 12-7-53 |
| Model: | T245 |
| Frame No. | 80257890 |
| Cowl No. | 49202-3366 |
| Brach | ORD CORPS |
| Hood Number | ARMY 201012036 |
Re-Powered with a Mopar Small Block (LA) V-8 Specifications:
Displacement: 323 cu. in. (318 bored 30 over)
Cam: Melling Performance - Duration 278/288 Lift .422/.444 (MTD-1 WG-1116)
Fuel: Holley 502 Pro-Jection Fuel Injection, Throttle Body, 670 cfm (502-20S)
Ignition: Mopar Performance Electronic Conversion (DCC-3690426)
Additional Truck Specifications:
Clutch:
11" 10 spline 1" by Brake & Clutch
Exchange
Transmission: New Process Transmission - NP435, 1st gear ratio is 6.68:1
Transfercase: Stock New Process Transfercase - NP200 (1.96:1)
Front Axle: Stock Dodge Full Floating Hypoid Axle with Tracta Joints, 5.83:1 with
ARB Air Locker
Rear Axle: Stock Dodge Full Floating Hypoid Axle, 5.83:1 with ARB Air Locker
Hubs:
Drive Flanges now, I was running
Milemarker 11022-01
Selectro Classic Locking Hub
Wheels: Custom MRW (Marsh Racing
Wheels) Bead Lock Wheels
Tires: Super Swampers - IROK
39.5x13.50-17LT tires
Brakes: Helitool (Ugly Truckling)
1 Ton Disc Brake Conversion Front & Rear (GMC - MS, Calipers & Rotor)
Suspension: Stock leaf springs
Steering: Saginaw Reverse Rotation Power Steering Box (Snake
River 4x4 Style)
Accessories: Warn 12,000#
Electric Winch
My M's Height/Length/Width: 85"/188"/80"
35th Brigade, 1140th Engineering Battalion, Company C, Unit 53 - National Guard
| Links to see previous Images ↓ ↓ | ||
| 2004.4 | September through December 2004 | |
| 2005.1 | January through March 2005 | |
| 2005.2 | April 2005 | |
| 2005.3 | July 2005 | |
| 2005.4 | August 2005 | |
| 2005.5 | September 2005 | |
| 2005.6 | October 2005 | |
| 2005.7 | November 2005 | |
| 2005.8 | December 2005 | |
| 2006 . | 2006, The Year of a New Job and Move (No work on the truck) | |
| 2007.1 | April 2007 | |
| 2007.2 | May 2007 | |
| 2007.3 | June & July 2007 | |
| 2007.4 | August through December 2007 | |
| 2008.1 | January through February 2008 | |
| 2008.2 | March through April 2008 | |
| 2008.3 | June through August 2008 | |
| 2008.4 | September through December 2008 | |
| 2009.1 | January 2009 through March 2009 | |
| 2009.2 | April 2009 | |
| 2009.3 | May 2009 | |
| 2009.4 | June 2009 | |
| 2009.5 | July through August 2009 | |
| 2009.6 | September 2009 | |
| 2009.7 | October through December 2009 | |
| 2010.1 | January through May 2010 | |
| 2010.2 | June through September 2010 | |
| 2010.3 | October through December 2010 | |
| 2011.1 | January through July 2011 | |
| ↓ Click the Image to Enlarge ↓ | ||
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The MIJC Labor Day outing was moved to Dukes Off Road Ranch, and a great time was had by all. The trails were all fairly dry on Saturday, and we were able to make it through almost every trail. I got a little rear tire air again going down the one gully like I did back in October (picture here) but no one caught it on film. I also went up Widow Maker as it was dry enough to crawl up it with out bouncing off trees. 2011-09-03 | |
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We had a great long family weekend at our place in MO, Green Acres. Weather and colors were perfect. Ran all the open trails, and even down as for as it was clear, on a couple of new ones I'm working on. On Sunday Phil and Morgan brought over there newly acquired Toyota over for it's first off-road run. The little truck did great, and only needs a little door adjustment and idle work. I did have a little clutch and shifting issue while there. Apparently the stock linkage adjusting lock nut vibrated and caused the linkage to go out of adjustment and not let the clutch fully disengage. I made a semi-quick adjustment while there, but am still having some issue shifting into 2nd, it's stiff and hard to get into that gear from time to time. Once home I've added a jam nut and re-adjusted the linkage and as soon as the Lucas Synthetic 50 wt. Trans Lubricant arrives, I'll pull the top and see if anything sticks out as being an issue. 2011-10-10 | |
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My new Lucas Synthetic 50 wt. Trans Lubricant arrived today, so I drained the old 90 wt. gear oil and pulled the shift cover off. The oil in the bottom was a little dark, but the oil up on the gears and all was clean. Only a little metal on the drain plug magnet, no water or anything else. Everything component wise looks good in the shift cover and the tranny inside. I played around with manually placing it into 2nd. Based on what I see, the spring loaded component (between the two left upper gears) has some pins that ride in the right gear, and it looks like it may me moving too for the left (rearward in vehicle), allowing the tapered part of the pins to permit it to bind while they slide into the gear. Not sure, but I can't find any other issues. I cleaned the oil out of the bottom, and will re-fill it before I re-install the top and put her all back together and enjoy the fun some more. 2011-10-14 | |
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Double checked everything and can't find any obvious issues. In the first picture you will see the "Second Speed Syncrhonizer Brake" pin that mates to the second speed gear. You can see the tapered portion of the pin, and the hole in the gear. This is the alignment/binding I believe I'm feeling. As long as you take your time and don't force it, the shifting works fine. Everything is back together and time will tell if I continue to have any significant issues. 2011-10-15 | |
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Had another great trip to WASHITA Off-Road Park, near Farmington MO. I felt a little outnumbered when I first arrived, as the Midwest Jeepthing was there in force. From the MIJC, was Me, Bill, Tom and Al (and Kat), so an M and three Jeeps. I managed to slide off a rock and into a tree, and had to winch away from it to prevent further damage (I did bang up the door). The only other damage I know of is further butchering the running boards. I'll have to pull the passenger side off to be able to open the door. We arrived at the knob late in the day due to some blocked trials, and a failed attempt of ascending B-8. Bill made a great go at it, but we weren't going to get to the top that way. I look forward to the next trip back. 2011-11-05 | |
1968 W-200 Engine/Tranny Donor
AllPar . com DODGE Talk . com MIJC . org
W_A_Watson_II at Hotmail
