This question has been around various forums for quite a while. In general, what has been summarized is on average around 10 percent of your oil is filtered through the bypass filter at any given time. Back in the "day" of bypass systems (anyone remember the Franz toilet paper system?), i...

Is there anyone out there who's ever fired up their South Wind gas heater in their rig? I have an M-43 and the heater looks virtually new and unused, or very little use. Everything seems to be in good shape, with the exception of the electric fuel pump. It doesn't run or pump. I bench tested it and ...

For those of you who may have an M-43 ambulance, has anyone of you been brave enough to fire up the patient compartment gas fired heater? Mine looks like it's never been used, but I'm real leery of having a gasoline "bomb" right behind my seat. I'm tempted to take it out, put it on the dri...

Hi U404S. Welcome to the M-43 ownership group. I just finished up my 1953 M-43. Only took two years to complete!!! Body was solid, running gear was solid, but the engine was shot, electrical had to have work, etc. It is an original Air Force ambulance, with a local history. It was stationed at the C...

By golly, it worked. By wetting, checking pictures, getting the light just right, etc., I was able to determine that something was on the body sides. I thought it had all been obliterated, but with some judicious light sanding, wetting, and being easy with the scrubbing, I actually cleared some of ...

Yes, based on photos and information I've received, I believe it is the "Medical Service" on the side of the body, not the door. And as a side note, on the M-43 ambulances, it didn't matter if it was the early one, or the later "B1" series, as both of them had the spare blocking...

OK, I recognize the underside of the hood. However, I'm not sure about whatever the picture is of on the battery part? I'm guessing it's the bottom of the passenger seat??? The M-43 passenger seat is almost the same size as the driver side, in that it's a "single person" seat, not the wid...

I did find one other stenciling which might be worthy of noting. On the cowl area, under the hood, just above the drip rail over the engine, I found a very faint marking, stenciled on apparently when it was new. The stenciling reads "CODE 4012" and that's it. Very very faint, but I could ...

Hi M-37Bruce. Markings under the hood? Well.........sort of! There is the usual stenciled warning about securing the hood so it doesn't fall on you. The batteries are under the passenger seat inside, and there were no markings there, but I will be installing new ones with what is appropriate. As to...

Copy that. Over two years of work, but hopefully it will be worth it. By the end of this month (May) it should be "photo ready" so I will send some pics of the "finished" (are they ever finished?) product. :) Then I can start on my Mighty Mite project.........!!!! :roll: TK

Update: After looking at the ambulance on the Bakalar/434th museum photos, I think I have a match. In looking at the stenciling right behind the driver door on the side panel, I looked at the area on mine where something was obviously removed/painted over. It matches (in size/area) almost perfectly...

Thanks, that helps. A few more pictures that I haven't seen. It appears that the Air Force did NOT use the caduceus on the sides of their rigs. Also, no hood numbers either. Some had the crosses and the word ambulance on the roof line in front, some didn't. Guess I'll go with a combination of what ...

As I approach the completion of my M-43 project, I'm preparing to do the stenciling and logo's as well as graphics. I have a few questions, to which I have not been able to determine answers by searching the web. So, here's hoping some of the more informed on this site can help me out. My goal is t...

Still around. After two years of work, and more money than I thought it would cost, I'm finally seeing the end of my M-43 project. Been a long haul. Body was in great shape, but everything else needed replacement. Engine overhaul, radiator rebuild, replace all the missing engine accessories, etc. B...

Well, problem solved.....sort of. Thanks everyone for your input. With that, I was able to determine that I indeed have the distributor meant for a 251 CDN, not the 230 that I have. When I bought the rig, I was not able to talk to the original owner, so didn't know many details. Everything was ther...