M37 Restoration (53-41242)

[Wayne Hingley]

Thank you Eric for taking the time to locate these photos. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

The photos are very interesting.

If anyone out there can help, I have a few questions as listed on the photo attached.

The second photo is on parade, and the formation sign appears to be red background with yellow maple leaf.

The last two photos are one of the M37's that my father purchased from Gagetown in 1967. Similar marking patterns to the photos posted by Eric.

[Wayne Hingley]

Finished with painting for now. All the body parts, other than the cab tub and doors are painted and stored.

The remainder of the truck is back inside for further disassembling. As usual, I have fallen well behind my desired timeline.

[Bob Carriere]

Never worry about the time line............ years from now you will still be tinkering on it to add some details.....besides until it is completely fully finished it keeps you from starting another vehicle....

Bob C

[Wayne Hingley]

Good point Bob... another vehicle project is exactly what I don’t need. I already have a couple of trailers lined up that need a bit of work to get on the road. My biggest problem is space for all the M37 parts scattered everywhere.

[Wayne Hingley]

Another small step this morning.

[SteveJ]

Hey Wayne did you do your sand blasting down at Consolidated in Calgary. I thought your pictures looked like a familiar place. Nice work as usual by the way.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Never worry about the time line............ years from now you will still be tinkering on it to add some details.....besides until it is completely fully finished it keeps you from starting another vehicle....

Bob C

And add to that statement that when you finally do finish it, it will all be downhill from there. The first scratch, the first dent, the first breakdown, the burned out headlight.........

[Wayne Hingley]

Originally Posted by rob love

And add to that statement that when you finally do finish it, it will all be downhill from there. The first scratch, the first dent, the first breakdown, the burned out headlight.........

Yes, I don't expect that I will get bored. There always seems to be something to do.

Steve: Yes, Consolidated Compressor is the spot. Its so nice to have unlimited air and sand. I sold my sandblaster because it was so frustrating waiting for the compressor to catch up, and then stopping to dump another bag of sand in the tank.

[Wayne Hingley]

The most widespread issue on this truck is the aged and damaged wiring. Almost every single wire has bare sections where the insulation has dried, cracked and fallen off. If I bend a wire, the insulation immediately disintegrates. One large power cable for the slave receptacle was routed in such a way that it was pinching between the brake peddle arm and the floorboard. It would be a fairly major (and frustrating) undertaking to replace a vehicle wiring harness without removing and stripping the cab from the frame. For me, one if the things I’m looking forward to is getting all new wires, fuel lines and brake lines on the truck.

Some examples of crispy and damaged wires:

[Wayne Hingley]

Lifted the engine and transmission out yesterday. Unfortunately I need to go away for work, so it will be a couple of weeks before I can get back at this.

[Wayne Hingley]

At some point someone had a need to cut a crude series of 4” to 6” holes to create a passageway from under the drivers seat, through the back wall of the cab, through the front wall of the cargo box, and then through the cargo box floor into the tool storage area. I have no idea what it was for. Some of the holes were cut out with a torch, and some with a mechanical cutting tool (possibly something like an air chisel). The holes were not pretty.

I repaired the cargo box floor and front wall many months ago, and finally started on the cab repairs.

A few photos of the tunnel of holes... I’m puzzled by this one.

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by Wayne Hingley

If anyone out there can help, I have a few questions as listed on the photo attached.

The second photo is on parade, and the formation sign appears to be red background with yellow maple leaf.

Wayne,

Sorry for the late response but I've just seen your thread for the first time today. I think I can help you with your questions about markings for your truck.

In 1958 the Canadian Army Field Force reorganized from an infantry division to separate infantry brigade groups.

According to Annex F, Vehicle Unit Signs, of CAMT 1-36 Vol III, the unit sign for the infantry battalions of an Infantry Brigade Group was a red backing with a white serial. The serials used were 7, 8 and 9, which were allocated based on the seniority of the battalion within the brigade group. As the Black Watch would always to junior to the Van Doos, the other regiment in 3 CIBG, their serials would be either 8 or 9. These instructions applied to all three infantry brigade groups in Canada and to the one in Germany.

The formation sign would have been for the 1st Canadian Infantry Division rather than for Atlantic Command. All of the Canadian Army Field Force units within the brigade groups were designated as a part of 1 CID. Non-field force units would have used the Atlantic Command shield. So you're correct about using a red rectangle with a gold maple leaf.

Now the light coloured squares are a bit of a mystery. I'm inclined towards tactical signs, which would have designated which company and platoon the vehicle belonged to within the battalion. But it's hard to tell from the photographs. I don't think it would make your vehicle any less authentic if it didn't have them.

Cheers,
Dan.

PS: I've attached Annex F should you wish to have a look.

[Wayne Hingley]

Many thanks for the help and explanation of reasoning behind the markings, Dan. I really appreciate your help. Darrell Zinck has offered to help me get access to do more research for additional photos in Gagetown, but the travel restrictions have slowed my ability to be in NB for the past few months. Hopefully something will turn up regarding the white squares that appear to be on all four sides of the vehicles. Your suggestion of it being an indicator of Coy/PL sounds reasonable. Perhaps that will become less of an unknown with more photos. Now I can begin to prepare the markings on some of the painted pieces.

[Rob Crombie]

Looks good. I had the same fight with the tires. I tried quite a few things but nothing would budge them. Thankfully the local truck tire shop was willing to break them down, and did so without damaging anything.
I’m looking forward to watching your truck go back together. It’s always a good feeling on any project when you turn the corner from disassemble and clean/ repair to putting everything back together again.

Cheers,
Rob

[Wayne Hingley]

With a makeshift rotisserie, I got some frame paint on today. Hoping for decent weather tomorrow to spray some semi gloss OD.

[David Herbert]

I like the rotisserie, a nice piece of innovation but it took me a moment to work out what the ladder and ridge pole was for.

It is amazing how a coat of paint cheers things up. Soon you will be building up a 'new' truck.

David

[Wayne Hingley]

I was working under the threat of a rogue rain cloud coming by, so a plan for quick cover was necessary. Yes I agree, a bit of paint cheers things up, and gets me one step closer to another milestone.

[BCA]

Nice job Wayne. Were you able to spot the hand-stamped serial number on the outer left frame rail near the forward rear spring hanger? Faintly stamped and should match the glove box door serial number.