1954 Dodge M37 Restoration Project

[JimCunn]

I too, appreciate your posts. I'm in southwest Tennessee. I have a 1953 M37 that was given to me in 1962 (currently powered by a big block Chevy and SM465 transmission) and a 1954 XM 708 that I acquired in1972 (an experimental dump truck with a 1 cubic yard Garwood dump bed built on the M37 chassis - 192 were made; 14 survive). I'm currently refurbishing the 708. Got a long way to go. Currently installing a Braden LU-4 winch on it.
Wish me luck...

 

[JimCunn]

I'm new here - is there a way to edit typos in posts?

 

[Farside]

I'm new here - is there a way to edit typos in posts?

Bottom left of your post, - Report, Edit, Delete

 

[Blue Chips]

I too, appreciate your posts. I'm in southwest Tennessee. I have a 1953 M37 that was given to me in 1962 (currently powered by a big block Chevy and SM465 transmission) and a 1954 XM 708 that I acquired in1972 (an experimental dump truck with a 1 cubic yard Garwood dump bed built on the M37 chassis - 192 were made; 14 survive). I'm currently refurbishing the 708. Got a long way to go. Currently installing a Braden LU-4 winch on it.
Wish me luck...

The Gar Wood-built XM 708 sounds very interesting. I see that the bed is mounted on an M53B1 chassis, and that it's rated for a 3,500-pound payload, which is substantially more than the M37's maximum of 2,000 lbs (highway payload). Does it have the same rear axle as an M37? I found this spec sheet about an M53B1: https://web.archive.org/web/20161111222024/http://g741.org/PDF/MS51390.pdf

As @Farside mentioned, there is an "Edit" link under the post, although it expires after a while (can't recall exactly how long).

 

[JimCunn]

Built by Dodge, not Garwood. Dodge used beds and rams by two different vendors (I don't remember the other one, mine's a Garwood).
And it is built on a 37 chassis, not a 53. The rear springs are beefed up and the PTO has a front and rear shaft. Everything else is standard 1954 M37 (including the instrument panel mounted data plate).

 

[JimCunn]

No Edit. Only Report and Delete.

 

[JimCunn]

When you post, Edit does not appear even instantaneously.

 

[JimCunn]

I have a strong preference for directional tires. I really liked the old Firestone 9.00x16 Super All Tractions (one is temporarily mounted backwards on the driver's front of the 708 in the photo above), but they no longer make them. Nearest thing I can find is the Coker AST 1050x16 (photo attached). It is about the same tread width as the Firestone but considerably taller. I haven't been able to find the tread depth yet. Photo looks maybe a bit lacking. Anyone here used them?

I would prefer the Interco Cobalt, but they aren't available for 16 inch rims yet.

 

[JimCunn]

Oops, I'm extracting my foot from my mouth. It is indeed based on the M53B1, though the 708 spec incorrectly says M35B1, and my data plate says M37. One other difference from the 37 is the factory hydroboost brakes and the shorter wheelbase.

Blue Chips, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. I'll start another one.

Your work is amazing.

 

[Blue Chips]

Built by Dodge, not Garwood.

I read that the XM708 body was built by Gar Wood (two words). Source: John Zentmyer, TM9-1840C, "...The Production Story"

Garfield "Gar" Wood is credited for inventing the first hydraulic lift/hoist for dump trucks...also many famous boat designs. Company was called Gar Wood Industries.

No Edit. Only Report and Delete.

If you wait too long after posting, the "Edit" option disappears.

Your work is amazing.

Thanks for the kudos.

Also, why don't you PM me a photo of your data plate, as it may or may not be the original one, since they got changed a lot as various motor pools and service branches rebuilt vehicles, or made changes to them over the years, which often required a change of data plates. They also made mistakes on occasion when a plate was changed.

 

[JimCunn]

"If you wait too long after posting, the "Edit" option disappears".

In my case, it never apears. I watched.

 

[JimCunn]

Sceenshot of my previous post.

 

[Blue Chips]

In my case, it never apears. I watched.

I haven't experienced that. Maybe you could check with one of the moderators.

 

[JimCunn]

"I read that the XM708 body was built by Gar Wood (two words)".

You pays yer money and takes yer choice

Data plate photo, large print one word.
Small print, two words

And no, the body was built by Dodge (standard M37), the running gear by Spicer (Dodge Subsidiary). Two different Companies built the dump systems and beds

And yes, I know who Gar Wood was. I've owned this thing for 55 years; I'm not a stranger to it. Plus, I like boats too, though my preference ran mostly to the old DeSilva Class C & D racers.

As an aside, I've owned my three M37s for 63 years, though two of them are just parts trucks. I like modifying the 37 (it was my first and still favorite vehicle) and have had four different engines in it, the original 232, a slant six, a 318, and the big block Chevy. Time to install another bb. I'm dithering between a 454 or a 502. I finally settled on a GMC SM465 transmission about fifty years ago. I'm running Warn lockouts on the front axles and a Detroit Automotive KS-22 "No-Spin" differential in the rear (back in the 60s, the No-Spin came complete with carrier). Winch is a Braden LU-4. Top is homemade. Running two extra headlight pods for more light at night.

You can probably tell have a weakness for old vehicles; I still have my first car, a 1955A Thunderbird and my first plane, a 1946 Piper J3C-65.

 

[Blue Chips]

And no, the body was built by Dodge (standard M37), the running gear by Spicer (Dodge Subsidiary). Two different Companies built the dump systems and beds.

I don't doubt that. I suspect that John Zentmyer was referring to the dump body when he said that the "XM708 body was made by the Gar Wood company."

 

[JimCunn]

He was. And sounds like he also missed the other company that built the dumps. I'll fish their name out of my records if you wish.

 

[Blue Chips]

He was. And sounds like he also missed the other company that built the dumps. I'll fish their name out of my records if you wish.

He said that the XM708E1 body (dump body) was made by the Hardeman Company.

 

[JimCunn]

Yup, that's it. You bumped my memory, thanks....
Re the Cherokee, here tis.

 

[Wildefalcon]

Nominating this thread for "thread of the week".

Bar grips, sit down when you see the price.

 

[Blue Chips]

Bar grips, sit down when you see the price.

Yes, I know. Reproduction specialty tires/tyres for some antique/classic/military vehicles have crept up in price to crazy levels, although some of the more popular sizes are more reasonably priced. That same tyre is roughly the same price over here ($471.00 = £343.24). And original-pattern non-directional NDT or NDCC tyres for my M37 are just as pricey. If you shop around a bit, you can shave a little off the price, and maybe a bit more if you don't care about having an original tread pattern, but they're still a major expense. I stayed with the original-type tyres, since I'm keeping my M37 basically stock, and I don't care about the off-road or mud/snow/rain performance, since my M37 is registered in Maine as an antique vehicle, and it will only be driven to events like car shows or going on fair-weather car club cruises. I've seen lower-priced Chinese 900-16 tyres, but I don't know how long they'd last.