My M38 Numbers

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 11:38 am

Wes,

I looked here "Sticky: New data base data upload system for users", but didn't find my answer.

I'd like to know if my 1952 M38 numbers all line up with each other.

MC 69346 6/52 (Data Plate)

Hood 20944365 (I have the original hood with these numbers still visible)

Engine MC 36732

I was told the Data and Hood were a match, but couldn't confirm if the engine was or not.

Happy Holidays!

Mike B

Post by **wesk** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:03 pm

Don't waste your time with engine serials on M38's. They were NEVER even close to chassis serials. Also none of the available data bases offer any good insight in where the engine serials were during specific periods of discussions. Keep in mind that all Willys L134 serial numbers are consecutive. Problem is in 1952 you have one block of engine serials with MC prefixes, another block with CJ prefixes , another block with truck prefixes, another block with RMC prefixes and then another block with MC prefixes and on & on and on!

MC 69346 6/52 (Data Plate)

Hood 20944365 (I have the original hood with these numbers still visible)

Closest serials with hood #'s listed in my database are MC68468 / hood 20944021 and MC69720 / hood 20944419

Here's just a short example of eng serials mismatches:
MC68114 / eng MC90235
MC68468 / eng MC85738
MC69346 / eng MC36732
MC69270 / eng MC95688

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 8:59 pm

Thanks Wes!

As a follow up question, I have a RMC engine on the floor. Would that have been a NEW engine sent to the Army for their inventory as a replacement? And since it has a rebuild tag on it that means it got installed in a Jeep and then later rebuilt?

Thanks again for all you do,

Mike B

Post by **wesk** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:35 pm

Correct. RMC = Factory new Replacement engine for an MC jeep. So many spare RMC's were ordered with each M38 contract Army Ordnance Issued as well as other spare parts.

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:13 pm

Thanks Wes!

Maybe I should hold onto this RMC engine as a spare???

Mike B

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Fri Dec 18, 2020 7:34 am

If it is a good engine then I would keep it or sell it, just don't scrap it!

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Fri Dec 18, 2020 9:40 pm

Don't worry, I won't scrap it...from what I can see it's a good block and worth saving!

Mike B