1954 Dodge XM-708 Restoration Project

[JimCunn]

Here are photos of the Interco and AST tires I'd like to mount. I prefer the Interco, but it hasn't been released for the 16 inch rim yet.

Maybe it will be available by the time I redo the 37. Thec37 was my first vehicle, given to me by my foster brother in 1962cwhen I was 20 years old.

I need to put a top on the 708 and am dithering between a stock canvas top and doing another metal top like the one I built for the 37. Which way would you guys go?

 

[JimCunn]

I built that top out of 12ga steel. If I do another, it will probably be 16ga to reduce the weight. I got that Duece sliding window out of the parts pile for free. They are selling for $325 now, so I'll likely be hunting for an alternative window.

And my foster brother used the tailgate off the 708 to make a gate for a soybean trailer back around 1965-66 (too late smart; didn't know how rare they are). So, I'll be building another of those as well. Simple enough, I have all the dimensions - but I'm dreading that anyway.
Here's a photo of one from another 708.

 

[JimCunn]

Oops. Soybean trailer happened about 1975, not 1965. Time flies when you're having fun. And speaking of that; me and my 1946 Piper J3C-65 back around 1967, parked on a sandbar in the Missippi River just downstream of the bridge at Helena, Arkansas. Seems like last week.

 

[JimCunn]

Forgot to post the image of the 3 and me.

 

[selectedgrub]

Barry Seal.
I knew you be alive.

 

[JimCunn]

Al, me and the left humerus of Quetzalcoatlus northropi out in my front yard. One of the largest animals that ever flew (10.5 meter wingspan, 10 foot long neck, 8 foot long head, etc.).
I'm holding the left shoulder in my right hand and the elbow in my left hand.The projection sticking forward and down from the shoulder is the delopectoral crest. It is one of the adaptations that allowed the azdharchid pterosaurs to become so large.

 

[frank horton]

do you need another family member....hahaha.....I'll voulenter for the job.....
pm sent.....

 

[JimCunn]

The rear of my 708. I truly do dread building that new tailgate. Took long enough to draw it up......

 

[JimCunn]

Back to the Cherokee from the other thread. Not all mods are for speed. Here's the right side 3rd window trim I designed and built (fiberglass) for the 59 year old Cherokee to give it a more modern look. Also, left back seat arm rest I designed to inset into the cabin sidewalls to give another 4 cm elbow room on each side. Window trim not installed in this photo. Back seat is crowded in the Cherokee. Every little but helps.

 

[JimCunn]

Lots of differences between me and Barry.
I didn't know the guy. Like everyone else though, I've heard of him.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Here are photos of the Interco and AST tires I'd like to mount. I prefer the Interco, but it hasn't been released for the 16 inch rim yet.

Maybe it will be available by the time I redo the 37. Thec37 was my first vehicle, given to me by my foster brother in 1962cwhen I was 20 years old.

I need to put a top on the 708 and am dithering between a stock canvas top and doing another metal top like the one I built for the 37. Which way would you guys go?
View attachment 502395View attachment 502396View attachment 502397

I'd put canvas on the 708.

 

[JimCunn]

I probably will initially for convenience. But the hard top makes a great roll cage in case the truck is turned over (I've rolled my M37 more than once).

 

[JimCunn]

Some of you guys seem to like fiberglass work (I do too).
Here are preliminary versions of the mainwheel fairings I did for my Cherokee. They are about 11 mph faster than the stock fairings.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I probably will initially for convenience. But the hard top makes a great roll cage in case the truck is turned over (I've rolled my M37 more than once).

Make a roll cage that duplicates the soft top frame ?

 

[JimCunn]

Yes, sort of....
I used the soft top frame itself to control the shape and wrapped it with 12ga sheet metal that was stiff enough to survive a roll.
Took 3 days. I used a sliding Deuce rear window out of the scrap pile, but they cost $325 now, so I may use something else instead.
The top in the photo has been rolled and repaired a couple of times.

 

[JimCunn]

As an aside, I used to do a lot of night time off roading (search & rescue), so I installed dual headlights on the front. Engine is a big block Chevy.
At one time or another, it has run the original straight six, a slant six, a 318, and I finally settled on the big block. It was pretty perky for an M37.