M37 Ignition System

[JStinson]

I stumbled across this listing on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DODGE...#ht_500wt_1182

I'm looking to convert my truck back to 24v, and was thinking that i could surely do it for cheaper than what this is suggesting with the buy it now price. I snagged a starter and generator from WA Watson for a good price, but still need a coil, distributor, etc etc etc.

How much is too much for an electrical system?

[Gsmith]

If you needed it all, and it is all good stuff, then that's a good price. New plug wires alone are $175 at Midwest Military. 6 new waterproof plugs are going to take a $50 bill.

[JStinson]

If you needed it all, and it is all good stuff, then that's a good price. New plug wires alone are $175 at Midwest Military. 6 new waterproof plugs are going to take a $50 bill.

My concern is that all this stuff is used. Can I expect any reliabiliy issues with a used voltage regulator and old plug wires?

[Charles Talbert]

My concern is that all this stuff is used. Can I expect any reliabiliy issues with a used voltage regulator and old plug wires?

You just never know about used, could be ok, could be someones junk. If you want a reliable do it one time right system; I'd opt for the new stuff. Watch out for that too, some vendors pedal new junk.

[JStinson]

You just never know about used, could be ok, could be someones junk. If you want a reliable do it one time right system; I'd opt for the new stuff. Watch out for that too, some vendors pedal new junk.

Copy that. I guess it would be foolish to put used plug wires and a used regulator on a nice rebuilt 230.

Half @$$ is a more appropriate term.

[MoparFreak69]

I dont know, I am not against using used parts even if new can be found. I think for the price he is asking, that buy it now price is a great deal. Even if the plug wires are bad, or you choose to replace them, think about costs of buying all of that other stuff new, or seperately used. Brushes in a starter can be replaced easily, if you have the starter to do it to. Someone looking for a no-nonsense kit to convert a rig back to 24V specs would probably be a lot of money, and time, ahead picking this setup up.
If my boss were in town I would run it by him so he could convert his 6V WC-21 to 24V to match his M151. He would probably snag that right up for that price, knowing the costs of individual pieces.

You never know, these items may only have 10K miles on them and have just sat with the rig for years on end and may be in almost perfect condition.
If you are interested, he lists a number, call him. Get an idea of how truthful you think he is, get some close-up photos sent, and get an idea of the condition of the rig that they came off of.

[JStinson]

I get nervous about used stuff. Especially used military stuff that could have major hard use on it.

My trouble is that I already have a generator and a starter. All I need is the distributor, plugs, plug wires, regulator and coil. I notice he doesn't have a coil there.

I really think I could find those things if I looked hard enough for about that price for all.

[Gsmith]

Coil is in the distributor. The outside cap hides it. I agree, since you don't need it all and apparently aren't in a hurry then shop around and look for deals coming up.

[JStinson]

Coil is in the distributor. The outside cap hides it. I agree, since you don't need it all and apparently aren't in a hurry then shop around and look for deals coming up.

Hmm, and I apparently need to get a better understanding of how it all works too.

I think I'll shop around. I'm interested to see how much this setup goes for.

[gusbratz]

looks like a good deal for all that stuff to me. then you could sell the stuff you don't need and re-coup some of you money. if you buy all the components individually and mess around and pay shipping and wait for them to come and all that jazz it relly adds up.
But I can attest to the fact that getting my older 24v dist working almost drove me to the nut house. Everything had to be just so. but kinda off topic it has been working awsome all winter. fires right up no matter how cold and runs good... i am glad i invested the time and money into my 24 sys. instead of swithing over to 12v.

[JStinson]

looks like a good deal for all that stuff to me. then you could sell the stuff you don't need and re-coup some of you money. if you buy all the components individually and mess around and pay shipping and wait for them to come and all that jazz it relly adds up.
But I can attest to the fact that getting my older 24v dist working almost drove me to the nut house. Everything had to be just so. but kinda off topic it has been working awsome all winter. fires right up no matter how cold and runs good... i am glad i invested the time and money into my 24 sys. instead of swithing over to 12v.

The frustrating part to me about this whole thing is that my truck had been converted to a 12v system. I want to convert it back to the original 24v because I feel like things always work better when they're stock. It's one of those times where you want to call up the owner that converted it and just ask, "why?"

It's a more expensive endeavor than I imagined.

[MoparFreak69]

Coil is in the distributor. The outside cap hides it. I agree, since you don't need it all and apparently aren't in a hurry then shop around and look for deals coming up.

Yep, the coil sits in the bulge that extends out from one side of the distributor. That is why there are only 6 leads coming off the distributor.

As far as how hard something has been used, with electical there really is nothing you can do to really use them "hard" or "easy". The distributor just spins with the engine, it doesnt really care if it spins at 1500RPM or 6000RPM (yeah right with what it was on but just an example) all day long. Same with the generator. Only thing that may be affected by OIE (operator interface error; id10t syndrome) would be the starter due to not engaging it properly or burning it up. A voltage regulator is the same way, as long as it works, there is nothing that could happen to it aside from component failure or a system short that fried it.

[gusbratz]

maybe you could call him and ask if he had the old stuff laying around. That is usually not the case with these types of trucks they seem to go through a few well intentioned owners before they get to someone with the money/ambition to straighten them out. But I could see why someone would do it if they were on a shoe string budget and had an m37 and a FFPW parts truck and just wanted to get one unit working out of two.

[JStinson]

maybe you could call him and ask if he had the old stuff laying around. That is usually not the case with these types of trucks they seem to go through a few well intentioned owners before they get to someone with the money/ambition to straighten them out. But I could see why someone would do it if they were on a shoe string budget and had an m37 and a FFPW parts truck and just wanted to get one unit working out of two.

The trouble is that I have no idea WHICH previous owner converted it. The only one I know is the one that had it immediately before me. It's a crap shoot.

I like the idea of taking what I need and parting out the rest of the stuff to recoup my money though. I need the distributor and wires and regulator in the worst kind of way, not so much on the starters and generator.

[JStinson]

Any chance the 230 and 251 used the same distributor and other ignition components?