1952 M38A1 project

Ivoryring · Post by **Ivoryring** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 12:23 pm

I got myself a 1952 M38A1 (delivery date 10/52, serial number MD25713 according to data plate, but no idea if that's right) in lots of pieces just recently - it's a bit of a basket case project. I'm working on an inventory to figure out exactly what I have. I've got duplicate generators, starters, radiators. I am not sure what's missing aside from no windshield glass and no top at all. Lots of rust everywhere - some penetration, some welds without fixing the paint on the back side and some bondo over rust.

My plan is to halt the rot, get it working - with stock fording depth and enjoy it. Not going for "show quality" - not going for all authentic NOS parts, but I'm also going to try to preserve what I have - not going to cut up the body needlessly.

aforests · Post by **aforests** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 12:27 pm

Welcome and good luck!

Ivoryring · Post by **Ivoryring** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 1:30 pm

Let's see if I can post some pics.

My first view of the grill

Body and sheetmetal

Edited: to use Google photos links rather than broken images. Not ideal... But not entirely broken.

Edit2: to use album here properly

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 3:00 pm

You can post links to off page photo pages or you can attach
photos from a photo page on this site, but not both.

Ask Wes for a photo page and you can drop photos there,
or just drop the "img" stuff from your links.

Thanks,

Post by **wesk** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 9:47 pm

Ivoryring,

If you notice most folks show their location and their real first name in their profile. Makes the discussions more friendly and personal. They also list their model jeep owned in their signature block.

Your photos you linked cannot be displayed here because your album at that site does not allow the third party to link them.

It's a bit easier process if you use your photo album that is here on this web site.

Here's your album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Here's the rules:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... opic&t=498

Here's the tutorial for loading your album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Here's the tutorial for posting your photos:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... pic&t=8670

Ivoryring · Post by **Ivoryring** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:34 am

wesk wrote:Ivoryring,

If you notice most folks show their location and their real first name in their profile. Makes the discussions more friendly and personal. They also list their model jeep owned in their signature block.

Thanks Wes - I'm happy to work with the expectations of folks here.

Ivoryring · Post by **Ivoryring** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 5:00 am

Speedometer looks to me like it is the correct part (though no idea if the odometer reading is right) - but the other gauges are aftermarket, I assume due to 12v conversion:

Mystery pump - there are a lot of parts that I've seen so far in the pile-o-parts that don't look like they are original to me.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 6:16 am

I believe that's what's called a jeep in a barn!

Nice find!

Welcome to the madness.

Ivoryring · Post by **Ivoryring** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:52 pm

Dash serial number plate

Ivoryring · Post by **Ivoryring** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 2:16 pm

I'm told that mystery pump is a saginaw power steering pump.

I considered a rotisserie (and I may yet go there), but for the moment I'm going to make do with a dolly to be able to get to both top and bottom of the body tub and to be able to move it around. My back shed should have room enough to keep all the parts under cover (plan is to pick up the rolling chassis tomorrow), but not enough extra room to work, and I'll want to do things like wirewheel outside rather than getting rust all over everything.

At least one of the long 2x4s on my dolly has twist to it, so with no weight on it, the dolly isn't square.

Wrestled the body up and it holds and all 4 wheels are making contact now. It's easy to roll around and it won't go anywhere on it's own when the wheels are locked. I still need to figure out a way to clamp the body down to the dolly.

Now I can really examine the underside of the tub.

Looks like the previous owner welded his own hat channels over the stock channels.

Given how rusty all his replacement channels are from the outside, I'm going to guess it's not primed on the inside either, so likely just full of rust.

Xamon · Post by **Xamon** » Sun Apr 24, 2016 8:20 am

I did something similar only I made two smaller dollies, I just used some large C-clamps to hold them to the body.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Apr 24, 2016 10:28 am

Ivoryring · Post by **Ivoryring** » Sun Apr 24, 2016 10:45 am

I was thinking of building something out of scraps of 2x4 - but really some cheap sturdy c-clamps will probably work just as well.

I put my cross pieces (2x6 at the front and rear and along the a-pillar area, 2x4 at front and rear of rear wheel arch) specifically in positions where it looks like I could get a clamp of some kind to pinch the metal flat to the lumber (rather than in a spot where there would be gap under it to be crushe/distorted).

Picked up the rest of it - now it's all under one roof.

Ivoryring · Post by **Ivoryring** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:27 pm

Did an inventory of what I got - unfortunately the aftermarket gauges are a sign - all 12v, no original generator or regulator. I'll need to find all the bits of 24v system.

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:16 am

Welcome to the group