Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 6:30 am Post subject: Identifying my M38
All,
Just bought a M38 the other day. Seller said it was a 1952. But it is titled as a 48 CJ2A as the military vehicles have no VIN. I don't have any of the serial number plates. The frame looks to be military as it has boxed in portions of the frame on the left and right sides up to but not quite to the firewall. I can't find any of the serial numbers on frame like a civilian jeep would have. The vehicle has been converted to 12 volts which is fine as I don't want to restore it, rather just make it a fun driver with most of the original parts. I also want to have most of the history so I can correctly order parts.
The engine was rebuilt, but I see blue paint below the green paint and there is blue paint on the skid plate below the oil pan.
She is great running vehicle where they put a lot of attention to the drivetrain and left the tub with lots of patina and welded in plates.
But it is titled as a 48 CJ2A as the military vehicles have no VIN.
Actually, neither the M38 nor the CJ2A had a "VIN". The VIN was invented by the Federal Government in 1976 in an attempt to provide for standardized vehicle factory serial numbering. Both the M38 and the CJ2A came from Willys with a factory serial number. I know that 22 year old clerk at the DMV told you all vehicle ID numbers are VIN's. WRONG. Do the math. The VIN was born 42 years ago and the clerk was born 22 years ago! Best to describe pre 1976 Vehicle Identification Numbers as what they are. FACTORY SERIAL NUMBERS
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But it is titled as a 48 CJ2A
This was a very common practice back in the day. The military surplus jeeps left the military with only a Form 97 which listed it as a M38 SN MCXXXXX, ex-military property and this form's sole purpose was so you could prove to your DMV that you obtained this vehicle legally from the Military and wish to title it in that state. Well many M38's never had the form 97 utilized to obtain a title. So years later when a guy needed a title for his new M38 project he would find a junked CJ and use that title.
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The frame looks to be military as it has boxed in portions of the frame on the left and right sides up to but not quite to the firewall.
Both the CJ and M38 frames are boxed from the radiator crossmember almost to the firewall. The real difference is at the front.
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How do you post pics?
If you look closely at the Forums Index page you will see this near the bottom of that page:
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Members can post a message to request a photo gallery or relay a problem with your gallery. Gallerys creation is a manual process so it may take a day or two depending on how busy the administrators are. How to photo posting questions here as well.
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The first two subjects there are:
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