My Day at Aberdeen 2012

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w30bob
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My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by w30bob »

Hi Guys,

Spend most of the day yesterday at the Aberdeen meet. It was a good time and I spend every dime I brought with me. I almost forget to save $3 for the Baltimore Harbor tunnel on the way home. That would have been a fun situation. As a Newbie I think my expectations for Aberdeen were a bit too high. After going to the MTA meet at the Sussex Fairgrounds in NJ a few weeks ago I was expecting Aberdeen to be significantly bigger and better........but instead it was just different. At the MTA meet they had far fewer vendors but more vehicles and lots of people dressed up in war period garb. Plus Picattiny Arsenel drove down some heavy hitters including a nice big howitzer. There were fewer vehicles at Aberdeen, but like I said I spent every dollar I brought on M37 stuff. The people were awesome, as they were in NJ, and I met a few people from Steel Soldiers who invited me to head on over there. I'm not sure what the dynamic is between this website and that one is......but it seems many favor one over the other. Not sure why that is.

Anyway, the vendors were great and I filled my car with parts. Next year I'm bringing my dually instead of my Escape. Lucky for me I couldn't find an ATM at the end of the day or my bank account would be hurtin' even more than it is now. I met Carter and his M....really nice truck and an even nicer guy! Thanks for letting me chew your ear off Carter! I didn't meet up with Vinny this time, but there were intake/exhaust manifold combinations in more than a few locations. I picked up a set because it came with the short exhaust pipe with the swing bolts that seems to be getting hard to find. I also found a nearly new M37 gas tank that I got for $100 from a guy named Harold Stancil from Florida. I talked Harold's ears off too and bought a bunch of parts from him. Funny thing was when I found the gas tank I was almost shocked to find one there. After negotiations I took it back to my car and then walked past Harold's space again. While I was gone he brought out ANOTHER M37 gas tank!!! I was like "how many of those do you have"??? I decided one was enough, but it was tempting. Turns out somone else bought the other tank so I expect it found a good home. Another oddity I found was a long engine hand crank. I did a rough estimate of the distance from the pulley on the engine to the hole in the bumper using my arm as a tape measure and it appears to be long enough. I only paid $5 for it, so if it doesn't work I can use on one of my Farmalls. But wouldn't it be cool if it was an M37 hand crank? Other things I got were an NOS rear harness, battery box with the tray, bolts and hold down, taillight brackets, a perfect set of running boards, spare tire spinner, NOS fuel pump, a bunch of little stuff, and most importantly....those little flat metal brackets that swing down and hold the troop seats up against the side of the bed. What I didn't find (and really need) are seats. Meaning the spring assemblies for the passenger back and both driver top and bottom. But I may have lead on one or more of those from Harold........so we'll see where that leads.

I overheard a bunch of guys talking about M37 parts. They were saying there are no more parts available from US Depots anymore....that's all dried up. The only parts coming in are from European Depots. I guess at some point in time M37 parts are going to be real hard to find. I can see that with some stuff already. I don't know what happens at that point for the hobby. Just food for thought I guess. I'm going to try to attach two pics of the gas tank I bought........more because I need the practice at attaching pictures than you guys need practice looking at an M37 gas tank.

regards,
bob


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vinnytruck
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by vinnytruck »

Hey Bob, Sorry I didnt get to see you at aberdeen. It would have been fun again. Now I know why I couldnt find any M37 parts... YOU TOOK THEM ALL... Well good for you, HaHa Your friend VT (we should talk) soon...
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by w30bob »

Hi Vinny,

Yeah, sorry I missed you too. I was thinking it would be good to call a few folks I knew that were looking for specific parts, but I don't have people's cell numbers. Maybe as we move forward as a forum we can set something up. I think everyone runs across deals on things they know others are looking for....but if you can't contact them it's a waste. I hope you got some good stuff too!

regards,
bob
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by Cal_Gary »

Sounds like a nice time, Bob--just too far away for me to attend :(
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by majorhitt »

Hello Bob Yes I missed the chance to see you at this show. looks like you picked up a lot of goodies. If you didn't buy that battery box I was going to. How's your front harness? I may have one. The next event I may make would be the Gilbert show.
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

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Hi Ed!

Sorry I missed you on Friday. I was looking for you, but with my head scanning for parts we probably crossed paths a dozen times without either of us knowing it. I didn't know what "Gilbert" was so I Googled it. Sounds like a good show.......but it's not until the end of September. And this gathering of M37 parts is sort of addictive. II don't know if I can go "cold turkey" that long. (Laugh) How does the Gilbert meet compare to Sussex and Aberdeen?

The battery box itself really wasn't in that great of a condition, but I bought it because it had perfect hold down bolts, a tray that was better than mine, included the hold down bracket (which I didn't have) and an original battery cable (so I can see how they were terminated). For $40 I tried to walk away from it but it kept calling me back.

My front harness isn't really a harness at all. I took a good look at it this weekend after asking the questions about the ignition filter, and I'm sort of amazed the truck runs at all with the condition of the harness. The guy I bought the truck from told me he always disconnected the battery because it would drain over time....he felt it was a very minor short somewhere. From what I saw this weekend I can't believe the batteries would last for more than a few hours if left connected. And to no fault of the previous owner, the harness is just tattered from age and useage.

So yes, I do need a front harness. And I just learned from a response in my ignition filter post that there were two different front harnesses.....one for use with the ignition filter on the firewall and one for later when it was moved to the distributor. My plan is to replace all the wiring in the truck with NOS or good used if possible. I picked up an NOS rear harness, so now I just need everything else. :o) So if you have an extra front harness that you don't mind selling to me that will work with the firewall mounted ignition filter just let me know.

thanks,
bob
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by majorhitt »

I'll look. I think I still have a harness. Front or rear I don't know.
I looked at that battery box also. Like you said, the box itself was not so great. All the other parts were what made the box worth the price. Keep the parts sell the box.
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by m-37Bruce »

Nice catch on that tank, sending unit and fuel pickup are a bonus. It cost me more than that to boil/steam & seal my tank!
Carter is a Prince and Aberdeen/Ripken is his domain!
Sounds like your getting your feet wet.
Bruce,

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Keep Em Rollin'

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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by Carter »

Bruce, thanks for the kind words that mean a lot coming from an old friend. :oops: :oops: :oops:
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by w30bob »

Hi Bruce,

Yes, I am getting my feet wet.......and having a good time doing it. Seems the people in this hobby are all really nice people. Unlike the automotive restoration hobby where everyone is trying to make money and screw you over, all the people I've met so far are really helpful and don't seem to be motivated by profit....they just love the vehicles. That's quite refreshing I might ad. I think I'll be in this military vehicle restoration hobby a good long time. I figure if I start saving now I might be able to get one of those Sherman tanks I've seen for sale (for only half a million bucks) before I drop dead. But until then my M37 will fit the bill just fine. :o)

have a great night,
bob
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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by m-37Bruce »

w30bob wrote:Hi Bruce,
Seems the people in this hobby are all really nice people. Unlike the "automotive restoration hobby where everyone is trying to make money and screw you over",
bob
These guys are here, some times they are hard to avoid, we all try and steer you away from 'em! For the most part, they are very much like John at Midwest Military. http://www.midwestmil.com
Have you had the op to deal with AB yet?
Bruce,

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Retired Again

Keep Em Rollin'

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Re: My Day at Aberdeen 2012

Post by w30bob »

Hi Bruce,

If you mean AB Linn.....then oh yeah, I've been dealing with him! Never talked to him personally, but thanks to eBay he's filled my workshop with M37 parts. I was marking the boxes "Christmas Ornaments", but by the 30th box my girlfriend wasn't buying it anymore. :o(

I've also dealt with the folks at Vintage Power Wagons and they're fine to work with too. So far....knock on wood......no bad eggs!

regards,
bob
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