?? 53 dodge army ambulance ?? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Weezer · 03-04-2002, 07:49 AM

I need all the info I can get, I found one of these complete and the running gear looks beefy. Who made the axles, Tcasa, tranny is this stuff any good. Any info you got would be helpfull

69 toylet · 03-07-2002, 01:15 AM

Is this complete and looking good,or rusty and rolled?
I want something like that to restore.
As for running gear to put in a rock rig I would'nt use that old ass running gear.you want something you can easily get parts for,that are affordable.dana 44 or dana 60 all the way.

Weezer · 03-07-2002, 08:08 AM

Check out the thread in the general section, a tree fell on it, the body aint worth restoring. We already put the 318 and power brakes in it, it is not for sale. Oh and by the way it is worth running in the rocks once I get the alloy shafts in it

.

WELCOME NEWBIE

bluethunder · 03-07-2002, 07:51 PM

What you have is either an M-37 or M-43. if its the ambulance i think it is an M-43. check out www.bigelectric.com its a site all about these trucks. the axles are dodge full floaters with a removable 3rd memeber. gears are 5.83s stock, and the ring gear is 9 5/8"? something like that. transfer case is a divorced np 200 with a 1.96:1 low range. original transmission was an np 420 4 speed. they are designated 3/4 ton trucks. the stock axle shafts are junk, but the axles themselves are very strong. if you get some new shafts, they should be about the same strenth as a dana 60. hope you are enjoying this truck, they are awesome. I also have a 53 model thats gonna be my trail truck. make sure to check out that website, has lots of info.
-Jonathan

Weezer · 03-08-2002, 07:47 AM

BlueThunder: Thanks for the info and the link I will spend plenty of time over there checking it out. Oh just so you dont feel left out.

WELCOME NEWBIE

Charles Aarons · 03-10-2002, 02:14 PM

Blue Thunder's info is mostly accurate. Except the front axle shafts are usually OK, the rears do break sometimes. Patson Parts in Anchorage, AK (907-333-5682) has some new (metallurgically so) rear shafts, and Dany from Germany is making some $800/pair shafts out of 4340M steel. Lockright part #1210 is the locker for the diff and 4.89s are available.
If I had a M43 with a trashed body: I'd put an M37 cab on the front with a flatbed for a 126" wb truck. I'd run 39.5s or 42s, and transplant a diesel or a sb V8 (I'm a diesel nut). My M37 (I think I've told you about it) has a Hercules DTI3.7 3.7L 4cyl trubo-intercooled diesel with propane fumigation, a Clark 280VO 5spd, soon to have a NP233WMS/205/200 transfer case with 1.96, 3.2 and 6.27 low ranges, 4.89s, Lockrights, front disks and PS (available for M37s and 43s), Braden AHSU3 10K hydraulic winch, and either Michelin 11.00R16 XLs or Firestone 16.5L-16.1 41" tractor tires.
Charlie

03-04-2002, 07:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Weezer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Member # 2616 Location: Pollock Pines, CA, USA Posts: 1,712	?? 53 dodge army ambulance ?? I need all the info I can get, I found one of these complete and the running gear looks beefy. Who made the axles, Tcasa, tranny is this stuff any good. Any info you got would be helpfull __________________ <>< <>< <>< If you have a sticker on your rig that says " Its a jeep thing you wouldent understand " you DONT understand.

03-07-2002, 01:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
69 toylet Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Member # 8884 Location: northern cal Posts: 6	Is this complete and looking good,or rusty and rolled? I want something like that to restore. As for running gear to put in a rock rig I would'nt use that old ass running gear.you want something you can easily get parts for,that are affordable.dana 44 or dana 60 all the way. __________________ so many sheep so little time.

03-07-2002, 08:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
Weezer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Member # 2616 Location: Pollock Pines, CA, USA Posts: 1,712	dodge Check out the thread in the general section, a tree fell on it, the body aint worth restoring. We already put the 318 and power brakes in it, it is not for sale. Oh and by the way it is worth running in the rocks once I get the alloy shafts in it . WELCOME NEWBIE __________________ <>< <>< <>< If you have a sticker on your rig that says " Its a jeep thing you wouldent understand " you DONT understand. Last edited by Weezer; 03-07-2002 at 08:10 AM.

03-07-2002, 07:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
bluethunder Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Member # 5254 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 8	What you have is either an M-37 or M-43. if its the ambulance i think it is an M-43. check out www.bigelectric.com its a site all about these trucks. the axles are dodge full floaters with a removable 3rd memeber. gears are 5.83s stock, and the ring gear is 9 5/8"? something like that. transfer case is a divorced np 200 with a 1.96:1 low range. original transmission was an np 420 4 speed. they are designated 3/4 ton trucks. the stock axle shafts are junk, but the axles themselves are very strong. if you get some new shafts, they should be about the same strenth as a dana 60. hope you are enjoying this truck, they are awesome. I also have a 53 model thats gonna be my trail truck. make sure to check out that website, has lots of info. -Jonathan __________________ 1953 M37

03-08-2002, 07:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
Weezer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Member # 2616 Location: Pollock Pines, CA, USA Posts: 1,712	dodge BlueThunder: Thanks for the info and the link I will spend plenty of time over there checking it out. Oh just so you dont feel left out. WELCOME NEWBIE __________________ <>< <>< <>< If you have a sticker on your rig that says " Its a jeep thing you wouldent understand " you DONT understand.

03-10-2002, 02:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Charles Aarons Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Member # 8168 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 315	M43 Blue Thunder's info is mostly accurate. Except the front axle shafts are usually OK, the rears do break sometimes. Patson Parts in Anchorage, AK (907-333-5682) has some new (metallurgically so) rear shafts, and Dany from Germany is making some $800/pair shafts out of 4340M steel. Lockright part #1210 is the locker for the diff and 4.89s are available. If I had a M43 with a trashed body: I'd put an M37 cab on the front with a flatbed for a 126" wb truck. I'd run 39.5s or 42s, and transplant a diesel or a sb V8 (I'm a diesel nut). My M37 (I think I've told you about it) has a Hercules DTI3.7 3.7L 4cyl trubo-intercooled diesel with propane fumigation, a Clark 280VO 5spd, soon to have a NP233WMS/205/200 transfer case with 1.96, 3.2 and 6.27 low ranges, 4.89s, Lockrights, front disks and PS (available for M37s and 43s), Braden AHSU3 10K hydraulic winch, and either Michelin 11.00R16 XLs or Firestone 16.5L-16.1 41" tractor tires. Charlie __________________ Diesel M37 and BJ40, U500 with Unicat camper

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