hasaboat
New member
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Hi Bob, I am very interested in the ignition system upgrade. Is there a posted conversation that covers that?
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Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!
Operation: Ethel. Kendelrios M37 (re)build thread
- Thread starter kendelrio
- Start date
- 1,190
- 446
- 83
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- Lockport N.Y.
Not sure it is on SS , I picked up the kit , removed the distributor from the truck and followed the instructions with the kit and reinstalled the distributor timed it and we were off to the race as they say. As a aside make sure all your distributor vent lines are installed helps keep the coil cool
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Well, she's officially mine!
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- Burgkunstadt, Germany
Same year I was born in! Perhaps a birthday present?
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.
Not but 6 years older than me...
Ya ain't that old old man
Dunno if @kendelrio is gonna "gift" you that Dodge, but if you don't ask...
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They say the closed mouth never gets fed....
Not but 6 years older than me...
Ya ain't that old old man
Dunno if @kendelrio is gonna "gift" you that Dodge, but if you don't ask...
- 16,755
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- Burgkunstadt, Germany
If you post a picture of yourself in spandex, I will post a film of me groveling.
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Ok- update-
In February I was gifted another M37 for parts and WHOLE pile of parts from a member. His o ly condition was that I use everything I can and what I don't, pay forward. So that's gonna happen.
@Soupermike contacted me before I left to get it and expressed the need for the frame of the parts truck. I expressed a need for a trailer to carry the old girl back to Louisiana..... and agreement was made and we met in Lubbock the night before recovery. The next day she was loaded.
Mike was gracious enough to volunteer to remove the cab etc off the truck and bring them to me when the time was right...
After coordinating, today Mike showed up with a bunch of "stuff"
After getting the parts unloaded, I invited Mike to come "shopping" in the parts pile I brought back from Lubbock..... after finding parts he needed, he loaded up, we went and had a great lunch at a local Lebanese place and they hit the road.
Fortunately, I have 2 kids who are on Spring Break for the next two weeks, so I will be gangbusting on the old girl next week if the weather holds.
I want to say a huge thanks to Mike again for all the hard work and driving he did to thet this old girl home!
In February I was gifted another M37 for parts and WHOLE pile of parts from a member. His o ly condition was that I use everything I can and what I don't, pay forward. So that's gonna happen.
@Soupermike contacted me before I left to get it and expressed the need for the frame of the parts truck. I expressed a need for a trailer to carry the old girl back to Louisiana..... and agreement was made and we met in Lubbock the night before recovery. The next day she was loaded.
Mike was gracious enough to volunteer to remove the cab etc off the truck and bring them to me when the time was right...
After coordinating, today Mike showed up with a bunch of "stuff"
After getting the parts unloaded, I invited Mike to come "shopping" in the parts pile I brought back from Lubbock..... after finding parts he needed, he loaded up, we went and had a great lunch at a local Lebanese place and they hit the road.
Fortunately, I have 2 kids who are on Spring Break for the next two weeks, so I will be gangbusting on the old girl next week if the weather holds.
I want to say a huge thanks to Mike again for all the hard work and driving he did to thet this old girl home!
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Also, Mike found the glove box lid with the original plate with something.... unusual about it..
I had never seen the designation "XM387" and wondered what a "Hydrogen Peroxide Servicing Ttuck" was and then noticed "Missile Operations".
I messaged my M37 guru @G744 and he told me "Ken, that's a rare truck. It worked with the Redstone missile".
So a websearch later, I came across the page from a man who served on a Redstone Missile battery. I emailed him with questions and got this reply:
And these pictures of the truck:
To say I'm amazed and even more humbled to know what a piece of history I have is an understatement!
More as I work on it...
I had never seen the designation "XM387" and wondered what a "Hydrogen Peroxide Servicing Ttuck" was and then noticed "Missile Operations".
I messaged my M37 guru @G744 and he told me "Ken, that's a rare truck. It worked with the Redstone missile".
So a websearch later, I came across the page from a man who served on a Redstone Missile battery. I emailed him with questions and got this reply:
And these pictures of the truck:
To say I'm amazed and even more humbled to know what a piece of history I have is an understatement!
More as I work on it...
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Ken, I was very glad our schedules allowed for this entire endeavor to happen. I am really looking forward to the day we get our trucks together. We had a great time visiting today and had a great lunch.
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Somehow, you fall into mud and come out wearing 
roses! Congrats on your restoration, now you'll have even MORE eyes on your progress.......guess ya won't be putting Keystone American Classics on it with Mickey Thompsons, huh? 
roses! Congrats on your restoration, now you'll have even MORE eyes on your progress.......guess ya won't be putting Keystone American Classics on it with Mickey Thompsons, huh? 
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Outstanding when a plan comes together 
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Remember bud, I'm an "Extra Crispy" kinda guy...Somehow, you fall into mud and come out wearing
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My retired weapons test engineer buddy was impressed when I told him about your truck.
He said "So somebody finally found one of those old Peroxide rigs". "The one we had at March was repurposed as a crane truck to move stuff around after the Redstone was retired". "Can't be too many left".
DG
He said "So somebody finally found one of those old Peroxide rigs". "The one we had at March was repurposed as a crane truck to move stuff around after the Redstone was retired". "Can't be too many left".
DG
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- 16,755
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- Burgkunstadt, Germany
Redstone has a historian on post. You might also write there for info about the truck. There is a very big museum there. On Post. They may also be able to fill in the blank spaces. I know someone who used to be a tour guide at the museum. I will see if he is still alive.
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OK, finally made some headway on the old girl.
I was fighting the front bed bolts because I didn't have a "S" wrench to fit in there, so being as it was late in the day to drive to town to start looking for tools, I decided to go ahead and bust the cab loose.
No pics of that process as I got into a groove and it slipped my mind.
I can say that without @G744 and @Soupermike I would still be fighting it, so many thanks, gents.
When I undid the cab bolts, 70 years of rust came flying, but I was prepared this time. I had my face shield, earmuffs, gloves and long sleeve shirt on, so it wasn't too bad! The bolts are in BAD shape with rust and I had one spring break, but fortunately my donor truck has really good bolts.
Today I went looking for a 3/4" "S" wrench.... out of 10 places I went, one carried them (Harbor Freight), but they were out of stock.... go figure... So I took my offset wrench to a local shop and asked nicely if they could bend it for me, the man was kind enough to do me the favor:
So I get home and tackle the bed... I have discovered I will need new taillight frames and the tool box channel is gonna need a LOT of attention, but nothing unsalvageable.
So.... bed is off and the cab is loose, I may have a buddy coming with a loader to help me get it off.
Until then, im gonna focus on cleaning up the frame etc that is exposed rught now.
Updates as they happen...
I was fighting the front bed bolts because I didn't have a "S" wrench to fit in there, so being as it was late in the day to drive to town to start looking for tools, I decided to go ahead and bust the cab loose.
No pics of that process as I got into a groove and it slipped my mind.
I can say that without @G744 and @Soupermike I would still be fighting it, so many thanks, gents.
When I undid the cab bolts, 70 years of rust came flying, but I was prepared this time. I had my face shield, earmuffs, gloves and long sleeve shirt on, so it wasn't too bad! The bolts are in BAD shape with rust and I had one spring break, but fortunately my donor truck has really good bolts.
Today I went looking for a 3/4" "S" wrench.... out of 10 places I went, one carried them (Harbor Freight), but they were out of stock.... go figure... So I took my offset wrench to a local shop and asked nicely if they could bend it for me, the man was kind enough to do me the favor:
So I get home and tackle the bed... I have discovered I will need new taillight frames and the tool box channel is gonna need a LOT of attention, but nothing unsalvageable.
So.... bed is off and the cab is loose, I may have a buddy coming with a loader to help me get it off.
Until then, im gonna focus on cleaning up the frame etc that is exposed rught now.
Updates as they happen...
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- Burgkunstadt, Germany
Looking good partner!!!!
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- Alexandria, La
Progress!
For the last 6 months, every time I came in, there was a crisis I had to handle. This time home I let everyone know that I didn't care WHAT was going on, I'm working on my stinking M37! So what did my sister do? Have a cardiac arrest and end up in ICU...
She is now fine and a pacemaker is being installed tomorrow, so I decided to leave the hospital a while and distract myself.
I am renting some shop space from a buddy and he has a car hauler, so we went and loaded Ethel up and moved her to the shop.
Once we got her there, we unloaded and went ahead and removed the cab that has been my sticking point these last few months:
I also found out she was active until at LEAST October of 1969:
We went ahead and pulled the remainder of the old wiring harness (that was completely brittle and thrashed) and the gas tank.
Tomorrow is pressure washing and I'm going to start removing the running gear and engine so I can properly prep/prime/paint the frame and start moving ahead!
For the last 6 months, every time I came in, there was a crisis I had to handle. This time home I let everyone know that I didn't care WHAT was going on, I'm working on my stinking M37! So what did my sister do? Have a cardiac arrest and end up in ICU...
She is now fine and a pacemaker is being installed tomorrow, so I decided to leave the hospital a while and distract myself.
I am renting some shop space from a buddy and he has a car hauler, so we went and loaded Ethel up and moved her to the shop.
Once we got her there, we unloaded and went ahead and removed the cab that has been my sticking point these last few months:
I also found out she was active until at LEAST October of 1969:
We went ahead and pulled the remainder of the old wiring harness (that was completely brittle and thrashed) and the gas tank.
Tomorrow is pressure washing and I'm going to start removing the running gear and engine so I can properly prep/prime/paint the frame and start moving ahead!
m715mike
Well-known member
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- Montgomery, Texas
I believe it was the famous Lil’ Jon (accompanied by the Eastside Boyz) that said, “OOH she naked!”
On a serious note, I’m glad your sister is doing better and it’s great to see progress on Ms. Ethel.
On a serious note, I’m glad your sister is doing better and it’s great to see progress on Ms. Ethel.
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So... torn down and pressure washed... made arrangements for sand blasting next week, then I'll prime and paint.
