Door canvas rail mounting options

DownRange762 · Post by **DownRange762** » Fri May 15, 2015 9:16 am

I'm working on installing doors on my M38A1 and had a question about how others have mounted the rail that captures the forward edge of the door canvas.

You can see in this stunningly clear and well lit photo the unpainted rail I'm talking about shown here on the left side of the windshield frame.

My question is how have others mounted this rail, self tapping sheet metal screws or through-bolts? I've looked at the illustrations on the parts TM as well as some of the photo albums on this site but none so far have covered this area. If I have overlooked THE definitive photo of an M38A1canvan rail, please just provide the link.

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Fri May 15, 2015 9:32 am

I don't have access to my M38A1 right now, but on my two M38s these are spot-welded.
Kendall

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Fri May 15, 2015 5:01 pm

They are spot welded. You can get away with plug welding them and cleaning up the welds.

Post by **wesk** » Fri May 15, 2015 9:11 pm

Actually they were originally secured with self tapping screws. The M38A1 did not leave Willys or Kaiser with those channels installed. They were part of the door/side curtain kit that had to be installed in the field.

Had you researched my photo album (album #2) under Canvas tops and then under M38A1 it would become very clear how the side curtains and the doors were installed.

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

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Fri May 15, 2015 11:08 pm

Oops, had M38 on my mind.

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Sat May 16, 2015 6:46 am

On my M38A1 the rail is attached with screws, the M38's rail is welded.

DownRange762 · Post by **DownRange762** » Sat May 16, 2015 12:24 pm

Thanks for the responses.

As noted in my original post, I did ask for the link to any relevant pictures if I had overlooked THE definitive picture of the rail mounting method. I had looked through many pictures but the only one I saw was for an M38, not an A1.

I also asked what others had done successfully, not what the maker had done as one may not always be able to or choose to duplicate the factory, even if they supplied a kit for later installation.

Or the short answer, try self-tapping screws.

Post by **wesk** » Sat May 16, 2015 9:36 pm

Wade,

Sometimes the long answer sucks but then sometimes the long answer is also the correct answer. We have operated this site a great number of years, we have collected tons of data and publications and made them available free here. I personally approved each member's membership. Each of you with a M series jeep I sent a survey and manual list to. Each survey listed my Photo Album by link as the best place to look first when you have a question. If you right click on the photo I posted you will see the link you requested originally.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun May 17, 2015 6:43 am

Hi Wes,
I may be missing something but I followed the link supplied, and although the screws are listed on the parts list there is not a photo of the rail mounted to an A1.

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Sun May 17, 2015 7:17 am

With the info from that parts list pic, I think I'd call it good and be heading to the hardware shop to be getting 8 #10 1/2" self tapping pan head screws.
I assume there no existing holes in the frame?

Post by **wesk** » Sun May 17, 2015 8:51 am

Brian, the link of the photo itself only opens that photo which is in my album. If you want to see the other page of the parts list and the installation drawing go to my photo album and go to page 2 and open the "Canvas Tops" albums and open the "M38A1" sub-album and voila.

I've said this several hundred times here over the years and I'll say it again here:

When you have over 2500 members in a group and over 290 have a photo album in our photo album page you can bet your sweet A__ there's a ton of info there. Ryan has album #1 and I have album #2 on the 1st page of "Member's Albums". Open my album and you will find 68 sub-albums plus an additional un-indexed 196 photos. This is a technical oriented album and I have advised at least 85% of the membership to use this resource when they have questions that can be answered with a simple illustration.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make the horse drink it!

DJ · Post by DJ » Sun May 17, 2015 9:48 am

I think some members need to realize before they ask or answer a post the amount of time and money Wes and Ryan put into this site. Some of the answers or questions by the members seem to me to be a little sarcastic and impatient. This is a hobby,remember you are talking to grown adults asking them to share there wisdom ,gained through years of work in the field . Many professionals would not even share their years of knowledge with the general public.

If I had to deal with some of the members who get demanding,sarcastic, or impatient,like some do.I'd of told them long ago, kiss it, and shut the site down.

Wes,
I don,t know how you do it,but sure am glad you do!!

THANKS

DJ

Post by **wesk** » Sun May 17, 2015 12:13 pm

Most of the time those folks don't even realize their responses carry those type of feelings or implications. We all have to learn to communicate better as we gain experience and not "look a gift horse in the mouth", so to speak.

DownRange762 · Post by **DownRange762** » Mon May 18, 2015 2:45 pm

Bretto, - correct, no holes in the frame presently for mounting the strip.

Brian, - also correct, the link I was able to follow shows the rails for an M38, not an A1 and I wasn't able to locate a photo showing how the rails were mounted, only that they were mounted. I saw that the field kit included screws but my original question was how have others in the present era addressed installing doors since sometimes hindsight provides a better alternative to what the factory may have done and I'd rather ask before drilling.

DJ, - I agree with your sentiments 100% and note they should apply equally to both those asking and answering a question. Regarding the expense of maintaining a site like this, I'd be happy to participate to help offset the cost as I do on other sites. Is that an option here?

Post by **wesk** » Tue May 19, 2015 11:23 am

Now that's interesting:

note they should apply equally to both those asking and answering a question.

Specifically, which of DJ's sentiments aren't being applied equally each way on our web site?

Back to links and your original post (In which you asked more than one question):

I've looked at the illustrations on the parts TM as well as some of the photo albums on this site but none so far have covered this area. If I have overlooked THE definitive photo of an M38A1canvan rail, please just provide the link.

I provided both the link and the photo. By opening that sub-album "M38A1 Canvas Top" you should have tripped over this drawing which show s exactly what you asked for in inset B-B

My replies offered you 100% due diligence.