new M37CDN restoration

[Eric B]

Welcome to MLU

Yes your name sounds familiar.

By the way there is a M38a1, GPW, M151a2, M100 and MBT in my collection but no M38. Even my loving wife knows that. haha

Eric

[Gunner]

Hi Ewen:

Welcome to MLU! I owe you a PM about paint schemes...

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Hi Ewen: Welcome to MLU!

I second that!

I owe you a PM about paint schemes...

Why not post them here?

H.

[Gunner]

Yer right, Hanno... and I will!

Mike

[Ewen B]

Well I have done some work on the truck, wanting to have it ready for a parade at the end of the month. I was lucky a friend stopped in and brought a pipe wrench and a couple of sledge hammers. A few hours later all my fenders were straight and I realized I did not need a new front right fender after all. It still looks rough, but probably the best it has looked in 40 years. I put a couple of coats of paint on it. Flat black where the black used to go. Kakki tan where the off white used to be, and a gloss green matched up with to a chip of paint off the truck at Home Hardware. These colours actually look pretty similar to the original when I waxed a sample area on the truck and wet it down to look new.

There is still some small work to do before I'll get some photos on the site. Presently waiting for parts to come from the states so I can get the brakes working. Biggest dilema is what call sign to put on it. It had
42A painted over by 69D. Not sure if this would be the same unit, but I would like to try and keep it original. I also put new wood and made some backrests in the rear. Next major cost for the truck would be tires.

So far the budget has been pretty good:
Truck $1,700.00
Paint 110.00
front clevis hooks 50.00
lights 100.00
muffler 68.00
brake kit.. 211.00 (and a whole wack of other little parts)

I have my eye on some other parts for it later.
stay tuned for some photos.
Ewen

[Ewen B]

Here are some photos of the 1954 M37 CDN I picked up west of Wainwright. So far my neighbour and myself (mostly him) bashed out the fenders and running boards with two sledge hammers and a large pipe wrench. I tested some spray paints to match colours and took a paint swatch from the truck that fell off, to Home Hardware. They scanned it onto their computer and were able to come up with an oil based beauty tone paint that was gloss in the green I needed. Cheap option, and i then brushed away as they did the last time the truck was painted in the 1970s. Waited for some parts to come from the states and now have to put the fender back on. Life in a small town with no local implement dealers...hard to find the right bolts you need when you want them.

Here are some photos to look at for now. One from the trailer ride home, and two from the work being done in my driveway. Still having a dilema as to what call sign to use. Threw my old Black Watch licence plate on the front for now. Ewen

[Ewen B]

Got the truck into the Railway Days parade in Melville. I had a group of Air cadets ride in the back and hand out freezies. I had 600 at the start of the parade and told them to hand one to each kid and people in wheelchairs. Well I didn't have any left by the time I hit 1/2 way through the parade. Cute kids but got a little too enthusiastic. Truck was a hit, and I left it at the car show for the day as well. Still lots of work to do on it, but this is what it is all about. Hey, I even got the wife to ride in it a couple of times. Keeps missing 3rd gear, but I can almost leave it in 4th for most of the driving in town anyways.
Getting ready to Move north, so the wife said I can't play with the truck till the house is ready to sell...and sold...and we are moved into our new house...and I hope I get a yard with a big work shop....and now I am really dreaming.

Some more photos for you.
Ewen