Eastern Canada M38CDN

[ECVJeeps]

This is a M38CDN “build”, not a restoration. It will be a restoration of parts from various jeeps. I have been collecting M38 parts for a number of years now, approximately 25 years.
The frame is from a jeep that was only a frame engine and axles. The body and engine are from a US Air Force jeep that I acquired along the way
Seats fuel tank and all the little parts are from a number of different jeeps that were far beyond saving.
The data plates will be from a collection of plates that I have collected during the last number of years.
I originally thought about returning this to the US Air Force colour, however over the past while I have acquired a number of add on parts that have made me change my mind and I have decided to make it an OD. (Yes I know I am like an old woman, changing my mind over and over!)

This is the condition of the "body and engine donor" jeep when it was first purchased. I sold the jeep to a customer, who after two years of letting it sit sold it back to a friend of mine. My friend did not want the engine or any body panels so they came back to me.
He kept the frame, transmission and transfer case, springs and axles for his project.




I will add more pictures over the next few days and weeks to bring this thread up to where I am today.
Hopefully this may assist someone in their restoration in some small way.

[RICKG]

Pat, is that the GPW in the upper left of foto #2?
Dont try to hide it from us..

[ECVJeeps]

Nope RickG
That is the very first restoration that I did, another M38CDN, seems that is all I get to restore lately!



The one in the above picture was delivered long ago, the GPW is one of two waiting in the wings for me to tackle after this latest one. The M38CDN in this thread will belong to my wife, you always do a jeep for your wife first, then she will be a little more forgiving when you are working on yours! (or at least I hope)
This is the GPW that I will be starting with, if I live long enough to build it.




I have a second GPW sitting in the wings for parts or another restoration, depends on time and finances.

[ECVJeeps]

Since the jeep was made up from parts of jeeps and not from one jeep, I decided to divide it into individual projects and then assemble a jeep when I ran out of small projects. Seemed good at the time!



First small parts off the jeep were the fenders, removed, sandblasted and all panels separated.



The seams were blasted and repairs made, then re-assembly with a few test fittings.
A few coats of hi-build and paint, then they are put away for future use.

[Hawkshadow]

Looking good. Can't wait to see how the franken-jeep comes together

[ECVJeeps]

This tub in my opinion should have been used as a donor parts tub. There was rust in all the usual places for a jeep left out in the elements of eastern Canada for many years.
Fred Flintstone would have felt at home in this vehicle.






I will down-size the pictures from here forward to save space on this website. Just click on the picture to enlarge.

Lots of sandblasting, grinding, and cutting and we have lots of repairs to do.




One rust hole repaired, many, many more to go.

[ECVJeeps]

Xamon is having the same issue with the P/S tub corner that I had. Possibly this will show him that it can be repaired with a bit of patience and stubbornness.
My tub’s corner before I started.

Then you remove the support panel.

Then the fun begins of fabricating the hat channel behind the outer tub skin. I used an old channel from the floor of another jeep and worked at it till I had the right bend.

Not pretty, but solid when it is all welded up and ground down to shape. You never see the inside so that is not quite as critical.
And this is how it looked about two weeks ago.


I think it is an improvement from when I started on the tub.

[Xamon]

nice work. mine is not quite that bad, it stops almost two inches short of the wheel well so its mostly the sheet no folds or the like.

[pickle]

I just looked at your photo gallery of your jeep and it answered many questions, great stuff.

I saw your installation of the tool box and I have to ask if that is new? i have not seen any repros that have the "jeep" script and vent holes. Who is your supplier if it is new?

Also I see you primed and painted the floor and tool box before welding in...did you do any special prep to the metal before the welding of it in?

[ECVJeeps]

The tool box was the original from this tub. I left the script on the front because I figured I could just bondo it over if I wanted to remove it, just haven't got to that yet.
Painting the underside of the tool box after it was welded in would be almost impossible so I sprayed a good heavy coat of primer and paint before installing.
I used a weldable primer along the joints and then used a small drill bit to scrape out the primer in the plug weld holes. This way I got good penetration and no bare metal between the joints.

Hope this helps some.

[Xamon]

if this is an early enough m38CDN the jeep script should be on the toolbox. it was mentioned in the thread with MD Juan.

[ECVJeeps]

I am not sure just how many of the 2135 jeeps that were assembled by Ford of Canada had the Jeep script, I would expect very few. I will have to go through my pile of data plates to see what my earliest set are.
Whatever the number this one will have the jeep script on it.
I am just looking to get this one finished so that I can get started on my GPW.

[pickle]

Thanks. that is good info. What is the weldable primer called?

thank you for the advice.

I would be interested to know that numbers on the data plates, and if there were "jeep" on the toolbox, if you have the information.

Do you have a list of serials with CFRs that would be available? I know mine is 10229, with the script. I would also like to know if you have any info of serials with CFRS in that range.

thanks again for the info.

[wesk]

I have a list here: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/M38 ... Rows&tbl=5

[pickle]

Pat;

did you do the same process when putting the hat channels down too?