Posted by Brian in Oregon on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 10:47PM :
In Reply to: Re: m-43 to an m-37 posted by mannyc on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:06PM :
Quoted from "TM9-1840C M37 (et al) Facts, Figures, Photographs" by John Zentmyer (available through Potrayal Press and others).
"On December 16.1951, the Detroit Arsenal ordered four M56 trucks with cargo bodies that were fourteen inches longer than the standard M37. On March 3, 1952, one was shipped to the Aberdeen Proving Ground, and on March 4, two more were shipped to Ft. Knox and the last one to Ft. Bragg. The results of the testing generally were satisfactory, but no orders were placed until the mid-sixties when a small quantity was ordered for export. This vehicle was given the designation M283 by MIL-T-10204A of March, 1954."
There is a photo of the M37LWB (Long Wheel Base)/M283 in this booklet. Assumming you are a competent heavy sheetmetal welder, or can hire one, it does not look like an insurmountable task. Roughly the rear half would be cut between the front corner and the tool box door, and the tool box door opening filled in. From another bed, you'd cut it behind the tool box door and splice it on as the new front. Of course, that is simplistic, since obviously careful measurements need to be made. The body mounts from the rear axle hump back look like they will match. Possibly the one that will be where the bed front will match too. The one between the hump and the very front will be off. Since it is just a pad, it should be no big deal. The cargo rack pockets over the wheelwell opening will have to go away. You'll need to add new ones fore and aft of the wheelwell. The M37LWB/M283 had four uprights total, instead of three on the M37. The biggest difficulty in all this will be welding the floor. It not only is corrugated, but is usually warped or pounded down.
Building an M37LWB/M283 would be a clever way of salvaging an ambulance with a bad body but a good frame. Or a V41/M201 frame, which is similar to the M43 frame.
The M37LWB/M283 in the booklet has no markings whatsoever. Not even a star or APG (Aberdeen Proving Grounds) Test marking, etc. It does have a driver's side fender mounted GASOLINE fired heater, with an exhaust stack going up the windshield pillar on that side.
If you do decide to make this conversion, I'd suggest getting Zentmyers booklet, as well as a copy of TM9-8030 which shows the body mounting points on the various M37 family frames. You can also get that manual on CD from http://military-media.com , but not Zentmyers.
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