willysmjeeps.com

New winter top and side curtains from Dave P. Doors I have had for years.

Chuck, you did too good a storage job on the doors. They look newer than the top!

ChuckW...where in Alabama are you? I just resurrected a 1951 M38 from scrap parts here in Huntsville.

Hi,
Please excuse my inexperience and ignorance in this post.
You have a great looking jeep there !!
You note that this is a new “winter” top. Is there such a thing as a summer top? I would enjoy a “summer” top , if there is such a thing!(especially at red lights!) but don’t much care for sides or back in summer.
Thank you for your time,
Dave
M38
Manufactured 8/1951
MC 31118

The military never made "summer" and "winter" tops. The enclosures for these jeeps are composed of a top, two side curtains and two doors. In the summer, I either remove just the side curtains or side curtains and attach the straps on the back of the top to the top bows (this method keeps some shade on the seats but allows full ventilation).
Some vendors sell "summer" tops which do not have the turn-button fasteners so you cannot attach side curtains for those type of tops.
Kendall

Thank you for the reply,
I didn’t realize i could roll up the back and attach it to bows. Sadly I think I’m missing one part of the bows, I don’t have a pipe (or solid bar?) that would go from windshield frame to bow. I have snaps on cover over were the doors would go but nothing for them to go around so I’m thinking I have two solid bar / pipes ( one on each side) missing, so with that said I haven’t driven with the top as I don’t want to damage (rip) anything by having a piece missing.
Thanks
Dave

Dmk67...You can purchase some 3/8 diameter bar stock and make your own...I did. It's not hard. Go to Wes Kettles photos and look around for the plans for the bows/supports.

ChuckW...where in Alabama are you? I just resurrected a 1951 M38 from scrap parts here in Huntsville.

I am NE of Birmingham just off I-59. I usually go to the Veteran's Memorial Museum vehicle rally in Huntsville in May every year.

ChuckW wrote:

ChuckW...where in Alabama are you? I just resurrected a 1951 M38 from scrap parts here in Huntsville.

I am NE of Birmingham just off I-59. I usually go to the Veteran's Memorial Museum vehicle rally in Huntsville in May every year.

Sa..weet...see ya there next May.

I was at the museum a couple weeks ago...they let me go inside behind the ropes to check out their M38 for wiring routing.

Randy and I co-hosted the 2012 MVPA convention in Huntsville at the Von Braun Center.

Dave,

My photo album is the 2nd album on the 1st Member's Albums" page:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... php&page=2

The Canvas top album is at:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

The M38 top album is at:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php


This is how you run the top only without the doors, side curtains and door frame rodworks. The aftermarket "Summer Top" version of this would not have any of the turn fasteners along the top sides for the two side curtains.


Here you see the door frame rods left in place.


This shows the top bars down and stowed along with the doors and all the canvas. You can also store all but the top and bars and run it like the two photos above.

I have to admit that my NOS passenger side door cover did not look so good when I unwrapped it and installed it onto the door frame.

I had to replace the plastic "glass". I unstitched it and reused the binding, found a roll of the 30 gauge clear plastic on-line for $20, and restiched everything with my hand sewing awl. It was quite a job, but I think it turned out OK.

That is awesome...a lot of patience to sew all that by hand. But it's worth it... Looks good.

Mr. Kettle,
Thank you for the links and pictures. I need to get a device were I can explore your albums better. Thank you for being friendly and freely handing out your advice and suggestions. I was hesitant to ask or comment due to some other boards I’ve looked at but it seems different here. Thanks for that.
Dave

You are welcome Dave.

Providing friendly advice and making the guy asking the question comfortable is what our site is about.