Pintle question

[suregrip413]

I just picked up my first Jeep, a 1951 M38 Willys. The seller said it had been a Generals Jeep but didn't know what General. He also knew the previous owner and was there when he picked it up and the Jeep had the red Generals Placard on when originally picked up from the military. The body is a very straight original body in excellent condition. So who knows? Anyway I like the look of the Pintle on the back and this Jeep had some channel iron on there or something but in the small box of parts was a Pintle. I took the four bolts off holding the channel on and noticed the heads were stamped B C on each one, they are fine thread and about 3 1/2 inches long. Also the remaining part behind the channel was still black so it hasn't been off in a very long time. Are these bolts anything special I should re-use or not? I was wondering if a Pintle was ever even on this jeep? attached are some pics. Thanks., , [/img]

[wesk]

Looks like when the General got finished Generalling he became a farmer. I've learned since 1970 to take all the BS that buyers feed me with a grain of salt.

Every M38 and M38A1 came off the Willys line with a pintle hook.

Those marks identify the bolt manufacturer. The bolt has no grade markings so we are to assume it is grade 5 or lower.

The channel you removed is a common add-on on the farm and is a drop pin hitch. They are used to pull farm wagons and implements around. You should use better quality grade 8 or higher bolts for securing any towing device. If you look in your ORD 9 parts manual on page 350 of the alphabetical index you'll see that pintle is found in section 1503. 1503 is in the frame and brackets section. You'll find the illustration on page 271 and the 1503 - Pintle & Towing attachments section starts on page 275 and if you follow the pages alphabetically to Pintle assy you will be on page 276 about the middle. Below and slightly indented are the attaching parts including the bolt, washer and nut.

ORD # 124169 Bolt, machine, hex head, steel, cadmium or zinc plated, 1/2-20NF-3x2 qty 4 each.

I've opened up the abbreviations here but you can find the abbreviations translated on pages 5, 6 & 7.

You'll want 4 grade eight 1/2"-20NF bolts 2" long. The -3 represents the fit tolerance level and is seldom seen in your hardware store literature.

[suregrip413]

Thanks for the info, Yeah, kind of of hard to believe the General story but our never know. Off to the hardward store for new bolts then for my pintle. Thanks.