The M38 door frames and Canadian style License plate holders are now available thru MDJuan dealers. please call them about it. _________________ Keeping them rolling from the far east!
Joined: Mar 19, 2010 Posts: 149 Location: Brandon, Manitoba Canada
Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:02 pm Post subject:
good stuff going on here!
I was just wondering about the front of the toolbox piece with the "Jeep" script on it...is there any chance you can make a replacement piece that could sold as a repair? I would be interested definitely.
I also wonder if it could have the lip for doing the spot welds to the floor? thanks
I will retake the front licence plate holder picture with measurements if anyone is interested. This is the one that is bolted to the bottom of the bumper and has a hinge so that the plate can fold back when not needed.
Rommel,
I posted some issues I had with the lower cowls MD Juan makes. You responded in April and private messaged me. At the time, as I replied, we were on the road and I was unable to look through what we both had written. I am now home and had time to review each of our information. Please forgive my tardiness.
1. "Height of the lower cowls"
Rommel's response
Action:
"It is now corrected, the height of the panel now 14 5/8” (same as the original.)"
I am glad that you were able to determine that height needed to be corrected and are doing so. Unfortunately when we purchase these parts we don't know whether we are getting the new and improved version or the old version. Does MD Juan mark there parts in any way so we can specify that we want the corrected part?
2. "Step is made wrong."
Rommel's response
"The step is actually made correctly but we just put a little allowance on the hat channels so that the user has some leeway and be able to do adjustments."
I will stand by my statement. On the 2 cowls I bought the steps are not the same shape as the original. You said that you gave a little extra on your hat channels for fitment. I am not using your hat channels but an NOS floorboard that I installed. It and the original are exactly the same in the length, height, and angle of the hat channel. Now it may be that the thing I mentioned above about the version of the part making a difference. I have no way of knowing how old the lower cowls I bought were or when they were manufactured. Mine might not be indicative of what you are currently producing. I purchased mine 18 mo ago and I have no way of knowing how long they sat in the suppliers warehouse prior to my purchase.
3. The gusset for the upper corner where the fender bolts is attached making it hard to properly to fit the panel with the firewall.
Rommel's response
"We really do a little hammering on the lip portion of the gusset that connects with the firewall."
I again stand by my opinion that the gusset in the top corner of the lower cowl should not be installed but included to be welded in by the ultimate user. This would facilitate the ease in marking and drilling the hole for the wipers and since it goes over the edge or flange of the firewall would make that fitment
easier to obtain.
To bring up another point. This gusset has no hole cut in it for the wiper line the original gusset has such a hole that is flanged. I notice that in your response post "dated April 19th". You show pictures of two lower cowls. The first one appears similar to the ones I purchased. The upper gusset is installed on the cowl but there is no hole in it for the wiper line. The second picture, 2 below the first, shows a picture of a lower cowl with a hole for the wiper in the gusset and in the cowl ( the hole in the gusset is not flanged as is the original). This picture was posted to show the new lower cowl support. Based on this picture will you be manufacturing a lower cowl support with the gusset attached and holes drilled for the wiper line in the future and will you be redesigning the gusset to match the original as said you are going to do with the cowl support?
4." The original panels, in fact the whole top portion of the jeep body had a lip that is bent down into a U shape and then another piece of U shaped channel is pushed or secured into the channel that finishes off the top of the panels."
Rommel's response
" We install a “U” shaped stiffener attached inside of the upper side panel.”
Again maybe I am dealing with an older lower cowl section. It has no stiffener in the upper channel. I have never purchased one of your quarter panels so I have no knowledge of them.
5. MD Juan attaches the cowl support that fits up under the upper cowl. The support does not look the same as the original and I think the fact that it is attached at the factory inhibits fitting the part.
Rommels response
" We will implement the correct cowl support based from the original on our next production."
I am glad that you are matching the design of the original lower cowl supports. It is a change that will make the replacement panels look better. I do however stand by my opinion that they should be separate from the cowl and installed by the final user.
6. Lastly but very important the angle of the front edge of the cowl where it is supposed to meet the fender is wrong. If you bolt up at the top the gap at the bottom seems to be about 3/16 to ¼ inch. I compared it to poster board templates I made of the side of the jeep before I started taking it apart and to the original cowl.
Rommel's response
" We now assure the 105 degree correct stamped angle of the bend based from the standard ."
Again I am glad you are able to change your manufacturing process to correct this flaw.
Rommel I appreciate MD Juan's attitude in correcting or adjusting what they agree with and the effort to improve your product. While I don't plan on doing another Jeep restoration, M38 or any other, MD Juan's attempts to provide true reproduction parts will be a benefit to anyone that decides to restore one of these in the future. Since there are plenty of parts out there that do not have these improvements, what questions should we ask our suppliers to make sure we are getting the new improved version? I have also noted that you seem to have initiated two new products, a M38 door frame and a license plate holder. It is a credit to your company that you have made the financial commitment based on consumer imput. I hope that your commitment is rewarded with orders. _________________ R G Mutchler
M274A5
M-38 MC13312
http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=rgmutchler&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
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