This was my experience, but for someone wondering what it might cost to rebuild an M37, I can share what I ended up spending.
Overall, it was just under $20k ish
This was full engine rebuild, done by NAPA in (North) Topeka. Transmission rebuild done by Smith Brothers transmission in Topeka. Vintage Power Wagons provided nearly all the parts. Radiator recore done by B & D Radiator Shop in McLouth, KS. Rebuild work done by a mechanic who did a very high quality job as a side project. Nearly every system in the vehicle has been at least looked at, with most of these systems being completely rebuilt. It is mostly original design with modern system upgrades not being visible (eg C30 master cylinder, horn, etc)
It was a just under 2 years of a project, with most delays finding and getting parts, figuring out oddities in adaptive part replacement over the years, and that it was a side project for the mechanic.
What I ended up with is good, and I hope to have it last another 70 years on the road. Engine test runs sound much smoother and steady than it was previously.
Some highlights - I assume this will be the last full rebuild given that many uncommon parts were a challenge to find (eg crankshaft). Routine maintenance parts seem to be available now and likely in the near future, but not the rarely messed with items. Vintage Power Wagons was incredibly helpful in translating my non mechanic terms and photos into helpful suggestions for parts and collections of parts (thank you very much Steve and Matt). I think I was very lucky to find people willing to work on this vehicle (because the found it interesting and knew what to do) in my region and I think as time goes by this will become increasingly difficult.
I am not a mechanic, but I participated in the work to the extent I could without pestering the experts and learned a significant amount about this truck.
I learned that I will never strip paint myself ever, and just wait for a sandblaster place to have an opening. That was tedious to get a decent result with paint stripper and a wire wheel, but it worked.
Ill get photos when I finished test runs and such and I get it back on the road. Mostly I wanted to share what dollar figure I ran into since I went into this blind. My original (uneducated) estimate was about a quarter of what I thought it might be, but I am still happy with the results, and after seeing the effort it took to get this thing back in operation, I feel the cost was quite fair.
Overall, it was just under $20k ish
This was full engine rebuild, done by NAPA in (North) Topeka. Transmission rebuild done by Smith Brothers transmission in Topeka. Vintage Power Wagons provided nearly all the parts. Radiator recore done by B & D Radiator Shop in McLouth, KS. Rebuild work done by a mechanic who did a very high quality job as a side project. Nearly every system in the vehicle has been at least looked at, with most of these systems being completely rebuilt. It is mostly original design with modern system upgrades not being visible (eg C30 master cylinder, horn, etc)
It was a just under 2 years of a project, with most delays finding and getting parts, figuring out oddities in adaptive part replacement over the years, and that it was a side project for the mechanic.
What I ended up with is good, and I hope to have it last another 70 years on the road. Engine test runs sound much smoother and steady than it was previously.
Some highlights - I assume this will be the last full rebuild given that many uncommon parts were a challenge to find (eg crankshaft). Routine maintenance parts seem to be available now and likely in the near future, but not the rarely messed with items. Vintage Power Wagons was incredibly helpful in translating my non mechanic terms and photos into helpful suggestions for parts and collections of parts (thank you very much Steve and Matt). I think I was very lucky to find people willing to work on this vehicle (because the found it interesting and knew what to do) in my region and I think as time goes by this will become increasingly difficult.
I am not a mechanic, but I participated in the work to the extent I could without pestering the experts and learned a significant amount about this truck.
I learned that I will never strip paint myself ever, and just wait for a sandblaster place to have an opening. That was tedious to get a decent result with paint stripper and a wire wheel, but it worked.
Ill get photos when I finished test runs and such and I get it back on the road. Mostly I wanted to share what dollar figure I ran into since I went into this blind. My original (uneducated) estimate was about a quarter of what I thought it might be, but I am still happy with the results, and after seeing the effort it took to get this thing back in operation, I feel the cost was quite fair.
