Posted by Mobilized Medic on July 31, 2000 at 22:43:22:
In Reply to: M43 posted by Ken on July 27, 2000 at 13:30:00:
Looks like a lot of work if you are going to restore or rebuild to suit your taste. If interior patient compartment intact with all hardware,then repowering will be the fun part. If your interior needs restoring..you are in for a long search. If redoing the interior for a camping rig or work rig and you want to sell off the interior parts,list them on Big Electric M-37 site. There are a number of people wanting to restore and could use the interior parts. (Could offset some costs of repower.) Also, the truck is HEAVY so any repower needs those brakes updated.
I lucked out with my truck as it was 98% complete,but I contemplated several stripped versions and would not consider paying over 750 dollars. M-37s are a lot easier to find stuff for.As much as I love working on old Dodges, A stripped M-43 to restore would have given me more headaches then I could buy aspirin for. BUT, after hearing all the chatter about upgrade repowers and modern brakes and 12 volt electrical goodies, I think I could turn out a real fun truck in the future should I come across another stripped M-43. For now,I'll finish my resto job.Either way, the M-43 is a looker and weather resistant for those in the northern climes. Think it over and set up your dream truck on paper first to get an idea on costs. Ya know, I think I'm gonna revisit the Helitool website again...disc brakes you say....