ID and color of M38A1

steveh500 · Post by **steveh500** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 3:53 pm

I have a 1952, 24V, M38A1, title states ID number as STC20123, I can not find a number on any of the brass plates, only Marine Corp Depot. In the tool box and inside the wheel wells is a desert tan color. I can not find a color before tan, could this be the original color? Understand it was bought originally out of Pensacola, Fla. Any help to ID and color would be great.
Steve

Post by **wesk** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 9:10 pm

The STC part is not anything to do with Willys. May have been added by the state DMV clerk. The 20123 could very well be the correct serial for the jeep. It may also be the engine serial number which was often used by many State's DMV's for title serial numbers.
MD20123 would have been a Sep 1952 unit. Have you checked the front vertical surface of the right rear wheel house for the Willys Patent plate which also has the serial on it? If it is there but covered with paint the very lightly etched numbers will not show well. Do not scrub the plate with any abrasive compounds, paper or cloth. Just soak the plate with DOT 3 brake fluid and when the paint bubbles up and wrinkles just wipe it off.

Have you done any light controlled sanding yet to determine exactly what colors and primers and markings exist in each layer of paint? I doubt the jeep left Willys in 1952 in desert tan.

Is the dash plate set missing the lower right plate?

What branch of service is listed in the two blocks on the lower left plate(responsible agency plate)?

steveh500 · Post by **steveh500** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 9:22 pm

Thanks, I have the Patent plate in hand and it "looks" blank. Has some overspray on it, I try the DOT 3 brake fluid, but I don't hold out much hope from what I see now.
The lower right brass dash plate is blank for ser number and date of manufacture.
The lower left plate has Marine Core.
Have not sanded anything yet, but will soon.

Any "confidential" vin's anywhere on the frame as the CJ5 should have on the front left frame. I looked but no wire bruse at the time.

Post by **wesk** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 9:52 pm

At least it's still warm enough to do this type of work in your neighborhood!

Take that very easily damaged patent plate to your gunsmith or local PD and ask if they will help you make the serial number more visible on the plate. This is the only place other then the lower left dash plate that Willys put the serial number. Those plates are very fragile.

A blank serial plate on the dash is usually a replacement plate. Thousands of these data plate sets that were warehouse stocked as spares ended up surplused out. I have a few complete USMC spare plate sets. I have this one below on my bookshelf. Only one left of about 20 I picked up years ago at a DRMO* sale at Ellsworth AFB SD. If all the plates in your set have a matching patina or shade then the whole set was a replacement set quickly screwed to the dash.

* DRMO, Defense Re-utilization and Marketing Office was what we had for surplus sales from the end of WWII til today. Of course they unload 90% of their stuff not Re-utilized by DOD on "Governemnt Liquidations.Com now adays!

Be sure to utilize the hundreds of photos on my photo album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

steveh500 · Post by **steveh500** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:42 pm

That must be what I have, mine looks just like yours.

Thanks, I'll check futher on this patent plate

Post by **wesk** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:52 pm

Keep in mind that plate is very fragile, the number is engraved very lightly on it and it is your only real evidence to your jeeps true ID.

What is your engine's serial number? Up front on the small flat above the water pump.

The thermostat housing hides it a bit. I use a little brake cleaner or MEK and a piece of red scotchbrite pad to clean it off. Then I hold a flashlight at either side to illuminate the edges of the number.

steveh500 · Post by **steveh500** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 12:11 am

The jeep is at my Dad's house in a garage 1 hour away, will check that in two weeks and get back to you. Thanks again for the help so far.

wardo74 · Post by **wardo74** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:14 am

Nail polish remover also works well to get the serial number from an old plate. I was able to get through 2 layers of paint to get the MD # from my Willys plate behind the passenger seat

steveh500 · Post by **steveh500** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:56 am

worth a try in a few min. I have that plate here.