2 M38A1'S - HOOD NUMBERS AND UNIT DESIGNATIONS

[bluewatersailor]

A friend and I are in a race to finish our restorations and neither of us knows much about the history of our jeeps. I have taken relevant data points from the Vehicle Serial Number Database and inserted our data. We have been able to deduce very little, however, and would appreciate any comments/observations regarding hood numbers and unit designations for our babies. Thanks in advance. David
Here is what we have:
Serial no dod eng. no. Eng. Cast resp. Hood no. Batt box Inspector
MD51746 UNK UNK UNK US ARMY 20986423 t-screw
MD52104 7/53 4J229298 807895-14 US ARMY 2098506 t-screw
MD56536 8/53 MSF22SR 807895-14 UNK UNK LATCH
MD58270 9/53 UNK UNK US ARMY UNK t-screw EPM (My Jeep)
MD67557 12/53 UNK UNK US ARMY 210020780
MD68321 12/53 NONE 807895 UNK UNK t-screw FRM (Beppe's Jeep)
MD70989 1/54 UNK UNK US ARMY 201000620
1 - MD 51746 hood no. should be lower than MD52104
2 - MD52104 hood no. should be higher than MD51746
3 - MD56536 should have t-screws on battery box cover
4 – MD67557 hood no. should be lower than MD70989
5 - MD68321 has an aluminum tag riveted to ther engine block:”ATL ORD MAINT DIV SEPT 59, Job 74-711-052, 0.0”, 0.0”, 0.0””
6 – MD70989 hood no should be higher than MD 67557.

[Xamon]

I am not the expert Wes is but my understanding is that the hood numbers are not sequential. Some jeeps were sidelined during production for whatever reason and went with a different batch, the numbers were also supplied in batches and may have been applied out of order at the factory.
I am sure Wes will have more info and correct anything I have wrong here.

[wesk]

You guys are looking at raw data type data base. The entries are just as the owner submitted them. No screening for errors or inconsistencies. Bodies got rebuilt, late parts often replaced early parts right off the Army shelf because in most cases of alternate parts the later parts were stocked for many years after the early parts ran out of stock. As for the hood numbers well 8 digits were the norm for all A1 numbers in the Army from 1952 thru about 55 then came the 2AXXXX numbering system. So it is obvious to the learned folks that MD52104's hood number is bogus.

I have a much larger data base that I have not had time to reproduce for the site that contains several thousand M38A1's so post your A1's serial or complete my survey form and I can better help you with statistics that are correct for your jeeps.

Hello MD/MDA (M38A1 series) including NEKAF, CDN’s & M170,

My name is Wes Knettle and I am building a Yahoo Group Site for CJV35/U, M38, M38CDN, M38A1, M38A1C, M38A1D, M38A1CDN, M170, M606, M606A1 and M606A2 owners, restorers and anyone else who has a love for these vehicles. I wish the site to be open and useful to the members. I would like to install as much data as I can in the data bases and files system. I’m not asking you to tear the jeep down but in cases where many of the parts in question are exposed during restoration or servicing please include that parts data.
A pictorial guide is at: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php It is for this data that I ask your help to gather. I will not publish any personal information. Please visit our sites: www.willysmjeeps.com and http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/M38-M38A1-M606/
My email address is: wsknettl@centurytel.net

The data I'll need is:

Identification
1. Is it US, NEKAF or Canadian Built?
2. Dash serial plate serial number.
3. For US built the wheelhouse tag serial number.
4. For US Built DA Contract number from left lower corner of dash serial # tag.
5. For Canadian built the CAR registration number.
6. For Canadian built the contract number from the dash plate
7. Date of delivery
8. Branch of Service and Country? List agencies listed on the Responsible Agency Plate on the dash.
9. Original US Hood Number? (Positively determined by owner via paint removal)
10. Current US Hood Number?
11-If foreign service list any foreign markings.
12. Engine Serial number just above water pump.
13. Engine Casting number (right lower side of block)
14. What other numbers are cast in the block?
15. Are there any add on rebuild plates on the block. Describe them.
16. Cylinder Head casting number. (aft of carb top of head under valve cover.)
17. List any other markings and numbers found on the jeep.
18. What are the dates if any and markings on the case of the: Tranny_________,
Transfer ___________ Frt Diff____________ Rear Diff ____________.
The tranny date code is usually upper left side. The axle housing assembly date is usually on the top forward side of the left tube, 8 or 10 inches inboard of the brake back plate.

Electrical, Instruments & Ignition
19. Did you buy it with 24 volt electrics and waterproof ignition?
20. Did it have early metal (Douglas) or late rubber (Packard) electrical connectors?
21. Did it have the auxiliary power receptacle on the right side of the cowl?
22. Was the 24 volt generator / alternator / regulator Delco or Auto-Lite?
Generator or alternator part number____________Serial #______________.
Regulator part number _______________Serial #_________________.
Distributor part #_________________Serial #_________________.
Starter part #._____________________Serial #___________________.
23. Does it have a voltmeter (color ranges) or ammeter (chg – dischg)?
24. Is oil pressure gage 0-60 or 0-120 PSI?
25. Does it have the early round dash lamps or later raised point lid M151 type?
26. List any add-on electrical equipment it came with.
Accessories
27. Does it have a personnel heater?
Is the heater hot water type or gas fired type or civilian add-on type?
28. Does it have a power plant arctic heat kit?
29. Was the fording kit installed? (Snorkel & Exhaust extension) and/or (basic plumbing and valves for the early vent system.)
30. Was the primer system installed. (hand pump on dash)
31. Was a PTO & winch installed?
If yes what models?
Miscellaneous
32. Does grill hinge?
33. Does it have wing nut or latch type battery box fasteners?
34. Does it have posi-traction axles? (tag on housing that specifies servicing lube)
35. Are windshield wipers vacuum or electric?
36. Does it have a ventilating windshield (inner glass section tilts out at bottom)?
37. Leaf spring leaf count front.
38. Leaf spring leaf count rear.
39. Spring shackles are Open C or Closed type?
40. (M38A1)LateWide or early narrow bumper? (early narrow just barely reaches in front of the inner side of the tires)
41. Radiator support type? Two rods only at bottom to engine mounts or two rods above to firewall in addition to the bottom 2?
42. Fender style? (early diagonal seam and late vertical seam behind front wheel opening) Does it have the support that bolts to the frame?
43. (M38A1)Are the front floor drains inboard near tranny or outboard near door sill? Do they have a gasket?
44. If M38A1/M170 Radio jeep:
A. Was the jeep USMC or other service and did it have radio equipment tags?
B. What electrical components were added to support the radio setup?
C. What radio mountings were evidenced in your jeep?
D. What antenna mountings were evidenced on your jeep?
45. If M170 or converted to a medical jeep:
A. What medical equipment was still with the jeep?
B. Can you provide a photo of the medical specific equipment.
46. (M38A1)Is there a latch bracket on the right side panel for the passenger seat?
47. (M38A1)Which of the three frames do you have? There were three frames used. Early had a long oval opening on the inner plate between the grill & the bumper and the two small holes on top for the grill hinge. Late had no oval opening but first series late still had the grill hinge holes and second series late did not.
48. If a NEKAF unit please indicate where it was built.
49. (M38A1)Are the forward storage brackets for the top bows the straight up with “T” thumb screw or slightly angled snap in type?
50. If weapon platform IE M38A1C or M38A1D please list evidence found of weapon system and data plates. Please send me a photo of any weapn data plates.

Note: Please list any additional data as applies to your M38A1 or M170 / Nekaf/CDN specific items. Also any items or data specific to the M38A1C or M38A1D or USMC radio jeep MRCXX. If your jeep was a CDN2 can you indicate the date and location it was converted to a CDN3 if it was converted?

Thanks
Wes K