Why was the windshield glass split

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:27 pm

on the early jeeps? I have to replace the glass on my M38A1. I bought a new seal, and I'll have the glass cut to fit it, but I was just wondering if there was a purpose

Post by **wesk** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:13 am

The military preferred two small piece windshields. Smaller shipping piece. Less expensive piece if broken in use.

The M38 came with a one piece glass because it was based on the CJ3A. There is an MWO that calls for replacing only the half of the M38 windshield that is damaged and inserting the M38A1 divider strip in the middle.

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:36 am

Wes, I'd be interested in seeing that if you know of any pictures. Are the dimension of both windshields the same but differ only that the A1 has the split?
Thanks

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:56 am

Brett,
The windshield on the M38A1s are several inches wider than the M38s.
Kendall

Post by **wesk** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:13 am

The Army listed the replacement windshield glass stock at 1/4" x 16" x 50" for both the M38 and the M38A1. This was a raw stock dimension. The cut and fitted sizes were a bit smaller.

The finished size for the M38 was 1/4" x 12 31/32" x 48 51/64".

The combined width of the two M38A1 glass panels after cutting and trimming is quite close to that. The center divider making the total installed width a couple inches wider.