What number to the hood?

[raul-m38]

My M38 has a number 12787 and do not put that number on the hood.

I thought that one possibility would be to put the number 2362787.
but considering that the former came under number 2368159, and mine came after 2787. Why are not the number 2370946?

[wesk]

Hood numbers (Army registration numbers) do not always follow the serial number progression. Hood numbers are assigned by the Army in groups equal to the number of jeeps ordered on that specific procurement contract. They are painted on the hoods as they roll of the assembly line by the factory. Since many times the production assembly order becomes irregular due to jeeps failing inspection at certain points on the line or due to errors in installations along the lines you will see batches of jeeps leave the assembly line out of the normal serial sequence.

Deriving a hood number based on serial sequence from what was found on another jeep is a very unreliable method. It also leaves many jeeps with the wrong hood numbers which creates confusion for researchers in the future. There is always the possibility the jeep hood number you base yours on is not correct for that jeep.

The accepted practice in the hobby is to use the approximate first 3 digits IE 236, 237 and etc. Then add the last four digits of the serial number. If your serial falls in the 8 digit hood number range then use 208XXXXX or 209XXXXX and add the five digits of your serial number.

Your serial number is 12787 and since Willys started the serials for the M38 at 10001 your jeep is the 2787th jeep built. Not the 12787th jeep built. Now if we take a look at production contracts then the first contract W-20-089-ORD-4758 which was for 4000 M38's means the the Army gave Willys a block of 4000 hood numbers to use, If we assume the first pilot jeep used the first of that block of numbers and that number was 2368159 then your theoretical hood number would be 2370946 but since we know they did not follow serial sequence perfectly that is only a theoretical number. If you use it you could find later another M38 with the same number. This is why we recommend not using the theoretical number and to instead use a number derived from the first three approximate digits and add your serials last four. 2372787 would be the ideal number for you to use,
_________________
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

[raul-m38]

thanks wesk, that is the number chosen.

on the bumpers will put the 101 A / B 506 PIR, but not if it is correct