Dodge M37

Dodge M37

M37 cargo truck
Type  3⁄4-ton 4x4 truck
Place of origin United States
Production history
Manufacturer Dodge
Produced 1951-1968
Number built 115,838
Specifications
Weight 5,917 lb (2,684 kg) (empty)
Length 15 ft 10 in (4.8 m)
Width 6 ft 11 in (2.1 m)
Height 7 ft 3 in (2.2 m)
Engine Dodge T-245
78 hp (58 kW)
Transmission 4 speed X 2 range
Suspension Live beam axles on leaf springs
Operational
range
 225 mi (362.1 km)
Speed 55 mph (89 km/h)
An M56 used as fire truck in Lane Motor Museum

The Dodge M37 (G-741) is a three-quarter ton four-wheel drive truck. It superseded the Dodge WC-51, WC-52, and WC-54 trucks in U.S. service and was used extensively by the United States armed forces during the Korean war. Variants included configurations as: the M42 command truck, V41 telephone maintenance vehicle, M43 ambulance, M152 enclosed utility truck, and R2 air field fire engine.

Development

Six prototypes of the vehicle were produced in early-to-mid 1950 based on the WC series Dodge vehicles used in World War II, with the first pre-production pilot vehicle rolling off the assembly line on 14 December 1950.[1] Many of the components on the M37 are similar or identical to the World War II vehicle and many deficiencies of the previous series were corrected in the M37. Notably, a conventional pickup truck style bed replaced the platform on the World War II vehicle, simplifying production. The powerplant was identical to the World War II era WC vehicles line, as was most of the drivetrain. The straight-six cylinder engine was derived from a 1930s era passenger vehicle engine that was widely produced. This was in line with a long-standing military procurement strategy that attempted to use commercially produced vehicle variants in military service. Many of the accessories on the M37 engine are identical to the engines from that era. There was significant drivetrain and powerplant commonality with the WDX series civilian Power Wagons. Outside of the fenders, there were sheet metal differences between all the vehicles.

Production of the M37 began in earnest in January 1951, with approximately 11,000 vehicles made by the end of that year. By mid-1954 63,000 of the vehicles had been produced. In 1958 a number of modifications to the design resulted in the new vehicles being designated as M37B1. From mid-1958 until the end of production 47,600 M37B1 vehicles were produced. Approximately 4,500 Canadian M37CDNs were also produced between 1951 and 1955. These vehicles continued in service worldwide in the Israeli and Greek militaries.

In total, between 1951 and 1968, 115,000 M37s were produced. Many deficiencies with aging design became apparent in the 1960s, including a tendency of the connecting rods to fail at high rpms due to the long cylinder stroke of the engine. As the average speed of the vehicles in the military increased, these engine failures became commonplace due to the low gear ratio of the vehicle, which was originally designed as a multipurpose vehicle capable of transporting heavy loads of ammunition. It was common in the 1970 and 1980s to encounter these vehicles with failed engines in government auctions. Many of the vehicles were transferred to civilian agencies and some are still in use today in rural areas.

Engine upgrades were made commercially available by the Hercules company. The vehicles were out of significant military service by the late 1970s, replaced by the M715 and M880 series of military trucks.

Variants

Dodge M42 in the Overloon Museum
Dodge R2 at the Hellenic Air Force Museum
M152 truck 1952

Dodge M37 Specifications

(Canadian version used the larger 250.6 cu in (4.1 L) engine)

Clutch

(Borg & Beck 11 inch clutch used on Canadian version.)

Fuel System

Electrical

Transmission

(Canadian trucks used Canadian Acme Model T-98)

Transfer Case

Drive Shaft

Axles

Brakes

Steering

Wheelbase

Weight

Tire Size

Highway

Winch

Torque Specifications

See also

References

  1. ↑ creinemann. "1953 M37 Dodge Restoration". Retrieved 16 May 2012.
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