M38 spare tire and star questions.

04sd · Post by **04sd** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 7:49 pm

Hey,

Just joined the site, trying to expand my knowledge of military Willys.
I've got a few questions on M38s. under the historic photos, #69, shows a side mount spare tire. Other photos show the holes in the side for the side mount but the spare on the tailgate. Is the side mount factory, field modification, other?
Was there any standard as far as stars on the body, # and location. Were the stars painted on and where were they done?

Thanks.

04sd · Post by **04sd** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:42 pm

Oh, and what's the large round hole to the right of the instrument panel for? I only see it on some M38s.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:02 pm

The M38 tub was a takeoff of the CJ3A tub in 1950. The holes for the right side mount spare were always there. The military contract on the M38 called for a rear mount spare and the tailgate was to be bolted shut. The Air Force and Navy were both known to use the side mount spare position to free up the tailgate to make it useable.

The star use was determined by the theater commander. They were not normally applied here in the states. Stars and unit/servicing markings are done in the field. Only hood numbers came from Willys. AR850-5 covers the stars until 1950. TB 746-93-1 covers them afterwards.

That round hole just to the right of the instrument cluster is for the plenum box that came with the heater kits. Early M38's up to serial MC3415 Sep 51 did not come from Willys with that hole. When early M38's had a heater kit installed they had to cut the hole. Those early M38's still had their individual data plates screwed directly to the dash. The later M38's that came with the hole had their data plates all riveted to a mounting plate that was then screwed to the dashwith 4 screws.

TB 746-93-1 can be downloaded here:
http://www.armyradio.com/arsc/customer/ ... lletin.htm

AR 850-5 can be downloaded here:
http://jeepdraw.com/images/AR-850-5.pdf

swordmd · Post by **swordmd** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:02 pm

The m38 spare was on the back by the TM, but had the two part spare tire mount and a cover bracket on the bow bracket and holes for the top half of the mount on the side. So it can be mounted on the side for things like recoilless rifle mounts and other radio and radar mounts. The hole in the 52 m38's is for the heater kit.

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:21 am

Get a copy of the "M38 Reference Guide" as seen on the home page of this website - a tremendous resource on correct parts and configurations of the M38.

04sd · Post by **04sd** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 3:33 pm

Thanks guys.