1950 m38 project

jeepjay · Post by **jeepjay** » Wed Jan 09, 2013 6:47 pm

here is the start of my m38 project, this jeep is in washington and I believe it has always been here. there is a rebuild tag on the engine from 1958 from the mount rainier ordnance depot, (now fort lewis ) the previous owner purchased this from a government auction in 1968 for $150.00 this is a very early m38
#100965 anyway it is still 24 volt and fairly original and all of the original parts that have been taken off were bagged and tagged by the previous owner. I am working at it slowly fixing rust repair and general cleaning but hopefully will be finished within the next year

bth_005_zpsbe0ee830.jpg

bth_0014_zps710a949e.jpg?t=1357774140

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Wed Jan 09, 2013 8:30 pm

Hey,

Sounds very interesting.

To post photos you have to upload them to a website or if you want a photo gallery here I can set you up with one.

Then right click on your photo and select properties. Highlight the web address and then right click, select copy.

When posting here you did the right thing by selecting Img at the begining then paste the address and then select Img again.

We would love to see photos of your jeep.

jeepjay · Post by **jeepjay** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:50 pm

photos are in photobucket but I was unable to transfer them to here, I will keep trying. Jay

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 5:17 am

In photobucket, when you click your picture, it will show up somewhere on the page, a box of options. Click the box that says 'IMG'. It will then say 'COPIED'. Then come back here and paste it on your post. It will post a link to your pic when the post is brought up.

jeepjay · Post by **jeepjay** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:38 am

here are a few pictures when purchased

notice the windshield, it is a hardtop windshield that someone modified

Post by **wesk** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:14 pm

I edited the arrangement of your photos so the window wouldn't need to be so wide to view and read it all. Is that your MB in the second photo?

jeepjay · Post by **jeepjay** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:55 am

thanks for the rearrangment on the pictures, as you probably can tell I am new at posting pictures. the other jeep in the picture is a 1945 willys mb it is fairly complete, runs and drives good but the body has seen better days. Jay

Post by **wesk** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:08 am

When you paste the photo URL inside the [img] brackets skip a line between each photo. The firewall and front frame/bumper are in much better shape then my MB project.

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:02 am

Yes, I think that jeep on outward appearance looks to be in not too bad of shape.

Start a photo album here. I encourage members to put a least a few photos up of their projects. We will keep them with the website and it is a great archive for others to look through in the future.

Photobucket is only around as long as you pay.

I have a few questions, I know things may have been swapped out, but I am curious:

1. Steering wheel - smooth or three small ribs

2. engine serial number (above the water pump boss)

3. delivery date

4. dash photo - a few things there changed through production

5. engine - how many water jacket plugs

6. does your jeep have 24V guages still? If so a photo of the back side and front of the guages.

7. Vent plumbing if any is left

8. Volt regulator top and all electrical data tag information

9. does your jeep still have the firewall mounted distributor filter?

I think of some more later.

jeepjay · Post by **jeepjay** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:16 pm

ryan, the serial # on the block is mc96350, it has 2 freeze plugs on the side of the block, here is a photo of the rebuild tag

here are some dash pictures

here are some pictures of the charging system

and here is a picture of the tag from the dash

all of the vent system seems to there but the master cylinder cap is wrong or missing a fitting because it is not connected.....Jay

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:38 pm

Thanks for the photos!

Two of your guages are definitely original with the pipe like elbow on the back.

All of your guages appear to be the right AC numbers so that is good news.

The early guages had a resistor in the elbow and the later guages did not. Can't tell the diff from the front so you better hang on to them - the amp guage is hard to find.

Early horn button is correct and thanks for the steering wheel pic too.

Engine has been swapped out for a later block - do you have the window in the bell housing for timing or the later style block/bell housing.

Barely any M38 jeeps got out of the military without an engine rebuild/swap upgrade.

The dash plug photo is the accessory plug, the dash filter was a metal box. Later M38 had the filter inside the distributor, which is probably what you have on the later engine.

The serial number on your generator - looks like a "G" = 1952

What is the extra gear lever?

Was there any fording stuff left? Probably not as in late 1952 (M38A1) they deleted most of the fording stuff from the factory. End units could order the kit to put on if required. Maintinance on the fording stuff was too much of a hassle comparedt to how often it was actually used under water.

Thanks!

jeepjay · Post by **jeepjay** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:56 pm

ryan, all of the gauges look correct to me except the fuel gauge, the condition is better than the other three and the gauge face is closer to the lens than the other three, the extra shifter is a warn overdrive which I am going to leave in the jeep for now. I don't see a window in the bellhousing. This has the fording stuff still on the engine (2 shutoff valves ran by a cable from the dash) Jay

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:42 pm

The early M38 jeeps had guages with the pipe on the back that has a resistor in them. Later guages did not. Two of your guages have the pipe piece, indicating they are most likely original to the jeep, the other two do not. I cannot see the number on your fuel guage face to tell if it is correct or not.

I would not worry about it, because you cannot see it when the dash is installed. They all look the same from the front and have the same AC numbers.

I just wanted to see if you had any of the older guages.

Your engine serial number is high, so it should be the later sealed bell housing with extra castings on the block for more attachments between bell housing/block.

It is not a big deal as most M38 jeeps had the engines pulled and rebuilt/swapped during their military service life.

I think you have a solid jeep to start with and lots of good parts.

That will save you a lot of time/money.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:54 pm

Hello Jay,

What are the last three digits of the serial on the dash serial plate?

Your instrument clusters look very stock for your period M38,

That firewall photo shows the accessory plug receptacle which applies to early M38's thru MC47771

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 5:05 pm

I checked my notes:

Amp guage should not have the pipe on the back throughout M38 production.

The change occured at jeep MC17855 March 1951.

The M38 production guages retained the exact same faces and part number/AC number. They appear identical from the front and once installed on the jeep it would be difficult to get back under there and look.

The fuel guage has been replaced at one time.

However, if the guage face is the same and has the AC anc ORD part number on it, then I would not worry about it.

The engine/bell housing change was at jeep MC53262 Feb 1952.