M38 rear lifting shackles

[evanso1975]

Hello All,

One of the rear lifting shackles that came with my M38 has an odd bracket attached to it. Hope you can see it ok:





I think it's been added by the military, as the plate had the same strata blue as the rest of the shackle (no OD base coat, though); couldn't see any likely item in the ORD 9. The rear shackles weren't attached when I got the jeep, so I don't know if the one with the plate attached was left or right hand. Also, I don't know if the "bent end" goes to the top or bottom. The bent end of the plate looks like it was once slightly longer (a bit looks to have snapped off).

Any ideas on the purpose of this plate, or do we reckon it's junk?

Thanks in advance,
Owen.

[wesk]

I've never seen or noticed a plate like that. perhaps it was used to secure the shackle to keep it from banging around.

[ocwd]

My rear shackle brackets have thin metal shims between the bracket and the cross member. Are these correct and if so what is the purpose of the shims?

[evanso1975]

There's a set on Ebay with what I think are the shims you mention:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jeep-Willys-M ... 43a872c397

I thought they were to go inside the crossmember to give added reinforcement (to stop the bolts distorting the crossmember when the jeep is lifted?). Not sure why they'd be between the shackle and crossmember though.

[ocwd]

Maybe mine were put in wrong.

[RimfireJim]

On page 276 of the ORD 9, third item from the bottom of the page, is listed WO-800817, Ord P/N 8328264 "SPACER, bracket, left hook, rear", Qty 2, which I'm pretty sure is supposed to be "lift hook", not "left hook". Could this be the shims to which you are referring? It's listed immediately following the shackles and shackle pins; the "BRACKET, lifting hook, rear" and attaching hardware are listed on p. 275. I don't have the reference guide at hand to check to see if the spacers are covered in there, but given they are called "spacers" and not "reinforcing plates" or such, it sounds like they should go on the outside of the crossmember.

Dave - can you supply the dimensions of the shims?

[evanso1975]

I think you're right, RimfireJim.

Army Jeep Parts have that part number listed as "Spacer, shackle bracket, rear x member" in the frame section. Question: do these spacers go between the shackle bracket and rear bumperette, or between the bumperette and the crossmember?

Wbr,
Owen.

[ocwd]

Dave - can you supply the dimensions of the shims?

You bet, I'll measure them tonight.

[ocwd]

Spacers are:

3" x 1 13/32" x 1/16"

Holes are:

Just over 1/2" ~33/64" (probably 1/2")



I can't remember how they were when I removed them. Not sure if they were between the bumperette and the cross member or between the bracket and the bumperette.

[RimfireJim]

Thanks, Dave. Looks like an item that is easy to fab myself.
We need someone else with more knowledge to chime in here. 1/16" hardly seems like enough to bother with in this area, so I wonder why they were used.
Jim

[wesk]

The front lift shackles fasten directly to the much heavier frame rails. The rear only attach through the bumperette to the much lighter rear cross member. That is why the spacer (actually should be called a doubler) goes behind the rear cross member to add strength to the contact area of the lift shackle's two nuts.