Will It Run? 1952 Dodge M37 Revival - First Start In 10+ Years
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ย. 2024
- Follow along as I bring this 1952 Dodge M37 Korean War 4x4 truck back from the dead. It's been sitting for 10+ years, will she start up?
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Keep things rusty, except your tools! - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
For those commenting about the choice of oil, learn your facts before jumping to your keyboard with conclusions. 10W40 has two different properties. The “w” stands for winter, not weight. In cold weather, the oil acts as 10 weight. Once it has warmed, it acts as 40 weight. The variation of molecules allows for this to occur. When warm, I am running 40 weight. Which is thicker than straight 30 weight, with the benefit of cold weather properties. SAE 30 was recommended by Dodge in the 1950s. Oil technology back then was not what it is today.
10W40 or 15W40 is right for such an old engine :-)
Maybe you want to do short oil changes with cheap oil to flush out the old stuft Insider the engine block..
Oil turns to goo after wsuch stop times
Tell 'em straight brother.
In the late 70's oil was oil.
In the 80's they "improved' it along with petrol/gas the combination killed many older engines, including two of mine.
Peace
Charlie 🇬🇧
Oh and new subscriber...just found you today and about to hunt through your videos
Why would people worry about the oil the thing is like over 50 years old and most likely had every oil thrown into it over the years.
proud of ya. thats how u make it work.
@@charliemansonUK How about a creepy crawl?
As an 83 year old U.S.A.F. veteran who drove 6X6 on Okinawa I love to see these old vehicles brought back to life & work. Enjoy your videos bunch.
That dark red stuff is Glyptal, an insulating varnish which is very tough. The military was really big on it in WW2. I believe it is made by GE. Positive or negative ground makes no difference to the starter, and the generator and most regulators can be re-polarized as you wish. I see an ignition ballast resistor on the firewall, which suggests to me a 12 volt conversion, as 6 volt systems did not use one. And by the way, 12 volt coils will work fine on 6 volts without the resistor. I remember Delco starters and generators having different color nameplates for different voltages, red, orange and black. I think the orange ones were 24 volts, and red were 6 volts, but I'm not sure...that was over 50 years ago!
Have the same truck, built it for my son as a graduation present. Has 4bt Cummings with nv4500. Chevy 1 ton axles and 37" tires. Gets 22 mpgs and rides smooth as can be. Did I mention the twin procomp coil overs up with a parallel 4 link suspension. Was a fun build and I donated all parts not reused to a guy restoring his to original condition. Love these old dodges
I run a lot of old equipment and the best oil is 15 w 40 diesel rated oil its the only oil that has zinc in it.
When you buy old cheap blends... I am sure the hc cracking hydraulic oil additive Mafia sells some very "new" 15w40 which is worse for cheaper
@Fred Gift. Not true. Most motorcycle oils have the high zinc content these old engines need as the EPA does not limit it like auto oils. Higher zinc than diesel oils.
I run 15w40 Rotella in almost everything. Best conventional out there in my eye
That's what VGG likes to use also
just very little zinc now days. it harms caty. convs.
WOW!!!! I recognize this ol critter. Used it to help build a couple log houses. Drove it from the Canadian border down to Palmer. Top speed of about 44 miles per hour and it sucked fuel!! But it never faltered once.
Really!!? Do you have any photos of it by chance? Would love to see this thing getting used. That’s awesome!
It runs very well all things considered. You' re a rare thing in 2023 , a young guy who understands the only way to solve a problem is hard work and when things get tough keep at it until it's solved . You are a true American .
I like how you're relaxed when you do this and you go right to the topic at hand. I'm enjoying your series totally. Thanks!
in the 60's when I worked on rusty or oily/greasy vehicles I used a combo of kerosene and engine cleaner concentrate to spray down almost every thing let set overnight resprayed then washed with tide detergent and water then let dry overnight results were amazing almost new surfaces A pleasure to work with!!!
Your patience is appreciated and your skill is excellent.The gearbox will be fun.
When that thing started, I actually cheered! Awesome!
I like how you said this rig is mostly complete and then show the floor Pan missing over the transmission but it is a really cool rig I enjoy the homemade do-it-yourself style rather than just buy it at wally world anything
I have a 1952 M37 with 29,000 original miles and when I first started it smoked like It was a war time smoke generator. Turned out that the piston rings were broken on two cylinders. I removed the head, oil pan and pistons, honed the cylinders and installed new rings. Completely solved the smoke problem.
A worthy vehicle for your efforts!
My dad has a 51 Case tractor that smoked real bad. When he put a muffler on, it ran as clean as a new car.
As nice as it is to see restored military vehicles, to see something like this which has actually had a working life and all the scars to prove it is just wonderful. It was stuff such as this that allowed progress to be made and shaped what we have today. Fantastic vid 👌🏼
Agreed! I like to leave them original for that reason. They have a story.
I had one.. Drove it for 20 years.....Mike in Louisiana
Drove those trucks when I was in the Army! We abused the hell out of them and they just kept going! Would love to have one now!
Thank you for your service! They sure are tough old trucks. I got introduced to these by running a friends M43. Glad I was able to find one to purchase.
I got here from D&D speed shop, he says you are cool so I am here to see. The red stuff in the starter is probably a product called Glyptol G1201 that is used as an electrical enamel paint used as an insulator.
You can go online to Memphis Equipment, you can get any part you need for that truck
Careful when you are standing in line with that fan. I have seen them come apart when revving the engine up. I had a neighbor who was seriously hurt when one blade came off and struck him in the head.
Another great revival.....👏👏👍👍
Usually, these look so hopeless that it seems to be impossible to make it run again. Glad that you are patient and willing to put the time in. These trucks are national treasures ⭐️
sweet! i have a '52 Airforce M37 I'm restoring. The REALLY early M37's were 6 volt systems.
I have a 52' as well, but it was in the Army Corps of Engineers after the Army and then a federal fire fire department where they converted it to 12v. They put in a hidden battery disconnect too. I'm doing a 4BT swap soon, I did disks up front, power steering and I swapped the gears to 4.89 before, but it's time to go all the way so I can really get out there. I found some new 1100r16 XZL tires so it should roll pretty well between than and the gear swap.
The red stuff on the original starter is Glyptal. It's an insulating varnish used on motor windings and other electrical assemblies.
Hi guys, starting up those old engines is eating a piece of cake, like a walk in the park, those old equipments were designed to last for generations to come, enjoy the best you can, you will have something to talk about to your grand kids, those equipments were my bread and joy thru my entire life.
Most of kind of you guys, I wish to be there with you guys having the time of my life with those old equipments but I am thoudsands if miles away from you guys, just give that old truck a hug for me, enjoy, looking foward to see the job progress.
You are good at DIY things for old mechanical problems, encouraging for the rest of us to try our luck. 😊
that winch is most valuable thing i see on this truck they are prized
I enjoy watching old vehicles come back to life. Regards from the Caribbean
Cool beans dude, but ya don’t need a ballast resistor for a 6V coil, it’ll start much easier without it.
Indeed. Already took it off!
Really ... I did not know that ... But makes sense
Very interesting, I do highly suggest that you try PB Blast it to replace wd 40. I my experience it is much more effective.
You did a great of trouble shooting and remedy for the problems. I really enjoyed the video.
Early M37s were 6v before the switch to 24v early in the production run. I have a 52 as well with a delivery date of 1-8-52 and its 24. Willing to bet the 24v system it had originally was swapped for an easier to maintain/run/charge/jump 6v system out of an older 37 or cobbled together from available parts.
However, on closer inspection of the engine layout, it is most likely a civilian 6cyl salvaged from another truck and swapped in. Many of the military fittings are missing/relocated and the engine color itself is a big giveaway. Data plate on the passenger side of the block will indicate if it is at least a military motor.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the only two engine options for the M37 were the 230 and the 251. All CDN versions had the 251.
Those Plymouth 6 cylinder engines were tough as hell. Had a friend that had an old ‘49 that he drove like he stole it. It never missed a beat and was running strong when he sold it years later. I found you through D&D Speed and I really enjoy seeing how old junkers can be made serviceable using good ol’ yankee ingenuity.
One of my teachers in high school which was a little while back 40+ years ago had a M-37. He also had one of the very first Honda Civics talk about opposite ends of the scale.
Long time listener 1st time caller here. Doing a great job young'n, keep up the good work mate.
I'll take it!!
LOVE those old trucks!
Tough, durable yet sexy
you're exactly right . you have friends that have a junkyards your lucky man . you are definitely a backyard mechanic just like I was when I was younger you couldn't keep me out of the garage
I just had a thought young man .if you remember I made a comment for you to build a log cabin shed or room half its size your garage to keep your stuff in just maybe you find old bus or semi trailer to keep your spare part in and out the weather and off the dirt . it's just a thought...
I grew up in Kenai. My uncle had one of these. Slow as molasses but could pull a house.
You might be able to use some evapo-rust to save that transmission
Every body has their favorite and hated products, guess that is why so many sell. Glad to see you are doing a lead additive of some kind for the valves. If it is still smoking you can try diesel oil straight weight with one quart of number 2 fuel oil, sounds scary but it the diesel oil has zinc and stuff in it, most do anyways. The number 2 diesel will clean the rings and still carry the dirt away from the top. I just run it till it is hot then drive it or run it through varied RPM for a few hundred miles or till the oil is really nasty. You will want a filter on it and a bucket under the filter when you mess with it can help catch anything that spills. That would be fun to drive around hope the rest is in good shape for you. New sub, stay safe.
Great job! You are saving these trucks from destruction. Awesome!!!!!!
Wow that's a rough one, I have a 52' and I've been slowly making progress with it for the past five years. Soon it will be getting a 4BT swap. I did disk brakes and I have power steering to go in.
She is mint, nice runner, it's amazing you still have old stuff like that in Alaska, most of that stuff in CT is rotted to shit because of the salt on the roads, even new stuff rots here
I have a 50 Dodge 1/2 ton. Most bulletproof thing I have ever owned. If it breaks down, it is fixed in an hour for pennies and it starts in any weather.
Oh I really like the throaty sound of that rig. You've got the space and resources to rebuild that how you want it. Sweet!
That truck is sweet. I cant believe how unmolested it is. What a score!!!
You should bring the cable over the top in front and put a blade on front and make a snow plow.
Run Shell Rotella 15W-40. Have 2 flat heads this is what I’ve run for years, has some of those additives in it. You can run lead additive it’s not necessary. Chrysler used hardened seats.
Glad you got it running, sounds great.
Awesome stuff. I just bought one. I can't wait to start toying with it.
Hello there. That Sounds really good. The farm I used to work for had a Dodge command car. Same at the front has yours but it had 4 seats in like a body. The engine had a super charger. The farmer used to say she likes fuel.
When you said you have to show them who’s boss made me think of how my old friend used to say, we don’t ask it we tell it!
I can't wait to get mine making that joyful noise! The symphony of 6!
MANY of these were bought from military surplus by rural/volunteer fire departments and repurchased to be "woods and brush firefighting rigs." Many VFDs in my home county used them as such a few decades ago. They were virtually unstoppable...
Just fill that transmission up with Evaporust and turn that top upside down and fill it with Evaporust as well and let it set and it will eat that mess out of there.
We had M37 pick-ups in Vietnam. Had a brand new on,we unloaded and signed for it, was tough as nails.(1967) . They broke rear axels. RVN-67-69.
I HAD ONE, BEAUTIFUL AND A BEAST
forgot to mention, check with Patson Equipment in Anchorage if they are still in business. they would buy up all the old equipment from the National Guard. Ernie P was a mechanic in the guard back in the early 70's. Oh yeah, last time I changed oil in "Matilda", it was two pints of STP, three quarts of straight 30 weight and a quart and a half of Shell Aero 50 weight. And she always had that little miss, but was a hard working old girl. and the oil change was sometime around 1982 or maybe 1984.
My Dad bought a 52 Dodge Power Wagon back in the early 70's. He gave $50.00 for it and 50 cents for a brand new spare tire. It had been an old military ambulance in it's former life. I drove that thing everywhere for years. Hunting and fishing in it all over southern New Mexico. It disappeared one day and I asked my Dad what happened to it and he said he sold it. I was so disappointed, I loved that thing. He said he would have given it to me if he had known I like it so well. He was just tired of it sitting at his place. I mean it was at my house more than it was at his. And I was the only one who ever drove it.... Oh well....
STP oil treatment is an old solution to very worn engines. As a kid I heard an old Ford tractor respond to STP poured into it. The Idle speed went up as it was poured in. An engine rebuilder friend of my dad said he could tell an STP engine. An STP Engine would have oil in the top end, reducing startup wear. Good Luck and Gosd bless you.
I would change the Clutch & throwout bearing in it before you put the trany back in.
the army took these trucks 1953 mine in dec 14 after several years donated it ti civil air patrol in GA. after many years it was sold to a guy in dawsonville GA. he gave up in 2007 to a junk yard i found on the inter net 2011 bought dec 20 he brough it home to me for a fee very few nut and bolts i havent had off i feel like i have added 50 yrs to mine after all i have replaced from ground up i have stack of recpt. 1-1/4 in thick it very little rust body was in great ( no dents ) shape
I've had quite a few m37s, the last one was titled as a 1968. In the 80-early 90s $4-900 would buy a complete vehicle that took a min of wk to run. Always had to go through the brakes. Vintage power wagons used to have everything. Great old trucks especially with the winch. They had double output ptos for hydraulics or another winch. Are those trucks scarce and expensive? Sounds great, hope you put some love into it. Thanks for the memories, glad I found you.
Such a cool car hope to see it drive on the road sometime
Positive ground systems sent many a good truck and automobile to the junk yards...
6 volt systens were hard on the bat. Cables, UNDERNIETH THE cable COVERING.👍👍👍👍👍👈🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I think it's really cool that you have a junkyard that is stocked with parts for these old trucks that you're working on. Finding parts for the GMC or the M37 around here would involve lots of internet searching and a few hours drive each way.
That smoke keeps the bugs away.
Good name for that rig "Bug Dope"
Love M-37s, & the fact that this one was modified for some Tree work. Keep up the Good work, Thank You.
390 Ford burnout was too cool...Thanks for sharing...
Just a quick comment about your channel, I like what you're doing ,bringing an old wreck back to life like that is very impressive, but I think you should keep your videos longer and as in-depth as this one, Thanks again.
Rotella T 15w40 that old engine will love it. Great job getting her going
I had a1947 Dodge ton and a half flat head engine two speed rear end best truck I ever owned. Put a load of oak logs on it and do 65 keep up the good work
Your trucks remind of the ones in the Mohave desert when I was a kid. They ran and did the job.
You got some sweet vehicles over there!! Love the bumpsides!!
Right on man...total blast to watch...good job
I just bought 2 M37CDN winch models from Ft. McMurray, Alberta. A 52, and a 54. The CDN variant has a different drive line, using the Crysler 251 flathead rather than the US that ran the Dodge 230. Both my trucks (and Canadian military manuals) have these as 24v. The winch, t-case, and transmission are also different from the US version, but essentially similar-ish. One is going back as stock as I can get it, the other will be getting a diesel, and drivetrain upgrade to make it more driveable, particularly on the highway. Good luck with yours!
Really like the old truck hope you can get her running and driving
Man it sounds good. Great job how you tracked everything down. Great work. Thanks for sharing your experience!
The red "water proof stuff" is called glyptol, its a paint used inside motors and engines.
Vintage Power Wagons has tons of parts for M 37s. I also have a 52 with a winch. Those starters are a real pain. Hi from w Washington.
That engine looks like the 235 Desoto engine in my 53' Powermaster. The intake and exhaust manifold are identical, and, the way the top radiator hose connects to the engine is the same. A couple of comments on WD40. Many won't like me saying this, but WD40 is not as good a penetrating oil. Testing has proven that. It also doesn't work real well as a long term oil. It is a very light, short lived lubricant. WD40 has its uses but those two things are not what it is best for.
WD40 is nor a lubricant it was made for the military and the WD40 stands for Water Displacement formula number 40. It was designed to displace water from whatever it was sprayed on. PB Blaster is a much better penetrating oil. WD40 is also bad for anything that should be dust free like locks. WD40 will actually attract and hold dust so it will actually gum up locks or anything that should not be collecting dust.
@@Imroytc You are right. It does have some slight lubrication properties but it is not a good lubricant.
Diesel is the best penetrating oil, will seep into anything.
Love your videos. Live in Va but spent 3 beautiful years at Ft Wainwright in Fairbanks. You should try to build yourself a military style tow bar so when your moving things they don't swing so much
What's a little oil smoke between friends! As long as it smokes you know there's some inside it! NAPA oil is supposed to be Valvoline and I run it in the car but Delo or Valvoline 15/40 diesel formula in the 89 Taco. Brian Bloc that works for John Deere says that Delo is the only oil besides John Deere oil that has the right additives for flat valve tappets. And if and when you get the tranny fixed put a bottle of Lucas, HI-tak or STP in it. That'll help with rusty and rough places on gears and bearings. And those old Dodge 3/4's are the ONLY Dodge rig I'd have. And the ambulances had the gasoline furnaces to heat the insides. There were some civil service mechanics in our engineer outfit that had one of those and split the manifold and put two 5-ton stacks on it. Talking bout SWEET! You're already on the downhill side. Gopher it! GBWYou!
After it runs a while the valves will sort of seat and she'll be fine. Thanks for the video.
Again, another Military rig, built in America , by Americans who were PROUD & CARED . M37 have always been my favorite Military rigs.
Thanks for sharing your experiences & thoughts. Enjoy your sense of humor also.
ENJOY!
Stay Real.
You've really got a lot of nice trucks there!
Cirtainlysounds good when it’s running.
I'm fairly certain you Canadians coined the term or phrase "MINT" ! Love the old stuff, you can actually repair things instead of replacement! Sweet rig dude! Thanks for showing! Mint!!
I'd be in my glory working on that. Thanks.
What a great job, she sounds great
Awesome video on love the old military trucks. A little surprised at the small engines
Some Inline motors have a Bigger Displacement than some V-8s, it just depends on the specifications.
it looks like you are using 12 volts on the starter mine is a 53 m37 uses 24 volt s spins a lot faster its using all the amps to spin starter not much left for dist. very weak spark i could me wrong when you get it running check the spark should jump 3/4 in if not replace condencer in dist with ( standard 118 AL)
The red coating is insulating varnish and is usually a sign that its been repaired. Motor shops will use it when they tear one down or when they are rebuilding one. The factory varnish is amber color
I love your tenacity.
Marvel mystery oil is great for freeing up old top ends just a thought
Awesome truck. ❤️
9:00 PB Blaster is much cheaper than WD-40 when you need to blast a lot of it all around.
By 53 it should be 12 volt. No ignition resistor needed for 6volt. 6volt starters work fine on 12v. Just don't crank to long! Pull a headlamp to see what voltage it is.
Hey ,I have been using old outboard premix in mine for several years .She seems to like it .
the first thing i did was replace the points if you have the wrong condenser the points will pit also gas tank and fuel lines are toast (rust ) dont try to crank useing that tank you put all that mess in you carb you can get parts from VPW in iowa they bought all gov surplus for those tks about 1970 when they quit useing m37