Kitbashing M38 air cleaners

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 6:14 pm

Other than lack of vent fittings, the louvers for air intake on the back, and the lack of the precleaner opening on the side, what is the difference in the CJ/Omix-ADA cleaner commonly found from 135 to 175 bucks and the M38 other than 200-250 plus bucks more for the M38?

Can one make an M38 unit out of the civvy version with the extra opening, closing off the louvers, and adding the ventilation fittings?

At the prices the M38 jobs are commanding today kitbashing one of these other units seems financially reasonable.

Thoughts?

Post by **wesk** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:02 pm

One thought. You disfigure a $175 stock CJ air cleaner to look like a $300 M38 aircleaner and the end value is about a $75 Franken Aircleaner.

I would rig any fancy cheap Aircleaner I could come up with and just wait for the right time, the right place, the right price to come up.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:27 pm

I know Wes.

It's just crazy you can't even buy a repop M38 cleaner.

B

Post by **wesk** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:54 pm

There are a lot of different air cleaners out there. Careful and patient shopping will yield some nice prizes. Keep in mind there are WWII jeep water proofed air cleaners, and there are shrouded air cleaners off of some other make trucks and power units that can fill the bill while you wait.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 10:44 pm

I'll keep an eye out.

Hey, did you link my photo gallery?

Thanks!

DanS · Post by **DanS** » Thu Feb 05, 2015 5:09 pm

Summer swap seasons are coming. I found 2 of these last year at very obscure swaps. Sold both at a handy profit. They are out there.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:39 pm

Keep me in mind, My Brother.

As I told another kind soul offering assistance, I have a clutch to replace.

But at present the oil filler tube line terminates at a 1970's something PCV valve, and the valve cover line ends at the 90 just past the valve cover fitting.

From what I've researched I can't hook up one side without the other being in place, i.e., unless I have an air source incoming I can't plumb the valve cover line into the manifold or I'll upset the equilibrium in the crankcase with messy results.

Take care,