Restoration of a 1963 Dodge M37 military utility truck

1963 Dodge M37 Restoration
David H. Ahl tallies up the real costs of a rebuild

Whenever I'm feeling overly cheerful, I pick up the Wall Street Journal and check on the prices of my investments and then depression sets in. Maybe I should have listened to my father-in-law whose motto was "spend your money on toys and tools and the future will take care of itself." Anyway, last week, the Journal had an article on the growing trend of people ditching half-finished vehicle projects as costs rise and the economy dips. Which got me to thinking about the 85% finished Chevy 1-½-ton wrecker that I'm trying to sell (unsuccessfully) and other vehicles that I (and others) have bought to restore.

Dodge M37 on arrival Dodge M37 decay in front

Yellow M37 upon arrival from Minnesota didn't look too bad.

A closer look showed signs of decay.

In April of 1995, my good friend Jed bought a Triumph TR-7 to restore. Having grown up on early post-war Triumphs (TR-2, TR-3, 3A, 4, 4A), I didn't really feel that the 7 was a "real Triumph," but be that as it may, Jed was determined to restore it and run it in the fall Triumph rally here in New Jersey. When I say, "restore," I'm speaking metaphorically. In fact, the TR-7 Jed bought was more of a kit car than a running vehicle. I'm sure the ad said something like, "90% finished, pieces all there" or "partially disassembled" or "easy restoration project." It most certainly did not say, "drive it home."

Dodge M37 paint removal Preparing to use chemical stripper

Above: Trying to strip the yellow paint with an
electric vibrator.
Right: Suited up to try some chemical stripper.

Many coats on paint on my Dodge M37 Dodge M37 sandblasted

Surprise! Under the yellow was red and OD. Gave up on paint removal and took it to a professional sand blaster.

Taking on a total restoration project can be a very good deal or a very bad deal depending upon how you account for your time and expenses. Take my M37 for example. I bought the truck for 2,600,ƒhƒ‹ spent another 600ƒhƒ‹ to get it to New Jersey (from Minnesota), and 274ƒhƒ‹ to transfer the title and get insurance. Now, do I count the transportation and paperwork as part of the vehicle cost or don't I?

Parts drying after primer Straightening radiator fins

Sand blasted and primed all the parts.

Straightened the radiator fins by hand.

Dodge M37 headlight ass'y Boards for seats and rails

When you start to dig, you find corrosion
everywhere. Here, in the headlight assembly.

Let's make the seats and rails from 5-ton truck surplus parts.

It is a given that when you restore a vehicle from scratch, you inevitably spend more money on the restoration that the vehicle will ever be worth. The cost of the M37 plus out-of-pocket expenses for vehicle parts and services came to more than 12,000ƒhƒ‹. Add in the cost of labor (myself and friends) at minimum rates, and the amount I had in it was 18,000ƒhƒ‹ plus, far more than anyone would pay for it, even if it were the best M37 on the planet (which I like to think it was).

Mice nests in seats Small parts

Uh, oh. Mice nests in the seats.

More small parts to be cleaned and primed.

Huts and bolts for priming Spray paint base coat

Nuts and bolts prior to priming.

My friend, Jim Munson, lays down the base coat of forest green.

Most first-time hobbyists, like my friend Jed, expect to restore a vehicle in a year or so. It is a rare one that actually does. Jed didn't make that fall rally and, in fact, isn't even done yet. I only managed to restore my M37 in two years because I was absolutely determined to show it in the 1999 national MVPA Convention, which was within driving distance and would not be that close again for the next ten years. Even so, about six weeks before the convention when it became very obvious that I was not going to finish on my own, I turned to friends and professional services big time. And then about a week before the convention, I told my wife to take a little vacation with her sister so I could work 16 hours a day, get covered with grease and paint, and live on Doritos and beer without having to answer to anyone. Without that frantic last push, it would never have gotten done and would still be in my garage with "just a few more things to do."

Dodge M37 rifle mount Dodge M37 rifle mount

Above: Another friend, Brian Bancale, helped
me fabricate a rifle mount from heavy steel plate.
Right: An absolutely perfect fit.

Dodge M37 winch Broken tap wrench

No joy. The winch needed serious work and I wound up with a hernia from lifting it by myself.

The front bumper defeated this tap wrench.

Here, for your edification, is what restoring my M37 cost over the two years it took me to do the job.

Cleaning the windshield on M37 Dodge M37 restoration finished

Betsy gives me a hand on the windshield. Note:
still lots of pieces to be reinstalled.

Finally finished.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that restoring a vehicle isn't worth every penny, every skinned knuckle, every broken stud, and every argument with the wife. It is. But if you want to justify the time and expense, be prepared to do a little creative accounting.

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