A Dodge M-37 Korean War Military Truck, 4BT Cummins swap, hunting and firewood rig

This Old Truck returns this week with Winslow Bent as he takes this Dodge M37 to Driggs Idaho's National Forest!
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[@keystonekrawler6242]

I noticed some folks in the comments equating the broken axle to the quality of the brand. If you take a step back, use a little bit of sense you’d come to realize this rig is 70ish years old. Metal, especially metal that is used in the way an axle shaft is used becomes fatigued over time. Grab a piece of steel, hook it up to something that can twist it and see how many years it holds up before it gives up the ghost. The broken shaft has nothing to do with “quality”. It’s just plain old effects of age and use. These old M37’s were built to be dropped from helicopters much in the same way as the HMMWV’s are. Very well made machines. Also keep in mind an axle shaft for these doesn’t cost much….somewhere between $75-$150 for a normal NOS shaft (depending on what side). Obviously it can become more expensive if you’re going for hardened 4340 (I think that’s the chromoly iirc) shafts…..I think those are around $1200ish for the pair. Folks don’t really NEED to be tribal surrounding vehicle brands. It’s pointless. Chevy makes duds. Dodge makes duds. Ford makes duds. Toyota makes duds, they ALLLLLL make duds. But, they all also make awesome quality rigs too. You just have to always remember “They can’t ALL be zingers”. Stop being brand partisan. It only makes YOU look bad. Realize that all brands do in fact make good stuff, just not 100 percent of everything made is “flawless” for allllllll time. I’d say for the amount of time this old M37 has likely been used and abused it’s still here and going strong. I have a “low number” Springfield M1903 rifle. Look those up. It doesn’t make me think less of Springfield. It just is what it is. Nothing from anyone is always perfect. Period.

[@dnfd737]

my grandfather had 3 of these, they were farm trucks, it was the first thing I ever drove at 7 years old.

[@clmccomas]

Brought back some' great memories of riding with my father and grandfather in a WW II era weapons carrier going to gas and oil well drilling sites in the hills of WV in the early 60's I have to say "Turn around, don't drown" on fording anything more than a foot or so of water in a known ford or any sort of fording on a unknown site. I saw a Deuce and a half disappear out from underneath the driver when he drove off the ford into deep water. Lucky for him the canvas top was off and we had a recovery boat in the water. We drown people every year in the Army during fording operations. Just because the truck is set up for 4 or more feet of water doesn't mean you should.

[@datnotme9921]

I wanted an M-37 for a long time. Thanks for sharing!👏👀

[@rockymountainjazzfan1822]

On both the civilian 1-ton Power Wagon and the M-37, the axles were the weakest part of the drivetrain. The flathead-6 could even break them, but a 4-BT Cummins has way more than enough low-end torque to break them without much provocation. A friend had an M-37 with a 4-BT. After breaking many an axle, he had custom Dana 60 front and rear axles and differentials built for it, with a locker added to the rear axle. I believe that the Dana 60s ran a 3.73:1 ratio that made the M-37 more highway-friendly, but still with low-speed gearing more than enough for off-roading. That thing, so equipped, was a complete off-road animal--and it even got half-way decent fuel economy.

[@michaelguerin56]

Thank you. Enjoyable video. Good to keep it honest when parts fail. First proper telling of the mechanical improvements in the M37 that I have come across. Helps to explain why the Swiss Army used the later parts in their forward control vehicles.

[@ignitionaddiction9176]

Love this piece of military history. If you ever want to do a video on any old school military trucks being used by the Military today please let me know and I will hook you up with something. Keep up the great videos. Love to see where this channel will go.

[@thisoldtruck4719]

Ha! Sounds very tempting!!

[@bc30cal99]

Greetings from south central BC, thanks for the video. I found it wandering about looking for M-37 videos after my brother just picked up one. All the best to you all.

[@415s30]

51' was the first year, not 50'. The stock tranny is not fully synchronized. The windshield is shared with the deuce and they modified deuce tops to fit them before the arctic tops they initially gave to the Canadian trucks with the larger engine, I have a very early one.

[@nickwodak4965]

That truck is absolutely beautiful. Your commentary was fantastic. Will definitely check out more of your videos . Thanks :)

[@terrystewart2070]

Nice run down on the M-37, thank you! I would have really appreciated more info on the change over from the flathead to the Detroit Diesel 4 banger. Maybe you could do a follow up about that. Glad your component failure did not result in serious damage to you or the truck!

[@415s30]

I have one with a 4BT, nobody makes mounts for this truck except M Series Rebuild and they want to do the whole conversion in house only. It's the perfect motor for an M37. Switch to 4.89 gears from Nitro Gears and it cruises well.

[@X-Appeal]

Hey Winslow, you need to do an updated drive with this truck! Also a detailed walk around on the modernized drivetrain you have installed. Awesome vehicle! Awesome build! Love all of your work you do!

[@rogeralsop3479]

Winslow is an American hero.

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

Thks for the video just got me a m37 body and bed bought a 1996 3500 chev 4x4 crew cab had to buy unbelievable cheap and running now the build stsrts

[@richardbryant7165]

The broken axle is a weak point on those trucks, that's why on my 1954 which has V-8 in is going to be getting updated diff's and transfer case. I'm also planning to put in power steering to make for better drivability.

[@415s30]

M Series Rebuild has a good kit, I got the Snake River kit and we felt like we needed to beef up a couple things. I have been dealing with M Series now, I got a disk brake kit. We are doing a swap on my 52' M37 soon.

[@leeadams5941]

Subscribed, love old power wagons and military trucks

[@bensides9420]

I put a red ram v8 hemi in my m37, switched out the 3/4ton differentials to the military 1/2ton dodge diffs giving me a higher top speed and added a hydrovac brake booster so i could stop the beast. Was my daily driver for 8 years.

[@bretteslife1907]

That's a really cool truck, if rather have that then a side by side.

[@thisoldtruck4719]

or a flatfender Jeep- Way better than SXS

[@keystonekrawler6242]

I just picked up a 1952 M37 and am considering various diesel swaps. It would be GREAT if you folks did a more detailed video dedicated to explaining what went into doing the Cummins 4BT swap, which specific version of 4BT it is, which transmission/transfer case you used or, which adapters were used if the original trans/TC were retained. Any future plans for this truck would be great to learn about as well. This type of content would be greatly appreciated! Nice truck!

[@Carla-tz7qw]

453 Detroit is better.

[@doylemaintenance]

@@Carla-tz7qw too heavy, 1350lbs compaired to 750lbs for the 4bt. I own both, you need a 1 ton for the detroit IMO

[@juliojames5986]

Guess we best replace some drive line parts before getting out in the mild off road. Chesty would not approve of any weak parts ??

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

Just bought a m37 1952 body on a 1999 f250 frame 4x4 just sitting on it have a 1996 3500 4x4 crew cab duelly going to mount the m37 on the chev 4x4 like that one that has the spare wheel and batterys in the middle one payed $150.00 for the chev

[@marcmcfarland1153]

I showed this to my dad and he was all like, ya we had those in Korea, he served in the Air Force between 68 and 74. So I wouldn't be surprised if you could still find some of them there.

[@415s30]

I haven't seen any but there are many modified ones in Vietnam, they used them throughout that time as well as the M-37B1. I have a 52' myself with a Cummins swap etc..

[@jimmotormedic]

I really really wanted one until I watched this. Cool truck! I think I'll just keep looking for a WW2 era Jeep

[@Sarge0311]

Very nice M37 sir

[@captainexcabier]

I like seeing the mechanical stuff. It would have been kind of neat to see you do the repair work on this truck instead of just talking about it.

[@yesode4201]

Haha four wheeling! More like going to the pub.

[@LJSJIUJITSU]

Sometimes simple is just better.

[@justinreedflynn]

Cool!

[@AMCguy]

I have got to get my hands on one!!!!

[@curtschmidt918]

I enjoyed the video, please make more dodge M-37 videos.

[@user-wd8zg6pw9d]

How could they stand up in Korea wallowing heavy mud ,when it will take out axles etc seen in this video on just an open mountain path. Seems to me this path should be a piece of cake compared to what is needed in a real war situation where I would think,they would be tested to their limits.

[@KennyB71]

What size are those tires?

[@johnlallemand8554]

MINE HAS A WINCH,,,1952 MODEL

[@infernoking7504]

What kind of mpg????

[@wnycaveman6922]

👍👍👍

[@ldkbudda4176]

Александр Балуев?

[@76slippery]

24 volts huh?

[@d.jerrycook2994]

I found out that the axle is a weak point for this vehicle...

[@frankdavidson9675]

speaking about deep water fording what about 2 batteries under water ?????????

[@Carla-tz7qw]

Batteries are in the cab😅

[@willrector9716]

I think the Koreans would have got ya on that mission! Super swampers probably hookup too good, hence the pops........... didn't have those back then lol

[@thisoldtruck4719]

It was honestly terrifying. Going backwards down the hill, drum brakes, pedal to floor, nothing to slow you down. I pushed the brake pedal so hard, I actually broke the wire inside the steering wheel!

[@JohnMcNerney]

@@thisoldtruck4719 Have you considred upgrading at least the front wheels to disk brakes? I did that on my M37, since I'm regularly operating in hilly terrain and towing trailer logs of logs or firewood with it.

[@joecurrent7639]

good vid until the music started !!!!!!

[@rosendodominguez942]

MAN I WWAS TEIINKEIIN THEY WOR WAY BATOR .I WAS GOEIIN TO GAT 1 BAT NAU .I .IM JAST .GOINTO GAT A CATTAR PELAR .THEY AR WII BATOR .G

[@SevenSixTwo2012]

Typical Dodge : looks great, feels great, but its shoddy craftsmanship will let you down at the worst possible moment. Good video, though! 👍

[@415s30]

You must be high, the old Dodges are rock solid. My fucking M37 survived the Army in Korea, the Army Corps of Engineers and MA Federal Fire service. Now I have it for off roading. You don't know jack shit.