1951 M38 numbers

[j3shane]

About to order mask stencils. I don't have the hood numbers so I am going to use the serial number. Do i start with 20? Also, any recommendations for the other numbers on the bumpers? I get lost in all of the detail in the articles I've read. I don't really have a preference other that it being Army, although my neighbor has a Bell 47 helicopter from the Army that he is restoring and it would be neat to make the numbers from a unit that may have to do with the helicopters.

If someone could provide numbers that would make sense for the bumpers and let me know which numbers to put in front of the serial for the hood that would be helpful! Thanks!

[4x4M38]

Hello Shane?
This has been discussed many times here.

The idea for hood numbers is to use the proper prefix depending
on your jeep manufacture date followed by the serial number
found on the data plate.

What year and model is your jeep?

Bumper(unit) numbers are a different animal, but again
searches here as well as on other a Internet sites can give
you unit designations as well as other info

Use the search function above for details.

Brian

[wesk]

It helps to know the serial number of your jeep. Then I can give you a prefix for your hood number that would be correct for your serial group.

[eagle64]

after reading this I wondered what I would use for my 51 m38.
engine number rmc106304. on the serial number plate it is rmc10637324440.
and that is what is on the title also.
so what would be correct to use for the numbers on this unit

thanks for letting me jump ion here, it is always great to learn and understand more.

[wesk]

The engine serial is of no value to dating your jeep. Willys never matched the serials of the engines and the chassis on the M38/M38A1/M170 series.

"rmc10637324440" This number was obviously a contrived number by someone or the state that issued the title. The RMC was only used as a prefix for factory new replacement engines. The only set of numbers you have there that could possibly be a chassis serial number is the 24440. If that was really your chassis' serial number then your jeep would be a June 1951 unit that came with a hood number starting with 208XXXXX.

[oilleaker1]

Check the RF wheel well housing behind the passenger seat to see if the original Willys Overland tag is there. That serial should match the military serial on the dash. John

[j3shane]

Serial is 33836 and date is
9-51. M38

[oilleaker1]

There is not much database to go on with a M38. Keith Buckley says he has what he thinks is Willys Overland production data of the M38's that does indeed list the numbers as they left the factory with hood numbers. No one has published this. We'll see how it goes. Even if you sand a hood down, there is no proof that the number is original since they can replace a hood. Even the later produced GPW's from WW2 are not all documented. So, the "industry" standard is the known prefix numbers, and the digits of your serial number. Good luck with the hunt! John

[4x4M38]

Hello John,
That supposed database sounds interesting, and not too difficult
to prove up. There are quite a few jeeps around that have had
the hood numbers discovered under the paint. Combine that with
the serial numbers and if even a few correlate to Keith's list
then one would have to give serious weight to the list.

Ryan and/or Wes should have the restoration data. If not,
the owners/posters here that have found their hood numbers
and have the serial numbers can provide that.

I'd do a blind test.

Compile the list of restored units where the hood numbers
were found, and have serial numbers.

Once that list is as complete as possible, or you reach X number
of units, compare them with Keith's list.

That way you eliminate the off chance of something funny
happening with the numbers if Keith's database is published
first.

Brian

[wesk]

Shane,

You are right at the changeover from 208XXXXX and 209XXXXX. I would advise sticking to the standard use of the first 2 or 3 digits followed by your jeeps serial. IE 20833836 or 20933836.

The nearest confirmed hood numbers to your serial in my data base are :
33592 = 208XXXXX
34874 = 209XXXXX

A big problem with hood numbers is they were assigned by the Army to each block of contract units. Several contracts were even built side by side on the line. When jeeps got sidetracked on the assembly line they would fall out of hood number sequence because the hood numbers were added as the jeep finished the production line.