Hi guys just bought a M 38 with no title or data plates on the dash. Have been getting a few numbers where I can. So far this is what I have.
Motor SN: mc 84884
head# 800376 2-848 2 19
Front and rear tag w 38 over 8
2 soft plugs on the side of the engine
these were on front frame horn
W 50
W44
W6
G 1 W 43
G 1 W 35
G 1 W 54
G 1 W 63
G 1 W 85
G 1 W 88
G 7 40 W 7
G 7 40 W 8
First time posting so I hope that this is close to doing it right.
Wondered if I could find a title with data plates so I could maybe get a title for it? Was going to use for patterns or parts. To good for that, now going to rebuild the whole thing from the ground up. I have it down to the frame know. Will try to learn how to post some pictures in the future, will try to get other information if you are interested.
Was there no patent plate on the front vertical surface of the right rear wheelhouse?
Your engine is a spring 52 engine and the later reinforced rear flange design that was used with the late bell housing and late closed nose, large frame starter and the 129 tooth flywheel. Head is correct and the 848 should actually read 6.48 for the compression ratio.
There was no tag on the wheel well either.
You opened a album for me a month ago. Just put some pictures in a week ago.
Do you know what the numbers stamped to the frame would be?
For title purposes in Kansas, they use the serial number stamped on the engine. All you need for a title in Kansas for a jeep that old is a bill of sale. When I bought two project jeeps I took them to the DMV in Wichita and procured a Non-highway title so I could be sure that were no problems with titles and I did not have to buy insurance while I was restoring them. After I finished the M38 I took it back down to the DMV with proof of insurance and got a regular title. The Highway Patrol in Goodland should be able to do the same thing.
Good Luck,
Kendall
1951 M38
1952 M38
1952 M38A1
1942 Dodge WC-55
1951 M100 trailer
1942 Ben Hur trailer
The frame stampings are interesting. Often during depot rebuilds of jeeps the serial & or hood number was stamped on the frame by the depot shop. What I see in your stampings are the parts of service publication notices. I think they are the permanent recording on the frame of Military service bulletins and work orders accomplished on the jeep.
these were on front frame horn
W 50 MWO ORD G1-W50 Pass seat hold down latch
W44 MWO ORD G1-W44 Welding rear shock brackets.
W6 MWO ORD G740-W6 the patch reinforcement of the rear corners of the tub.
G 1 W 43 MWO ORD G1-W43 Removal of rear axle bearing lube fittings
G 1 W 35 MWO ORD G1-W35 Trailer rexceptacle cover polarizing.
G 1 W 54 MWO ORD G1-W54 New timing indicator
G 1 W 63 MWO ORDG1-W63 Oil press gauge & sender switch to 0-60
G 1 W 85 MWO ORD G1-W85 Castle nut & pin added to steering bellcrank pivot shaft.
G 1 W 88 MWO ORD G1-W88 Clutch pedal rod mod.io
G 7 40 W 7 MWO G740-W7 Sealing of front hubs.
G 7 40 W 8 MWO ORD G740-W8 Installation of angle brackets on battery hold downs.
Good job finding those. Maybe more folks will look closer at their frame rails!
Very interesting! I'll be blasting a m38 frame soon and will keep a eye out for those! When I built my '45 MB, I found the hood number stamped in it's frame. Thanks for the info. John
I saw on the seat that it had some kind of door latch like on a gate.
The rear shock brackets were welded.
Patch reinforcement hasn't shone up till maybe I blast it. Pass corner rusted out bad.
Lube fitting do not what it is.
Trailer rexceptacle missing
Timing have not figured out where it is yet.
Oil gauge out side, to cold to look.
Castel nut outside
Do not know on the clutch rod.
Sealing on front hubs looks like a thick gasket.
Do not know on the battery hold downs yet.
1 - (W50) I saw on the seat that it had some kind of door latch like on a gate.
2 - (W44) The rear shock brackets were welded.
3 - (W6)Patch reinforcement hasn't shone up till maybe I blast it. Pass corner rusted out bad.
4 - (W43) Lube fitting do not what it is.
5 - (W35) Trailer receptacle missing
6 - (W54) Timing have not figured out where it is yet.
7 - (W63) Oil gauge out side, to cold to look.
Look for 0-60 or 0-100 on gauge and then check sender for the same.
9 - (W85) Castle nut outside
10 - (W88) Do not know on the clutch rod.
11 - (W7) Sealing on front hubs looks like a thick gasket.
This mod adds an "O" ring to seal against the inside of the hammer on cup at the center of the hub.
12 - (W8) Do not know on the battery hold downs yet.
There were two W8's. The urgent release on 7-54 and the regular release 10-55.
#3 -
#4 -
#6 -
Early M38 had marks stamped on flywheel and you viewed them through small round hole next to starter.
Those early M38's often had the marks moved to the front timing gear cover and crank pulley using both notches in the pulley and stamped notches in cover and some had covers installed in the field with raised marks on them for TDC and 5Deg BTDC
Another example of cover markings.
Later M38's and most M38A1's / M170's used this pointer bolted to two of the timing gear cover bolts.
There was no set procedure for marking the frames at a depot rebuild facility. Some just used tags wired to the part. Some did nothing and treated one jeep frame just like another. Some would stamp the serial on the frame rail and some would stamp the registration number on the frame. The registration was the most common used stamping. Remember these jeeps were tracked their entire life in the military by their registration numbers and not their Willys serial numbers.
Last edited by wesk on Sat Feb 22, 2014 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
