Joined: Mar 13, 2006 Posts: 1079 Location: Richburg, SC
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 5:08 pm Post subject: Can you help me identify my 1964 USMC M38a1 hood number?
OK, so I was able to uncover a hood number. The problem is - the first 2 numbers are not completely clear. Was there a certain configuration the USMC used on their hood numbers? I know it was 6 numbers, but were there any letters like on the M35a2s? Was there a certain range for hood numbers? Mine is a 12/64 model. I think it says 316784. The second number kindof looks like a 7, but if it was the same size as the other 7, the top would be overlapping the 3. Any thoughts?
You have it right. 316784. I have several USMC 1963/1964 M38A1's in the data base with USMC hood 3's. They do not progress without interuptions meaning the serial count will not equal the hood number count differences. This is because the Marine contracts were not delivered with a hood # per each serial # in order off the line.
The reference M38A1's with serials near yours and their hood numbers are:
Joined: Mar 13, 2006 Posts: 1079 Location: Richburg, SC
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:08 am Post subject:
Thanks Wes,
Thanks for the additional info too - I love learning all I can about these Jeeps and I suppose that is part of the fun! My wife looked at the pics last night too - she agreed on 316784. Looks like she has her identity back! Now I guess I need to do some light sanding on the front fenders to check for a crest, but it looks like they sanded them even better than the hood. I have seen pictures of USMC crests on the cowl and rear quarters, whether that is original or not. Is there anywhere else that you have seen that I need to check? I know they didn't bling them up like the Army Jeeps.
There is also another 1964 on Willysmjeeps that is USMC 316418 - belongs to mdog in SC. I guess he didn't send in the info for your database. I sent him a PM asking about the build date but not the serial #. That reminds me - I haven't forgotten about the form, I'm just trying to complete as much of it as possible before submitting it. _________________ Matt
1953 M38a1
1964 USMC M38a1
'51 USMC M100 trailer, '54 M100 trailer, '90 M101a1 trailer
Http://wilfreeman.wordpress.com (M38a1 build blog)
http://m38a1usmc.wordpress.com (USMC M38a1 rebuild blog)
Joined: Oct 28, 2008 Posts: 99 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:43 am Post subject:
Matt,
I have heard that some of the later M38A1's had the M151 style air cleaner.
Hugh Kennedy had one of these. What style air cleaner does yours have? I don't know if this was a field mod, or if some come from the factory with these air cleaners.
Thanks,
Dave _________________ 1955 M38A1
1964 CJ5
1968 M274 Pepe'
Joined: Mar 13, 2006 Posts: 1079 Location: Richburg, SC
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:27 pm Post subject:
Hey Dave,
I actually still have those pics that you have me in Denton a few years back. I referenced them when I first got the Jeep.
The USMC contract Jeeps actually used 2 different air filter housings. The early one was the flat top m151 style and the later ones had the pressed top with rings in it. Mine has the latter style with the pressed rings. I would upload pics, but I'm at work and really can't do it on my phone. My blog has a pic of it though.
The M151 type air cleaners were Kaiser installed from about 1962 and on. Same with the instrument cluster M151 style lamps. _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Joined: Oct 28, 2008 Posts: 99 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 6:15 pm Post subject:
Thanks, Wes, that's good to know. About the shine on that Jeep, my dad said his driver spent all his free time shining that Jeep. The order came down to replace it with an M151 and the driver (Gary Fox) asked to keep the M38A1. My dad wrote letters that this was a good Jeep and they should keep it, but no dice. It may still be in country. It will live again when I finish my project.
My dad was CO of first Hospital Company in DaNang. He was Col. Potter from MASH. When I was in high school and MASH came on my dad would leave the room. Guess it brought back too many memories. I've got all his pictures to display with the Jeep. I've heard they used to rub them down with diesel fuel. I will re-create the signs also.
Thanks,
Dave _________________ 1955 M38A1
1964 CJ5
1968 M274 Pepe'
Joined: Mar 13, 2006 Posts: 1079 Location: Richburg, SC
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 7:16 pm Post subject:
DaveM38A1 wrote:
Thanks, Wes, that's good to know. About the shine on that Jeep, my dad said his driver spent all his free time shining that Jeep. The order came down to replace it with an M151 and the driver (Gary Fox) asked to keep the M38A1. My dad wrote letters that this was a good Jeep and they should keep it, but no dice. It may still be in country. It will live again when I finish my project.
My dad was CO of first Hospital Company in DaNang. He was Col. Potter from MASH. When I was in high school and MASH came on my dad would leave the room. Guess it brought back too many memories. I've got all his pictures to display with the Jeep. I've heard they used to rub them down with diesel fuel.
Thanks,
Dave
WD40 works too - helps to hide the scratches _________________ Matt
1953 M38a1
1964 USMC M38a1
'51 USMC M100 trailer, '54 M100 trailer, '90 M101a1 trailer
Http://wilfreeman.wordpress.com (M38a1 build blog)
http://m38a1usmc.wordpress.com (USMC M38a1 rebuild blog)
It was common military practice to make the flat & semi-gloss finished jeeps shine by rubbing them down with various petroleum products for parades and etc. In the case of Dave's dad's jeep since he was company CO it was common for those jeeps to get a full gloss paint job. _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Joined: Oct 28, 2008 Posts: 99 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:14 pm Post subject:
That is such good information. I have lots of pictures from 1st Hospital Company along with his command records. Took him 40 years to finally go through his slides and I put them all on CD. My dad is a retired physician, still in good shape for 87 years old. Took him to Welcome home celebration in Fayetteville for Vietnam Vets. We enjoyed that and he fielded questions about wait times and directing patients to the different field hospitals based on number of patients waiting and acuity.
Thanks,
Dave _________________ 1955 M38A1
1964 CJ5
1968 M274 Pepe'
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