Hello Gentlemen,
The 1952 M38 I just got has an interesting heater placed just under the firewall on the passenger side. It appears to be NOS as it has a tag that is from the “Perfection Heater Co” of Cleveland Ohio, made in 1952. It heats the oil pan, the water in the engine, and even the two batteries. The question to you is; is this heater for a cold weather Jeep, or was it on just on any jeep? This is an incredible add-on to an M38, because I live in Arizona, and I never want to experience a place where your engine oil needs to be heated. Any help would be fantastic and appreciated. This is my first interesting find as I do a complete rebuild on this piece of history.
Thank you
Engine Heater
- jeepers52
- Contributor

- Posts: 92
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:00 pm
- Location: Oro Valley, Arizona
Engine Heater
Mario
U.S. Army
1952 M38 Jeep
1952 M38 Jeep (project)
1945 T-3 Bantam trailer
U.S. Army
1952 M38 Jeep
1952 M38 Jeep (project)
1945 T-3 Bantam trailer
- frankthecrank58
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- Location: Osoyoos.British Columbia, Canada
- wesk
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Hello Mario,
That is the powerplant arctic heater kit and was only installed on jeeps subject to extreme cold climates. TB 9-2855-3 is the 45 page tech bulletin that covers the installation, operation and maintenance of that kit.
I have been loading a few pages at a time in my photo album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

That is the powerplant arctic heater kit and was only installed on jeeps subject to extreme cold climates. TB 9-2855-3 is the 45 page tech bulletin that covers the installation, operation and maintenance of that kit.
I have been loading a few pages at a time in my photo album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
- TomM
- Moderator

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- Location: Rhode Island
Powerplant heater
The powerplant heater was one of the three kits installed on cold-weather M38.
Cab enclosure (arctic top)
Personnel Heater (mounted on cowl in front of driver)
Powerplant heater (Accessible from passenger toe board plate)
Cab enclosure (arctic top)
Personnel Heater (mounted on cowl in front of driver)
Powerplant heater (Accessible from passenger toe board plate)
- jeepers52
- Contributor

- Posts: 92
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:00 pm
- Location: Oro Valley, Arizona
Thank you all.
I guess I need to make the Jeep an arctic m38, and find the rest of the parts you all pointed out, or maybe take out the engine heater to be correct. Thanks again.
Frankthecrank58, God bless you, up there in northern Alberta. Stay warm this winter.
I guess I need to make the Jeep an arctic m38, and find the rest of the parts you all pointed out, or maybe take out the engine heater to be correct. Thanks again.
Frankthecrank58, God bless you, up there in northern Alberta. Stay warm this winter.
Mario
U.S. Army
1952 M38 Jeep
1952 M38 Jeep (project)
1945 T-3 Bantam trailer
U.S. Army
1952 M38 Jeep
1952 M38 Jeep (project)
1945 T-3 Bantam trailer
- TomM
- Moderator

- Posts: 458
- Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 6:00 pm
- Location: Rhode Island
heater
You will be the first on your block to have one in Tuscon. The powerplant heater seems to be the less available setup so you do have an interestnig piece. There should also be evidence of hood and grill blankets having been installed as part of that kit.