M38 rebuild - Idaho

JaceM38 · Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:45 pm Post subject: M38 rebuild - Idaho

Hey guys I am new to this forum and jeeps in general (though I have always wanted one). To make a long story short I am rebuilding my dads old 1952 M38. It has 98% of the original parts including the original motor, transmission and 24v electrical system. It has spent the last 30 years forgotten behind a barn. Despite this it is in remarkably good condition with only surface rust. Heck the engine still turns and the tires still hold air.

Any advice or direction would be appreciated as my goal is to make this into a somewhat daily driver.

bobatwarsaw · Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:43 pm Post subject:

if you would, post all the pictures that you can, so all can
what your are working with
thanks bob,

also welcome m jeeps

wesk · Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:02 pm Post subject:

Well you have established your goal to make it a daily driver. That means you will need all the systems functioning and legal for use on the road. So step one is get her running enough to drive on the farm. Give her a well documented shakedown cruise. List every defect you find.

Next photograph the jeep with a good 10 feet away set of all 4 side views. A full view of the engine area front, left and right. A detailed closeup of the dash. A few to cover the interior. A few to show the underside's condition. Now load them to your photo album.

Then come back here and post your discrepency list and the link to your photo album.

Your album is here: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=album353&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

A tutorial on how to load photos is here: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=album53&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

RICKG · Member Joined: Aug 31, 2010 Posts: 1741 Location: SO IDAHO

Ok, so where the heck in Idaho are you? I'm just north-west
of Twin Falls in the Buhl-Hagerman area. If I can be of help
just holler!!

Do yourself a big favor and post your location and model
jeep you're working on @ the signature area of your profile.
You might be surprised to find a guy with parts and advice
right in your own backyard. Wink

_________________
keep 'em rollin'
RICKG MC 51986 DOD 01-52, '50 CJ3a

JaceM38 · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 8:46 pm Post subject:

I am located in Pocatello. Also I have uploaded a bunch of pics (still working on getting some of the underside.

Photo Gallery

Also I know that I need to replace the wiring through out the whole jeep and I want to replace the old cloth covered wires with a more modern wiring. An suggestions?
_________________
Jace
1952 M38

wesk · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 9:33 pm Post subject:

I don't see a lot of fabric covered wire in your photos.

Of interest in this photo is your metal tube waterpump bypass on the water pump. I have seen these and references to them before.
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

JaceM38 · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:50 pm Post subject:

As far as I know all of the wiring that is present on the jeep is the original wiring. The only ones that I am not sure off is the spark plug wiring. Most of the wiring that is visible appears to have been repaired using electrical tape and is badly frayed with larges sections of bar wire. I also have removed all of the wiring from the grill assembly which was mostly down to bare wiring. I should also mention that while I am missing the parts for it my jeep was originally set up for fording so the system was sealed.

I will try to get some more pictures of the wiring up soon so that I can hopefully get going in the right direction.

Out of curiosity what makes the metal tube waterpump bypass interesting? I am really new to this and am still trying to learn about this engine and jeep.
_________________
Jace
1952 M38

wesk · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 12:40 am Post subject:

I have only seen a couple of photos with it and I recall only a single written reference to it. I am still looking for that old reference. The service and parts manual all show two hose nipples with pipe threads and a short 90 degree hose.

I believe the current replacement wiring harnesses are now over $700. With a couple of 100 foot roles of 16 & 14 gauge rolls of plain black wire and electrical tape you build a very good look alike harness on your own. The original harness was wrapped with electrician's tape.
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

Xamon · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 9:10 am Post subject:

not sure if it applies to the US versions but on my Canadian the sections passing through sheet metal, grommets, or clips was cloth wrapped over the rubber insulation.
_________________
Carievale Saskatchewan Canada
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=album210&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

wesk · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 9:24 am Post subject:

Those may have been applied in the field. Were the cloth segments wrapped around only the insulated wires or around the electrician's tape which already sealed up the insulated wires? Did the cloth have a electrician's tape over it?
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

JaceM38 · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:25 pm Post subject:

That is good to know about the original wiring. I am a little leery of trying to make my own wire harness. I am also not really that concerned about it keeping it 100% "authentic" I would really like to replace the old connectors with modern ones while keeping it as a 24v system. I want to also be able to add things like turn signals etc.
_________________
Jace
1952 M38

wesk · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:25 pm Post subject:

The intimidating part of wiring a 24 volt military vehicle is you must learn to use wires that are all the same color (black) and learn to work with the numbers. If you are not concerned with resto award winning and are not interested in paying over $700 for a new harness then make your own.

The wiring diagrams have very good detail and I have already posted in my photo album the adaptations needed for the various types of turn signal setups.

The professional harness builder makes a prototype loom then builds all his subsequent harnesses on the loom. I have built my own custom harnesses for the last 50 years. Both colored wire civvy and all black military. I build them right in the vehicle. I prefer not to use the metal Douglas connectors because they are prone to shorting out on themselves occasionally. I prefer to use the later and current all rubber Packard connector system. You can find these electrical connectors almost at every vendor.

But lets not get too far ahead of ourselves. Start with a dream sheet. Write everything down that you want on your jeep. Include all electrical items both standard and custom. Don't forget the generating system you intend to use. Now print enlarged, easy to read copies of the wiring diagrams you intend to use. Using a pencil mark and draw everything you want to add or change right on the wiring diagram. Study my modified wiring diagrams closely. Make the necessary adjustments to fit your needs. Decide on which front and rear light assemblies that accommodate turn signals you will be using early on. If you have your complete old harness then you must decide how you prefer to build your new harness. You can lay the old harness out on a wood table or sheet of plywood and tack it taughtly in place then fashion the lengths of new wire to match the lengths of the corresponding wires in the old harness. Any new custom unit wires you will have to leave enough working length to make sure they reach the new unit and don't finish the ends of the cables with the terminals until you have the new harness fitted in the jeep.

Remember, depending on how much of the stck equipment you are keeping yo will need to repin some of those big old military plugs. Not a daunting task and TM 9-1825E covers it.

So start sorting out in your head what you want to do electrically with your jeep.
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

Xamon · Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:22 am Post subject:

I did not have a lot of the wiring harness left to be honest, just under the dash and bits near the headlights really. The cloth was the same as on the brake lines and was just loose on the wires. I do not remember seeing any tape except on the blackout light. I went hunting through my pictures, not many of the wires, what I can see are pretty hacked up though(lots of red and yellow)
_________________
Carievale Saskatchewan Canada
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=album210&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

JaceM38 · Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 11:57 pm Post subject:

I guess I am pretty lucky then because from what I can tell I have the full wiring harness for my M38 the wires are just so old and worn that they need to be replaced
_________________
Jace
1952 M38

Xamon · Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 7:56 am Post subject:

my jeep was pretty abused, used for pulling ice fishing huts for 40 years or so.
_________________
Carievale Saskatchewan Canada
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=album210&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php


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