Posted by mannyc on Friday, May 03, 2002 at 2:25PM :
i learned a lot about these trucks from bob stahl. he and i just about restored my command car together. during that time he tuned up my m37 and got it to run like a champ. gobs of power and no hesitations or pinging. lesson- bob did it all by 'feel' timing, carb setting, reducing pinging, parts replacement choices- all second nature.
LESSON LEARNED - i am not bob stahl. if you have read my frantic posts lately my truck gave me fits. no power and i couldn't find out why.
with the help of the forum and the following tools (for the un-expert) helped me mimic bob's tune up.
Required tools:
feeler gauges
timing light
compression gauge
vacuum gauge with good instructions
THE POWER WAGON PAGE member's advice
patience
I thank you all for the help and have learned a little mechanical humility. i thought i was hot stuff after rebuilding most of the command car and installing disc brakes and 2 chamber mc in my m-37. i assumed that qualified me for engine diagnosis without the proper tools.
my next upgrade to my truck is to find a mount a mil-looking vacuum gauge under the dash so i can monitor my engine real time.
thanks all, mannyc
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