These are the pedals that came on my jeep. Simple, right? Nope, not to me.
I have checked the parts manual descriptions and looked at a bunch of pedal pics (brake & clutch) but am still scratching my head about what I have and 'which is which'.
One pad is 3.5" wide with the upturned 'ear' on the right and with the shaft off centered toward the down turned 'ear'.
One pad is 4" wide with the upturned 'ear' also on the right but the shaft is centered to the middle.
I think most pedal pics show the upturned ears facing each other along the mid line of the assemblies...... or not.... or something different.
What is the correct M38 'pedal pattern'.
Don Alvarez
Retired HS Teacher
Central Florida
M38 Project
Hi Don,
Pretty sure that with M38 pedals the shaft is centered and the pedal has 7 nibs across. The offset shaft, narrower 6 nib across models are M38A1. Although they interchange perfectly. I hear some folks like the narrow one for a brake pedal, especially if you have large feet, because it's pretty close to the gas pedal. Not correct for M38 of course.
And yes, when installed, the upturned edges face each other inboard.
See page 125 in the M38 Reference Guide.
Good luck!
Ron D.
1951 M38 Unknown Serial Number
1951 M100 Dunbar Kapple 01169903 dod 5-51
“The only good sports car that America ever made was the Jeep."
--- Enzo Ferrari
And if the mounting shaft bushings are worn at the base of the pedals they can have a lot of side-to-side slop which makes the closeness to the gas pedal (and other problems) even worse.
Ron D.
1951 M38 Unknown Serial Number
1951 M100 Dunbar Kapple 01169903 dod 5-51
“The only good sports car that America ever made was the Jeep."
--- Enzo Ferrari
Sounds like I have a M38 clutch pedal (4”) and a M38A1 clutch pedal (3.5”).
If I bought a M38 NOS brake bedal (and don’t have big feet) all is good.
Unfounded speculation ..... Maybe a GI with big feet got tired of the M38 pedal arrangement and had his buddy at the motorpool (is that one word or two?) ..... had his buddy at the motor pool swap out a pedal with a M38A1.
Several other scenarios come to mind.
BTW. A quick look tells me everything on fleabay is actually M38A1 pedal stuff and some of the repo pedals have eight nubs.
Don Alvarez
Retired HS Teacher
Central Florida
M38 Project
If it’s 2pm, August 1968 and you have been picking watermelons for hours under the Florida sun ... and you pass out unconscious..... the straw boss would likely say, “That there boy is ‘bear caught’”...... which aside from the medical emergency probably means you will lose some pay depending on how long it takes to regain consciousness.
Truth be told, I worked in a slaughterhouse for college money but the concept is much the same except that meat saws, meat hooks and something called ‘the screw’ were part of the process.
“Son, that there thing over there that we shove all the guts into is most unforgiving, so, don’t stand near ‘the screw’”.
Don Alvarez
Retired HS Teacher
Central Florida
M38 Project
The temperature really has slowed down my project pace for now.
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* Another thought on the mismatched pedals: (just blabbing away here)
Along with chasing MVPA points and Bubba's huntin' jeep I would suggest the totally unofficial category of "Interesting Details"..... not quite "Your jeep/Your way" but small, interesting irregularities/mods that are known to exist on some M38 barn finds.... things done with some regularity and for plausible reasons by a GI or civilian owner..... things found on a barn find jeep that would otherwise be replaced during restoration.
"Short pedal for big feet" ..... that's a great jeep story/ urban legend so I think I'll keep 'em.
I will also opine that you should know and be upfront with others about your "Jeep Restoration Sins"... knowing that dispensations can always be purchased from a favorite supplier.
..... maybe keep those correct parts under a tarp in your jeep when attending a show in case anyone cracks wise.
Don Alvarez
Retired HS Teacher
Central Florida
M38 Project
