When Stuck Valves Strike - 1953 Dodge M37 Air Force Truck History, Cylinder Head Tech, And Much More

When I was serving in Vietnam lo these many years ago, though most of these had been replaced with the later 5/4 Kaiser trucks, there were still a lot of these running around. My job was a truck driver. One day, I was assigned to go an Army repair depot and pick up a 3/4 ton ambulance and bring it back to our outfit. While returning to Cu Chi, I came up on a bridge and stopped for traffic. When I was able to move, 19 yr. old me thought it would be a great idea to wind up the flathead and do a burnout. When I dropped the clutch, the vehicle went BANG and did not move; apparently I had shattered the final drive. So, rather than admit my egregious error, I put in in 4wd and drove the rest of the way back to base in front wheel drive, dropped it off and did not say a word....

Nah I wouldn’t worry too much about the slapping of number 2 piston. There just might be one or two matters slightly more pressing lol! Great entertainment, great watch thanks for sharing, and the laughs 😂

No rest for the wicked Jamie neat old truck

The asss in back ground...he throught it was good you got it running 👍👍👍👍👍

It wasn't mothballed because it didn't run. Just every other reason.

Do you have to ground an alternator that has a single field wire?

i unironically love this and would build a bed for it.

I dated a girl a long long time ago who's dad had his face rearranged by a bud wheel it was bad real bad......we always called them beter rings....

Man I was cheering and laughing my ass off when that beast came alive. Then watching it drive itself in crawl mode was hilarious 🤣.
Thank you for making my Day.

Its beautiful

If this poor truck could talk,the only thing it would say is "OUCH!".

I had a 1969 D200, 318, auto. Over 40 years or so. Neve let me down. Onward!

My NG unit used to take these on the Interstate. The one I was in threw a rod and cracked the block but still ran. We stopped at every service area to buy cases of oil to get us back to base.
Your plug wires don't have the radio RFI/water proofing they came with. All our vehicles were 24 volts.
( same engine in my 1950 Dodge Wayfarer)

"Strato Blue" I believe is the 'Air Force Blue' official name

What a great video Jamie. I love that thing. Hope she gets some love so she can come back as the awesome machine she is.

EPIC! Badass I was all stressed out when you were trying to get it running after the head went back on....frikin AWESOME!

I thought they were rated at 1 1/4 ton.

Reminded me of the movie Sorcerer. 😊👍👍

With the plugs in the starter sounds like all the plugs are out except one.

Not using the factory jerry rig can holder was a missed opportunity

I, for one, would like to sit that old truck down on a rocking lift and listen to it tell me stories about its experiences. After that, I'd repair it mechanically, keep the patina, and drive it gently when the weather is good.

👍

I'd run a winch in front, but my Wife prefers the seat beside me.

Gee! a fully self- driving vehicle from the 50s!

bed mounted range extender

About a week after I asked if we'd see any flathead love, here we are - thanks!

That was lots of fun.good job😅

I love old dumb unkillable Dodges. They definitely don't build them like they used to maybe that's a good thing. Love to see it

You have an awful lot of cool stuff to play with, my freinds and I got one running that was sitting at their farm when we were teenagers, promptly got it stuck driving straight through the woods, high centered on a stump, that was 1987. . .

You are amazing 😎

Our municipal public works department had an old surplus M37 truck that was nicknamed Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes. That was how long ago the township got it free, surplus from the US Government. That truck was run and run hard until it was auctioned off in the early 2000's. A remarkable record for a municipal vehicle. Nothing lasts that long normally when those guys get a hold of it.

Needs repainted and put in a museum, maybe evergreen? That is probably close to there right? I love military stuff. Air force military is pretty rare to see. Then again I hadn't ever looked much lol

Used to work on old military vehicles, a lot. Worked on more than a few M37's and WC's
The wheels with the bolted rims are WW2 era "Combat Wheels" and should have an internal beadlocking ring. The Budd style wheels are safe if you pay attention to what you are doing and make sure the groove in the wheel that the "ring" snaps into is free of rust and crud. If you ever decide to really fix up that truck and do not intend to offroad it hard, forget the 9.00X16's, and put a set of the more modern surplus Michelin 1100X16 radials on it. It makes first gear actually useable on the roads, and greatly improves handling and braking.
Running the old 6 Volt Dodge starter on 12 volts is a non-issue, they will merrily take the extra 6 volts and do so for decades. The rest of the system? What of it that was 24 Volt you'll be careful stepping down, (Not that your example had much wiring left to deal with) as the gauge of the wire in a M37's 24V system is a bit smaller than what is found in the earlier WC Dodges, and Ohm's law will catch up with you.
As others mentioned, "Midwest Military" was my go-to for a lot of parts.

Anywhere that services industrial tires should be able to tackle those split rims no problem, they are still relatively popular on forklifts and articulated front loaders

Pretty impressive

I need one of them.

Great show! Today we have seen and learnt a lot of things we probably won't need to but like to know. How wonderful.

A shit load of heat, and then PB blaster that literally boils when you squirt it in the cylinders! ? Seems to be a quite magical combination for getting rusty things to cooperate. In my experience. Next to ATF and!🤷 I about love those old Dodge trucks,!

That flathead Briggs & Stratton will run. Just spay things down the spark plug hole and let it sit for awhile

Cool!

Flathead valve repair? Feel like I'm watching a Mortske Repair video. All that's missing is the snapped valve lol

When does the vid about the washing machine does it run come?

Don't pull a Mortske!

No burnout ?

Very tough old truck.

Yeah, I likey this one. What a sweet old power wagon!

Should have got a dog leash hooked mother truck and walked along side

It's ALIVE!