willysmjeeps.com

Hey guys so I am new to this forum, I just got an M38 with the following numbers:
SN: MC 21002
Engine: RMC 125968
Hood: US ARMY 2392011

If anyone could help me determine approximate month and year and also inspector initials so I could get a plate because I do not have that plate on my jeep. Also any tips and pointers on the restoration that I am going to do.

Also a tid bit about me. I am 15 years old and my father and I started an association called freedomvehicles.org. WE collect military vehicles and gear and use them to promote patriotism and what not by putting them in shows and parades. I know I seem young but I know a whole lot about jeeps and other military vehicles. I am interested in learning more about my jeeps and jeeps in general and any other military vehicles.

Thanks so much.

Hi Wade, cool to see you chimed in. Welcome to the site buddy.

Guys, this kid's knowledge of military vehicles will make your head spin. I had the pleasure of hanging out this weekend with him, his family and their military collection and running the parade in our city's summer fest.

Be sure to check out their site.

Looking at the data base Wade, I think yours would fall in line around May or June of 1951.
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/downloads/M38SNDB.pdf

Be sure to read on how to post pics and get some on here. Everyone gets excited seeing pictures of a new project.
See ya around,
Brett

Welcome to the site! It's great to see a young person who is interested and eager to learn. It's certainly never too early, you can spend a life time working on these things and still be learning.

Ditto on posting pictures. Personally I use photobucket and find it quite an asset. When it comes to explanations and asking questions a picture can be worth a thousand words on top of making the thread visually appealing.

Wade,

1 - Are you just looking for this answer and not wishing to start a permanent thread on this jeep's restoration? If this is just about this one question I can move your post to the Technical Questions board. If you want it to be the beginning of a long running thread on this jeep's entire restoration I can retitle it.

2 - Is your M38 missing both the dash serial plate and the right rear wheel house serial plate?

Thanks all and I will get pictures up. I have the plate on the wheel well behind the seat. And I think it would be cool to have this be an ongoing thread through my restoration. Thanks.

You can see some pictures on Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o2wi82048a4o ... qN0Pa?dl=0

MC21002 would be the 11001 st M38 built. It was produced May 1951.

Your dash serial plate would look like this:


Your 7 digit hood number, 2392011, is one of the highest I have seen on a M38 and is probably correct for your M38. May 51 was when the switch occurred to the 8 digit numbers.

Your engine, RMC 125968 , is a factory replacement engine and was not original to your jeep. Based on the engine's serial number it is also the later engine design with the rear block web reinforcement that is used with the late style bell housing and starter.

I think your Jeep is the one that I was going to buy from Josh Clifford a few years back. He bought it and another M38A1 from a guy in Colorado Springs. Your Jeep was used at the Black Forest Fire Dept. there. No title is what stopped me. SD is a title state and very hard to work with. That's a worthy Jeep to build. I hope you can get your state to work with you on titling. Looks like you are getting the facts about it first which is very good. John

John, I do believe seeing Black Forest FD markings when Wade had me check it out. I know it was marked by some fire dept. I'm sure this is the same animal.

Glad to have you aboard Wade! We always enjoy seeing a new project and member come along.
If you're hanging around with Brett you're in pretty good company altho he can be a bad influence.
It's best to keep a wary eye on Oilleaker John as well

Ok thanks for the help on the data plate, I bought it out of Lakewood Colorado, it has Black Forest VFD on the hood. My dad had to title 3 of the trucks that we have and he will have to title 2 more later on, it is really a simple process that takes a few weeks to do after fill out a little bit of paperwork. Black Forest VFD was in Colorado Springs , so I know it was in Colorado for a long time. Thanks again for the help thus far and check out the pictures I put in my signature link.

Wade, I wonder if you know my friend Derek Gore @ Gores military museum in Dillon Montana. A young fellow like yourself and quite knowledgeable as well. You two should get together sometime.
http://goresmilitarymuseum.webs.com/

Wes, what would the inspectors initials be on mine?

So I was told by a friend of mine named Wade Knapp, to pull the spark plugs, then pour 2 to 3 tbsp of sea foam in to the cylinder to soak the pistons, it should help free up the motor. Than tomorrow I will go and try to turn it with the spark plugs out so there is no compression. and then it will turn really easily. Hope it works.

Hi Wade!
Welcome aboard! Nice to see younger folks going us restore these
old warhorses.

Btw, where does one find sea foam in Utah?

Grins,
Brian