My Saudi M38A1 is home!

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:42 am

So the Christmas vacation period is over and those long working weeks are in front of us until Easter.
As mentioned my visit at the Registration Authority was succesful and I got my licence number, BUT in the Annual Control Inspection she failed. The front brakes were too much mismatching so I have to fix that a go back for a re-test.

Anyway grandchildren, children, wife and me had some rides during a sunny but very cold Christmas Day.

Now I have taken the left side front brake apart and discovered that one of the cylinders are stuck, new one is already ordered from my local jeep parts supplier 250 km away.

Isn't she Lovely?

Post by **wesk** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 11:48 am

The finished product is always a great pleasure to behold!

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Thu Jan 26, 2017 4:36 pm

Hi again all
After the discussion in the thread "M38A1 Cold start problem" I ran around to the garages in the neighborhood asking for a fuel pressure gauge. The guy at the last garage said: "Why don't you go to the local auto parts store, they have a fuel pressure gauge at a reasonable price." So I did.

The bearable price was about US $10 = SEK 100. A swift fix for the provisional connections and I found out that the the fuel pressure was about 3,5 - 5 PSI, both for the original fuel pump and the electric fuel pump.

Another guy at another gararge adviced me about this combined fuel pressure regulator and fuel filter called Filter King, so I ordered one on the Internet. This one was already from the start adjusted to 0,13 BAR = about 1,8 PSI, and also preperred with an outled for a pressure gauge.

After some problems with leakage at the connections, I finally got the filter/regulator running properly. I have now taken the electric pump away and I am only running the original pump.

I have also got familiar with "the cold start problems" in my Solex carb, and almost tamed it, she will start now after the third cranking, but I still find a lot of soot in the exhaust gases when the engine is cold. Is that something I have to live with, or is it some adjustment problem, or maybe just too much choke?

I think I have tamed my Solex now. I got some very good advice from "skyjeep50" regarding cold start, and I feel I manage now. When the engine is cold I crank until it starts, which takes about 10-12 seconds, and then she runs. I think I was a little too considerate of the starter motor initially, it is new you know, and I want it to last as long as I have the jeep.

I have also performed a compression test with the following result:
Cylinder 1: 6,5
Cylinder 2: 7,5
Cylinder 3: 7,3
Cylinder 4: 6,5

I really don't know the sort, maybe it is kg/cm square, but is really doesn't matter. I can see that cylinders 1 and 4 are equal, 2 and 3 are equal. They differ a little too much in my opinion, but I suppose I have to live with that, anyway until something worse is happening and I have to lift the top.

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 2:45 am

After my struggle with the difference in compression in the cylinders I talked to a couple of skilled car mechanics, and they recommended to run the jeep over the summer and then do a new compression and leakage test. They say that after sitting for more then 8 years, she may cure herself after running a bit.

In the meantime I have ordered and received a brand new canvas top from John and Mary Worthing in UK. I had to prolong the top bow "fork" 60 mm in order to make the top fit better. Unfortunately there still is some mismatch of the side curtains and the doors, but I suppose I have to live with that.

My local jeep parts dealer provided the WS brackets, but the horisontal and vertical rods I made myself.

I have also installed front axle hub nobs in order to reduce noise and fuel consumption, but I have not yet noticed any difference in neither.

When driving the jeep I can hear a quite large noise from the transmission and transfer, so it is most pobably next winter's project, to referbish transmission.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 7:19 am

Great progress, very nice. You must be very pleased.

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 7:23 am

Yes Brian, I am very pleased so far. What bothers me now is the loud noise from transmission. I'll have to Think about a solution for this.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:17 am

Jan-Olaf,
Have you driven other jeeps to have a base line of noise to make comparisons with?

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:57 am

No, to be honest it was 45 years ago I frequently drove a 1947 CJ2A and a 1951 CJ3A, but I can't remember the noise was that loud it was impossible to talk to the person beside me.

The noise differs depending which gear and what speed I go, which of course is obvious.

A lot of noise is coming out from the gear shifter, and second gear is tripping out if you reduce throttle without holding the gear shifter steadily. I have read many other threads on this forum about the same problems. Engine was refurbished in 2002, but transmission haven't been touched for the last 55 years.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:50 pm

Of course it will be more noisy with the top on..

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 10:04 pm

Jan-Olaf,
What you describe is a very good indicator that the synchro, the bearings, the pilot bushing all need work.

I have noticed that after 60 it is more of a problem to hold a conversation anywhere with my degraded hearing!

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 1:33 am

Yes thank you Wes, as I said before, the trans and tranny will be next winter project.

Regarding our age and hearing ability, I can nothing but agree with you, even though my best ear is the right one, next to the wife in the jeep

I suppose we are about the same age, I will be 70 in September

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 1:36 am

And Brian, i really didn't notice any difference in the noise with the the top on, besides that wind got less impact on the ears. Of course that will make the noise sound louder, but not as much as expected.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 7:56 am

My hearing would be better without the ringing!

Too many concerts and too much duck hunting ...

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:01 am

If you have to wait until next winter to rebuild the tranny/transfer
you might consider getting the rebuild parts ahead of time, specifically
for the shift tower. Poppet balls and springs, gasket, etc., and rebuild
the shift tower over a weekend.

It might help jumping out of 2nd gear. Might. Won't help the noise.
But it is something that will have to be done eventually and you can
do it without removing anything except the floor pan.

Just a suggestion if you are bored to tears.

Brinken · Post by **Brinken** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:15 am

Thanks for the advice Brian, I will consider your suggestion IF/WHEN I get too bored of running the jeep in the beautiful Swedish summer.

Is there a repair kit especially for the shift tower, or shall I look far deeper in the TM:s to see how to do this, and which parts to buy?