M38 hood

[evanso1975]

Hello All,

I have noted some holes drilled along the forward edge of the bonnet on my M38, like this:



The holes are about 1/4" diameter, and there are five in total. One is drilled central to the hood seam, and there are two on the left and right hand sides. These outer ones are about 1-3/16" apart, so too close together for footman loops.

I'd like to know what these holes were for, before I decide wether to fill them or not. Has anybody got any ideas on their possible use? This was an air force jeep, if that helps at all.

Thanks in advance,
Owen.

[wesk]

Are the holes in the hood only?

[evanso1975]

Yes, just the hood. However, there are some holes in the front face of the grille, like this:



Two horizontally-placed holes to the outside edge of the headlight (both driver & passenger side). These are 1/4" diameter, and about 1-3/16" apart. The driver's side one looks like something heavy has been pulling on it, as the face of the grille is slightly bowed local to the hole locations.

Rgds,
Owen.

[BullRun]

Just a guess that it could be the attachment points for some kind of antennae mounted on the front of the jeep.

Or, possibly some kind of attachment points for insulated hood and grill covers for winter use.

For the grill maybe a custom headlight guard.

I recently found a 1952 M38A1 USMC jeep that was extremely original from when it left the military. It had a wooden board bolted to the grill with all of its unit markings painted by hand onto the board. I am sure it is an original in service add-on. But, I have never seen one before on a vehicle as by now most of these would have rotted away or been removed in the civilian market just leaving rusty bolts or some random holes!

[evanso1975]

Thanks BullRun,

I hadn't thought about a radio antenna.

The original diagonal headlight guards were still attached to the grille when I got the jeep (apart from a snapped screw when I removed them ), so I'd be surprised if it was for headlight guards.

It's been suggested that they could have been for flagpoles (for pennants?), but all the photos I've seen show these mounted through the fenders.

As for the holes through the hood, I've seen photos of jeeps in aircraft with a plate attached on the front of the grille, like this:



Would air force jeep have this, though?

The insulated grill cover sounds the most plausible theory. Or, they could have been added during it's civilian life for for some type of wind/stone deflector or who knows what else.