Progress made on M38A1 steering rebuilt and engine pulled

[DaveM38A1]

I've rebuilt the steering box and have pulled the engine to freshen it up and replace the bell housing. At some point someone exploded a clutch. The engine runs and has decent compression, but is pumping out oil, so probably stuck rings, we'll see. The sector shaft I had re-machined for the steering box seems to work well, all rebuilt with new seals, cups and bearings.

Now for the question. If I'm building a USMC jeep, would the engine be painted 34052 Forrest Green?

Any tips on painting the engine?



Thanks,

Dave

[Zane]

34052 is the flat usmc green and 24052 is the semi gloss, id highly recommend the later as the flat usmc green will stain and scratch at the drop of a hat and is alot harder to clean and wash. Also isnt nearly as good as a rust prohibitor as a gloss paint. Good points about the 34052 is that it is very easy to paint and is very very forgiven on body work and hides nearly everything.

On painting engine... block same green as the rest of jeep, valve cover semi gloss black, oil filter housing semi gloss black, distributor semi gloss black, starter and generator both semi gloss black, fan blade and radiator semi gloss black, air breather semi gloss black, voltage regulator semi gloss black. I use the high heat universal black and it is a very good paint and color match. Another trick I use is I clean up brass fittings and paint them with clear laquer and they stay shinny and dont corrode. this also works on carbs and fuel pumps too. The only way to properly detail an engine to make it look good is to strip off all the parts and paint them seperately and bolt it back together.

[DaveM38A1]

Thanks, Zane, I've got the semi gloss USMC paint.
Do you use primer on the engine block or just clean and degrease it really well?

Thanks,

Dave

[Zane]

Ive found that the oil based red oxide from tractor supply is about the best primer you can get and I use it on everything, I prime the engine block with it, it wont get hot enough to burn it off .

[BullRun]

On my 1953 USMC M38A1 the rebuilt engine (that needs rebuilt again) is painted bright red less the radiater and transmission/transfercase. I can't recall ever seeing any USMC M38A1's with rebuilt blue painted engines.

On my 1962 USMC M38A1, with original engine, as far as I can tell, the powerplant and accessories are painted in standard factory colors not USMC specific.

[Zane]

my 11/62 usmc m38a1 the engine was sprayed semi gloss usmc green by the marines, my nos in crate 62 engine is standard semi gloss olive drab 24087, all depends on level of restoration, motor pool would more than likely be painted same as rest of jeep, factory is a different ball game, If my memory serves me right a factory restoration on an army a1 would consist of a chassis black painted frame, semi gloss od rear ends and springs, semi gloss od engine block with black accesories, body semi glosss od, bumperettes semi gloss od, semi gloss od front bumper?(all my nos ones are black but that dont mean anything)wheels semi gloss od, ect ect, you see very very few correct factory restorations out there 99% are motor pool class regardless of the quality of the restoration. I guess it all depends on what Dave is shooting for. Its been a long time since Ive seen a true factory restoration so I may not be corrct on all my paint schemes im going off memory.

[BullRun]

So Zane you got me thinking about my '62 USMC jeep so I decided to go take a look at the engine again. Here is what I found.

The block and oil pan are painted bright red. Over this was painted Army OD, the side valve cover is USMC OD, the head is I think Army OD and the top valve cover is black.

This is an unrestored jeep with a fairly well known history that proves nothing except that this particular engine was painted at the motorpool level like this.

Bright red seems to be a consistent color for rebuilt USMC M38A1 powerplants less radiater, transmission/transfercase though. I have seen a lot of M38A1 USMC jeep engines like this.

The bright red rebuilt engines seem like an interesting detail worth saving to me for a motorpool restoration as that appears to be how they really were done years ago.

[Zane]

yes diffenately worth noting, I have an all original complete m38 power pack that the military painted bright blue and the fuel pump and all related lines red for training purposes, the military seemed to color code the entire thing. While we are talking about a 62 usmc m38a1 does yours have the blackout stop marker light on the rear? Mine has been upgraded at some point im guessing for 2 service taillamps as it doesnt appear to have ever had turn signals, My nos engine was made in 62 I have pics on page 5 in the album if you ever need a reference.

Speaking of red rebuilt engines being military, I have an engine that was rebuilt by someone?? that is the flat head l-134 late 9xxxxx casting number that has a gpw head installed and I have heard rumors about the military getting these late castings for mb's and gpw's still in military service in the mid to late 50's It is also bright red. I havent seen any real documentation but it does make you wonder what engine blocks the military used for the mb's when they needed an engine in the mid to late 50's and the 9xxxxx casting numbered blocks destined for the dj 2x2 jeeps was current production at the time, makes since but is unsubstantiated at this point unless someone has read or knows something I dont.

[BullRun]

Yep, my jeep still has the original blackout lights on the rear. My jeep is 11/62 also so they must be the same production run since there were so few.

Thats my engine! Zane your NOS M38A1 engine appears nearly identical from the pictures to the engine in my '62 USMC jeep right down to the placement of the stickers and decals.