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bjorn2bwild Member
Joined: May 12, 2012 Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:17 am Post subject: New here, contemplating purchasing this 52 M38A1 |
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Hello everyone,
I stumbled across this '52 M38A1 on Craigslist and got the itch to explore it a little more.
I'd like to ask for opinions of the condition and what it would likely take to at the least get this running with the ultimate goal of a restoration.
From the dash data plate, the Serial number is MD26242 and the date of delivery was 10/52. I did not know of the right wheelhouse patent plate until after I had already checked it out, so obviously, I didn't look for it.
Judging from what's left of the paint and the hood stencil, it was a USMC jeep.
It is... not in good shape. The owner selling it now says the previous owner to him "ran it into a tree, that's when it stopped working".
There is extensive body damage and rust is prevalent everywhere on the tub. The interior, aside from the data plates, might as well not exist. There have been some modifications to the suspension. It has been adapted to a spring over axle lift, as well as had a home-brewed "body lift" added by welding plates to the tub body mount locations . The gas tank is totally destroyed. The wheels are aftermarket wheels and the tires are non-military tires.
I discovered the reason why it's not running is the radiator was pressed into the fan.
It's been sitting outside without moving for at least three years.
So, Is this thing worth attempting to salvage? The seller is not asking for much for it.
And, without further adieu, here are some pics I took yesterday:
More pics can be found here:
http://s691.photobucket.com/albums/vv279/bjorn2bwild/52%20M38A1/
I look forward to hearing opinions.
Photo sizes edited from 450K to a more reasonable size. See For Sale Posting Rules: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=31076#31076
Wes K Site Administrator |
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STXM38A1 Member
Joined: Jul 25, 2009 Posts: 139 Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas
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hillbilly21 Member
Joined: Aug 26, 2005 Posts: 510 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 12:57 pm Post subject: A1 |
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GOOD WAY TO GET A REPOP BODY KIT !! HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU GET IT FROM JAY @ WILLYS OVERLAND IN TOLEDO OHIO..
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WINTER PROJECT |
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Yarder Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Seattle, WA USA
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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I'd like to ask for opinions of the condition and what it would likely take to at the least get this running with the ultimate goal of a restoration.
All it takes is money! |
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army_inc Member
Joined: Jan 31, 2012 Posts: 197 Location: West Point, VA
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Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 6:56 am Post subject: |
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It all depends on the kind of restoration you are going for. If I were in your shoes, I'd leave that thing alone. You will end up paying just as much for a new body kit as you would for a good solid jeep that maybe doesn't run. To me, it just looks to rusty and I wouldn't want to deal with it. Then again I'm doing my restoration on a budget. If money is something you aren't lacking and have a ton extra of it, then yes, this wouldn't be a bad one. First you'd want to send some my way and then buy that jeep and fix everything Bubba has done to lift it. I'm sure if Bubba's done one thing that you can see, he's probably done a lot more that you can't. I slowly figured that out while taking off the body of my jeep. I have an old USMC 10/52 as well. It'll be a fun project no doubt. Like I said, if it were me, I'd find another one and leave that one alone. _________________ Dave
52 M38A1 |
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RICKG Member
Joined: Aug 31, 2010 Posts: 1744 Location: SO IDAHO
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Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 8:45 am Post subject: Re: New here, contemplating purchasing this 52 M38A1 |
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[quote="bjorn2bwild"] The seller is not asking for much for it.
] I hope not..It's beat to death.. I'd run like heck and not look back!! _________________ keep 'em rollin'
RICKG MC 51986 DOD 01-52, '50 CJ3a |
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wesk Site Administrator
Joined: Apr 04, 2005 Posts: 16365 Location: Wisconsin
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timjuhl Member
Joined: Jun 27, 2011 Posts: 262 Location: "Thumb" of Michigan
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Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 11:30 am Post subject: M38A1 |
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Wes is correct as are the other posters..... My Jeep was running and in a lot better shape but the cost of repairs and parts can rapidly push the price up. That said, I did buy a $200 parts Jeep and got two or three times that cost in parts off it.... Either to use myself or sell to pay for other parts.
It might help if you posted your geographical location.... There might be some guys close to you that could offer suggestions or take a look at it.
Tim _________________ Tim Juhl
1952 M38A1
1946 Aeronca L16A Army Liaison Aircraft |
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TomM Moderator
Joined: Apr 18, 2005 Posts: 458 Location: Rhode Island
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Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 7:06 am Post subject: M38A1 |
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a clean title matching the data plates is should be part of the purchase.
Tom |
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bl5211a Member
Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 344 Location: NC
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Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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I would pass, unless you can get it for nothing and even then it may only be good for a few miscellaneous parts. |
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Cacti_Ken Member
Joined: Apr 20, 2005 Posts: 1021 Location: Silsbee, Texas
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like it may have been a rock crawler and it tumbled down the cliff.
The frame is probably out of shape as well. _________________ Tropical Veteran
35th Inf. Reg. "CACTI" 4th I.D. VN
Amateur Radio K5XOM |
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FrankenJeep Member
Joined: Jan 07, 2007 Posts: 56
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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That is really sad. It does like it took an awful tumble. *Some* people should not be allowed NEAR a Jeep, IMHO. I reserve my most disrepectful contempt of them My Jeep, I have discovered, has received some rough treatment, too, and from the damage that DID occur, it is a wonder it survived. Apparently, "Willy" took such a lick it dislocated the spring pack and flattened the spring eye. We took the spring off the axle and squeezed the leaves back in place and put on a new shackle to get it back into alignment. It is a wonder the old fella didn't have a warped frame, and how they were able to damage the spring without bending something else is a mystery.
Except for parts, I would leave this one alone unless you are up for a huge challenge. I love Jeeps, but not THAT much.
FJ |
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FrankenJeep Member
Joined: Jan 07, 2007 Posts: 56
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 10:16 am Post subject: |
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It also looks like it is sitting "whopperjawed" indicating a bent frame????
FJ |
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gpw6335 Member
Joined: Oct 18, 2011 Posts: 2
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 9:32 am Post subject: |
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Not worth the effort. Look around for a better one |
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