New here, contemplating purchasing this 52 M38A1

[bjorn2bwild]

Hello everyone,

I stumbled across this '52 M38A1 on Craigslist and got the itch to explore it a little more.

I'd like to ask for opinions of the condition and what it would likely take to at the least get this running with the ultimate goal of a restoration.


From the dash data plate, the Serial number is MD26242 and the date of delivery was 10/52. I did not know of the right wheelhouse patent plate until after I had already checked it out, so obviously, I didn't look for it.

Judging from what's left of the paint and the hood stencil, it was a USMC jeep.

It is... not in good shape. The owner selling it now says the previous owner to him "ran it into a tree, that's when it stopped working".

There is extensive body damage and rust is prevalent everywhere on the tub. The interior, aside from the data plates, might as well not exist. There have been some modifications to the suspension. It has been adapted to a spring over axle lift, as well as had a home-brewed "body lift" added by welding plates to the tub body mount locations . The gas tank is totally destroyed. The wheels are aftermarket wheels and the tires are non-military tires.

I discovered the reason why it's not running is the radiator was pressed into the fan.

It's been sitting outside without moving for at least three years.

So, Is this thing worth attempting to salvage? The seller is not asking for much for it.

And, without further adieu, here are some pics I took yesterday:





More pics can be found here:

http://s691.photobucket.com/albums/vv279/bjorn2bwild/52%20M38A1/

I look forward to hearing opinions.

Photo sizes edited from 450K to a more reasonable size. See For Sale Posting Rules: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=31076#31076

Wes K Site Administrator

[STXM38A1]

[hillbilly21]

GOOD WAY TO GET A REPOP BODY KIT !! HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU GET IT FROM JAY @ WILLYS OVERLAND IN TOLEDO OHIO..

THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WINTER PROJECT

[Yarder]

I'd like to ask for opinions of the condition and what it would likely take to at the least get this running with the ultimate goal of a restoration.



All it takes is money!

[army_inc]

It all depends on the kind of restoration you are going for. If I were in your shoes, I'd leave that thing alone. You will end up paying just as much for a new body kit as you would for a good solid jeep that maybe doesn't run. To me, it just looks to rusty and I wouldn't want to deal with it. Then again I'm doing my restoration on a budget. If money is something you aren't lacking and have a ton extra of it, then yes, this wouldn't be a bad one. First you'd want to send some my way and then buy that jeep and fix everything Bubba has done to lift it. I'm sure if Bubba's done one thing that you can see, he's probably done a lot more that you can't. I slowly figured that out while taking off the body of my jeep. I have an old USMC 10/52 as well. It'll be a fun project no doubt. Like I said, if it were me, I'd find another one and leave that one alone.
_________________
Dave
52 M38A1

[RICKG]

[quote="bjorn2bwild"] The seller is not asking for much for it.

] I hope not..It's beat to death.. I'd run like heck and not look back!!
_________________
keep 'em rollin'
RICKG MC 51986 DOD 01-52, '50 CJ3a

[wesk]

It has value as a parts jeep. Maybe $500 or $600 worth of parts but your handling, moving and stripping would reduce the value of the jeep to about $200 or $300.

A person willing to invest the time and money needed to rebuild that tub or frame would be very hard to find.
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

[timjuhl]

Wes is correct as are the other posters..... My Jeep was running and in a lot better shape but the cost of repairs and parts can rapidly push the price up. That said, I did buy a $200 parts Jeep and got two or three times that cost in parts off it.... Either to use myself or sell to pay for other parts.

It might help if you posted your geographical location.... There might be some guys close to you that could offer suggestions or take a look at it.

Tim
_________________
Tim Juhl
1952 M38A1
1946 Aeronca L16A Army Liaison Aircraft

[TomM]

a clean title matching the data plates is should be part of the purchase.

Tom

[bl5211a]

I would pass, unless you can get it for nothing and even then it may only be good for a few miscellaneous parts.

[Cacti_Ken]

Looks like it may have been a rock crawler and it tumbled down the cliff.
The frame is probably out of shape as well.
_________________
Tropical Veteran
35th Inf. Reg. "CACTI" 4th I.D. VN
Amateur Radio K5XOM

[FrankenJeep]

That is really sad. It does like it took an awful tumble. *Some* people should not be allowed NEAR a Jeep, IMHO. I reserve my most disrepectful contempt of them My Jeep, I have discovered, has received some rough treatment, too, and from the damage that DID occur, it is a wonder it survived. Apparently, "Willy" took such a lick it dislocated the spring pack and flattened the spring eye. We took the spring off the axle and squeezed the leaves back in place and put on a new shackle to get it back into alignment. It is a wonder the old fella didn't have a warped frame, and how they were able to damage the spring without bending something else is a mystery.

Except for parts, I would leave this one alone unless you are up for a huge challenge. I love Jeeps, but not THAT much.


FJ

[FrankenJeep]

It also looks like it is sitting "whopperjawed" indicating a bent frame????

FJ

[gpw6335]

Not worth the effort. Look around for a better one