What is my Jeep?

groundhog · Post by **groundhog** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:26 pm

My Willys serial number is MC 14037. It has an M38 body, gas tank, grille, head light guards, frame, and threaded shock mounts, but it has a 6 volt system, no glove box, no battery box above the firewall, the wheels do not have the offset hole, the ID plate and Responsible Agency plates are missing. There was no engine, the hood does not have notches in the side for the deep water equipment, the tail gate does not say Willys, but the front of the tool box has the word Jeep on it. Any help in identification?
Thanks

Zane · Post by **Zane** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:02 pm

it cannot have an m38 body without a glove box or battery box unless these items were removed and filled in by a previous owner, sounds like an early md juan repro body other than the script jeep font under the passenger seat, I dont think the early md juan bodies had that, so Im going to remain undecided until I can see a pic.

Post by **wesk** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:25 am

Pictures are worth a thousand words!

Where did you find the M38 serial number?

Our photo album site is free to you so you can load good quality photos of your jeep and we can better help with an ID.

As mentioned above the MD Juan early repop tubs had no glove box or cowl battery box. Later had the wide WWII glove box and most recent have what appears to be correct size glove box and battery compartment. All the MD Juan tubs had Juan's serial number on the lip of the cowl just to the driver's side (left) of the hood hinge.

The tub you describe has most of the correct attributes for a M38. The 6 volt system could lead you to think CJV35. The best check on the dash is where is the parking brake handle? Left side of dash to the left side of the steering column? (M38). or center of dash to the right of the steering column? (CJ3A & CJV35)

groundhog · Post by **groundhog** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:22 am

I appreciate your input. My parking brake is to the right of the steering wheel and instrument cluster. The MC serial number plate was found on the front of the passenger rear fender well. The tub is very rusted. I did make one mistake on my findings; the wheels do have the offset holes in them, they were just filled in with paint. I will try to put pics in the photo gallery. What era did they make the Juan repro tubs?
thanks
groundhog

Post by **wesk** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:50 am

1965 to present. This is why a 30-40 year old MD Juan tub found on a 50 year old jeep chassis often fools new folks into thinking it is original just because it appears to be just as rotted out as the chassis. Your dash is not M38. It may be a MD Juan tub, or a spliced together hermaphrodite. This is so easy to do with jeeps since the bulk of there sheet panels are spot welded. With the M38 and the M38A1/M170 the most common customization by the first civvy owners ir a civilian dash and deletion of the battery boxes to make room for the stock type civvy jeep heaters between the dash and the firewall on the passenger side of the jeep.

groundhog · Post by **groundhog** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:00 pm

Thanks, that would make sense.
So, they tried to convert a military jeep into a civilian use jeep, that needed a new tub, and they used what parts they could salvage, and welded in what they needed. Luckily I didn't want to make a show jeep, but something I could have fun with that was similar to the old.
Thanks