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Hi my Girlfriend and i recently got a 53 M37, and i got it started and running yesterday. So that pumped up my interest for the truck a little more.

My reason for writing is this:

I know the truck was an original AF S/B truck. The dataplates in the cab look to be replaced and have nothing printed on them

I was curious to know find a data plaque on the engine compartment on the cowling behind the air cleaner assembly. Does anyone know what this plaque was used for? The serial number of the truck is 80025902 but the cowl plaque starts with a 1 and is about 9 digits long?


Thanks for any help!!

A photo of the data plate on the firewall would help a lot.

Those new unstamped data plates most likely were installed by a prior civvy owner starting a resto or preparing it for sale.

The USAF engine records pouch which was originally attached to stand alone engines in the repair cycle or in shipment could of also been placed there by a civvy prior owner. It may belong to a generator engine that was carried by the truck in the past.

The hood numbers are US Army but appear in a lot better shape then the rest of the truck so they too may have been added by a civvy prior owner.

The winch bumpers, winch and CCKW hard top are obviously from another truck or source.

Yep! Definately a "mix and match" vehicle. It's a living example of why we should always keep those scratched, dinged, dented, and torn data plates! It's entirely possible that everything has been replaced but the frame at one time or another. There's no guarantee that it was originally an AF truck, either. If you can locate the serial number on the frame, it will give someone a place to start looking.

The serial number on the frame is 80025902

I should have mentioned that the truck came with a generator that "Has never been apart from the truck"

I havent picked it up yet, but soon will.

As for the winch, all the PTO info is present on the dash so Im not really sure what to think yet.

The # you are referring to on the cab inside the engine compartment is for the cab/body itself. You will not find that it matches any numbers on the data plates nor the VIN on the frame rail.

The number on the plaque is 19102-18620

Here is the pic.


Im trying to pull every last piece of data from this truck so I can figure out most of its identity.

Right now, it looks like the entire cab and bed was originally Strata Blue. No doubt it has had many things added to it of its lifetime, but I just want to get it as close to original as I can

Are those Norwegian tires?

It's my understanding that the Cowl Tag was added by ChryCo or DCPD, I think they have no rhyme or reason?

Ok, so if that dataplate is worthless... What other things can I try to uncover? Gradually strip the bumpers to see original lettering maybe?

Thanks

Sand the bumperettes and Bumper very carefully, one layer of paint at a time. Do the hood the same way.

The number behind the air cleaner is the cowl number, my 1951 came with one, my 1954 did not, at least not when I got it.

Your hard top is accurate for a 1951, the sliding rear window hardtops came in 1952.

Hope this helps,
Robert from South Dakota

PJ,
Is that a CB radio in one of the pics?
Thanks,
Tim

Yes, It has quite a few CB units added into it. Only one seems to be original in that its a military unit from around the 50's

pjsm37 wrote:Yes, It has quite a few CB units added into it. Only one seems to be original in that its a military unit from around the 50's

Okay...30 years of AF communications experience speaking here. If there are/were any CB radios installed in the truck, they weren't "military." The Air Force did not use Citizens Band communications because the frequencies were reserved by the FCC for private citizens to use. Any use by military agencies would have constituted a major breach in communications security.

If there is a genuine military radio that "looks like" a CB, it is most likely an FM non-tactical unit (CBs were AM). Most of these were Motorola 3-channel radios and were used for coordination purposes between maintenance shops and their service vehicles, base taxi services, Security Police communications, and tower communications for flight line vehicles. These were low-powered units, often with a range of 1/4 mile or less. A hand-held Motorola HT-220 "brick" had more power when fullly charged.

The base Non-Tac Radio Manager was responsible for issuing radios as required, assigning frequencies for each network, maintaining a record of what radio was assigned to whom, maintaining a stock of spare units and coordinating repair of malfunctioning units, etc.

This job was normally an "additional duty" assigned to one of the more senior Operations NCOs, and I happened to be "lucky" enough to find it on my plate at 3 different bases. Nothing like pulling a 12-hour night shift in the base communications center and then having to spend another 3 or 4 hours listening to some Lt or Capt trying to explain why his radio doesn't work right and demanding a replacement. (One female Lt actually removed the battery from hers and demanded a replacement "immediately." The one she was turning in was black, just like all the rest, but she wanted a pink one! I plugged a new battery into the one she was "turning in," conducted a radio check with the command post, pronounced it "fivers" and handed it back. I think the commander had a couple of "words" with her while I was snoozing the afternoon away. )

Hey guys, If anyone is interested in purchasing this I have decided to sell. As is with all you see for $2000
It runs and moves, but needs brakes all around. We never had any time for it, and it just sits around.

If anyone is interested, please email me at onlyn8v@gmail.com

It is located in 11776 (Port Jefferson Station, NY)