I allready asked the guys over in the dodge section and they had no info for me. I found one of these beasts and the running gear looks stout and has a couple neat features like tie rod behind the axle and reversed shackles. Does anyone know anything about these,who made the diffs and t case and were they any good. Any info you can give me would be usefull.

are you talking about a dodge m 37? just hit a search engine and punch in m37 should keep you busy all day. they are cool to have but every thing under them is way out dated. if you get it just figure on removing all the stock running gear and swaping it with some thing less than 50 years old. i had a friend of mine that just sold one, if the one you are looking at is complete it should be worth some money. just buy it and turn it for some bones. if it is the ambulance based on the early 70s dodge pu its got a dana 44f and 60 rear with a 203 case. not any real sought after stuff. i don't think that has the tie rod behind the front end though. mike

This would be the M43, which is a M37 with a 126" wheelbase and big boxy body on the back and extra leaves in the springs. Not ALL the running gear is antiquated. The engine is, though; it's a 230ci flathead six which is only worthwhile if you don't need to go over 45 mph. I've been replacing them with diesels, a lot of people use various (Dodge 318/360, Chevy 350) SBs. The trans is a NP420, which is a perfectly stout 4 spd with synchro in 3rd and 4th. The transfer case is a very stout NP200, just as heavy duty as a 205 but with offset rear output.
The axles are Dodge 9.625" ring gear, 3 pinion bearings, closed carrier, only locker available a #1210 Lockright, gears come with 5.83, 4.89 also available. Front axles have big strong Tracta joints, closed knuckle. Only weak point in driveline is rear axle shafts, 1.375" 16 spline, but only 1.25" shaft. Replacement new shafts are available from Foote Axle and Dany in Germany is making some 300M (4340M) two piece shafts.
They can accomodate easily 38-39" tires stock and 42s with a mild lift.
Disk brake kits, power steering kits, and SB Dodge V8 kits are available pretty cheap.
My M37 has a turbo-intercooled/propane boosted Hercules 3.7DTI, Clark 5spd, soon to have NP203/205/200 TC with 6.27 low range, 4.89s, front disks,PS, Lockrights, Braden AHSU3 hydraulic winch, Michelin 11.00R16 XLs with a set of 16.5L-16.1 Firestone Implement tires for muck (41"). It goes 80 mph, gets 18-20 mpg at 65 and stops straight.
You can do a lot with one of these rigs.
Charlie

Gunracer: This deffinitly does not have the 44, 60 and 203. These axles are built like a yota or 9" diff with dropouts. The transfer looks massive and is divorced. Some one told me it was a M48 put I dont know and im not sure that they know what they were talking about.

Charles thanks for the info

damn if i didn't know any better i would think charles knows what he is talking about.:flipoff2: but i have to admit he wanted to know some thing and charles just covered it about as good as he could get. thanks for the info charles, but i would still chuck all the running gear and up grade it to some newer stuff. i have a 715 that i keep tring to talk myself into making a tow rig, it would be cool. mike

A M715 with Cummins diesel (4 or 6), NV4500 or 5600, lockers and 42s would make a nice rig. There's a M715 Page of M715 freaks, I'm a Dodge and -Cruiserhead myself. And dieselhead.
Charlie

yea and i have a line on a 92 dodge rollover with a cummings. just wish i had the free time. mike

Did dodge make the axles them selves or were they built by Eaton or Spicer, or Dana, Or Muncie or...........?

They are Dodge's own and inside the diff things are pretty HD. An anti-deflection pad for the ring gear; triple pinion bearings, pretty indestructible. 4.89s should be more than tall enough for any size tire that you'd want to run. Nothing smaller than 36" should be put on one of these. I have lots of room for more with 38.7s with mine. Looking forwards to the 41" 16.5L-16.1s this summer.
Charlie

I guy I worked with this summer had one and it was tough enough, but what a heavy fucker it was!!! Playin in the sand one day and the 35" powerkings burried it, Took a full run at it with the 68 to get him out!!!! So far the only broken part was a rear axle shaft. I def would get it though, one hell of a camper!!!

Well I think I will rip that old body off, pull out about half the leaf springs, shorten the frame a few inches and throw a ford ranger body on it. Thanks for your help guys.

You are kidding? Build an offroad camper, put huge tires on it, drop in a diesel or a V8 and a 5spd. But keep the body.
Charlie

I forgot to mention, an oak tree fell on the box and its kind of squished

Do any of you guys know where they stamped the vin #s in the frame.