Field Mouse comes alive... mostly

DocThrock · Post by **DocThrock** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:28 pm

I bought a "field find" partial restoration "1951 M38" hybrid. Hybrid as in it has a title/VIN from a CJ2a, mostly M38 otherwise except for a couple CJ3a parts (hood, tailgate and spare). There was no data plate, no frame number, no MC on the engine (reads SPEC X upside down, but is a 641087 casting, 36513 stamped at water pump), haven't found a tranny number yet, no hood or fender number, no real documentation to otherwise determine anything about the provenance of this Willys. It is a very cool vehicle and in quite nice driving condition. But I have some issues (besides the fact that I don't think I can determine anything about it's past based on hard facts). I'm getting into this site and reading up. I have used the search and learned a few things, but I'm still a bit lost.

The fuel sender seems quite short for the 7 7/8" deep fuel tank and therefore the gauge reads from full to WAY FULL. I bent the arm to drop the float lower but it still isn't enough. With the float out and grounded, the (new) gauge reads from just above half at "empty" and way over full at full. Any idea of which sender to replace this unit with to make it read more correctly?

Max speed on the speedo is 34 mph so far. On GPS, that gives me right at 50 mph. Can I replace the speedo cable to get that reading more accurate?

My rear blackouts work, but not my front blackouts. No power to the little buss inside the left fender. Perhaps there's a common issue with a bad contact in the light selector on the dash? Do the front BOs turn on independently of the rear BOs?

Did the M38 only have one brake light on the left rear? Can't wait to get pulled over for that one.

Thanks for the great forum and to all of you for sharing your time and knowledge! More questions and pics to come.

Matt

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:03 pm

Welcome to the board Matt,

When you have the hybrid thingy it is best to start your questions with: "Take a look at these photos" and then ask the questions.

Post photos of all 4 sides of the jeep, a centered front the front engine bay photo, then a left and right engine bay photo, then a detailed view of the entire dash.

The issues you ask about, particularly the electrical stuff is un-answerable until you tell us what electrical equipment you have or show us with detailed photos.

So step one is here is your Mjeeps photo album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Here's a quick tutorial on how to load it:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

On the speedo issue I assume you are not familiar with old style cable driven speedo's. All the modern vehicles for the past 20 years have speed sensers in at least one wheel that transmits to the body computer. Unless the cable is broken (no speedo reading) or bone dry (no lube) (causes a needle bounce or fluctuating reading then the error is induced by the wrong tire size (correct was 7.00-16) or the speedo itself.

As for the light switch:

Take a long hard look at my photo album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

For the M series lighting system look on page 2:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

And open : http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

While you are in my album spend some time there and you'll find 60 to 70 % of the answers you are looking for.

DocThrock · Post by **DocThrock** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:08 am

Thanks Wes, wow, that was all great help. Yes, I've already spent a lot of time looking at your pictures and your survey questions. I've taken pictures to document parts and pieces. Now that you set me up a gallery, I have a place to put them (my own domain is almost full already!).

Jumped through a lot of hoops with the DMV and Police department getting the thing titled and registered. On the drive home, my brakes aren't releasing. Yes, I've searched and yes, I now have the brake system manual, and I'll start with adjusting more freeplay in the pedal.

With this "new" jeep and "everything works", I'm sure going to do a lot of work to get it working... properly. Glad there's a wealth of information out there, and several parts sources. Already have a couple replacement parts coming.