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 | |
| 2011.2 | August through December 2011 | |
| ↓ Click the Image to Enlarge ↓ | ||
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Having finally put my tube bender together, I started making the new stronger running boards with skid plates for the M37. The Bender is the Pro-Tools 105 with a the Copperhead Fabrication Tube Bender Hydraulic Ram Bracket Kit and Harbor Freight 8 ton air/hydraulic jack. The perimeter tube is 1" square 11 gauge (.120" wall) steel structural tube. The running board surface will be 11 gauge (1/8") thick Diamond Pattern Steel Floor Plate. The skid plate will be .190" (3/16") thick 5052-H32 Aluminum Plate. The running board will mount like the stock one with an additional front and real mounting point to the frame. I had to repair the cracks/brake in the front running board mount and closed the factory gap to help add strength, this was after bending it back down into the proper location/angle. 2012-05-08 | |
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Well, this taking longer than I expected. But it's coming along pretty good. The Aluminum attachment was fabricated and completed., Next the aluminum was cut and it was formed to match the front frame/running board edge. After that came the work to cut the diamond plate, it was cut and the edges cleaned and checked for fit. Last today was the tacking in place of the diamond plate. 2012-05-09 | |
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Well, I got one done, but the other will have to wait, as I go pick up the wood fot the '46 Power Wagon Bed Wood Tomorrow, and I've got less than a month to get it done. 2012-05-10 | |
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1968 W-200 Engine/Tranny Donor
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