Chassis advice

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:53 am

Hi,
Thanks for having me on your excellent forum.

Can I get some advice please.

I have a very rough M38 which I am going to restore to factory spec, I have previously restored MB's GPW's etc. so I can weld!!

The tub is a later style M38 with the larger hole in the dash, bolted to the chassis with correct rusty bolts so been together for a long time.

The Chassis has no bell crank welded to the front cross member for the steering. The chassis is still Olive Drab (I would say from the factory) the paint is the only paint anywhere and is between the body / chassis, it has the typical M38 bumper mounts at the front for the shackles (not the MB style) and hasn't been welded.

The front axle has gone but I assume the bell crank was on the front axle.

I can't see a chassis without a bell crank fitting which would fit under an M38 and have been OD from the factory? doesn't seem to be a CJ 2 or 3 but I could be wrong.

Over to the experts!

Maverick.

Post by **wesk** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 10:34 am

We've seen a few frames with chopped off steering bellcranks. We've also seen MB frames under an M38 tub. Post photos of what you have.

This is what you should have

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 7:02 am

Thanks for your reply.

I have requested a photo album and taken some pictures.

The Bell crank has definitely not been cut off, no evidence that it has ever been there.

Strange that everything else looks M38 (which is how it will be restored as everything else is correct)
Maverick

Post by **wesk** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:08 am

Let's see some photos of your frame. The only frames Willys built without the steering bellcrank are the WWII MB and the first year of the CJ2A. That means you have a MB/early 2A front crossmember or an entire MB/early 2A frame.

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 2:05 am

Hope this works, first time posting picture.

Front chassis rails showing M38 style bumper mounts but bell crank, O/D over primer as the only paint on the chassis.

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 2:11 am

Underside of front frame rail

Post by **wesk** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 2:15 am

That's a very modified MB frame. Load a photo of the rear half of the frame.

I helped you out with your photo posting.

Notice they are not the same. The first one is the one that appears when you click the " Img " above the box. The second one with the / appears when you click the " Img " icon above the second time.

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 2:18 am

Thanks, strangely no gun mount plate on the rear, I will find the pics of the rear and post them.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 2:30 am

The M38 tub rear floor does not have the curved extension jutting forward for the machine gun mount plate so the plate on the MB frame must be removed for the M38 tub to fit the frame.

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 3:11 am

Thanks for your assistance,
I will have another go! The computer smells my fear.
Here is the chassis in its entirety.

This url is not for the photo you wish to post.

This is the correct url to use for that photo.

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules/gall ... e_rear.png

Not good news if it is an MB chassis, I would like to do a really good job on the M38 as they are rare here in the UK, loads of MB's and GPW's.

No money to go looking for a correct chassis at the moment. I will persevere with the body and running gear while I look consider my options.

I see now that you are using the url in the address bar at the top of the page you are viewing with your photo on it. This does not work because it is a link to the entire web page. You must right click on the photo that you wish to use and then click on " Copy image url " then paste that url between these

. Also keep in mind that for each of your photos in your album there are three separate url's. One for the small thumbnail on your album index page. One for the middle size photo you get when you click on the thumbnail. And one for the full size photo you get when you click on the middle size photo. Always try to stay with posting the middle size photo.

Having looked closely at the rear of your frame it is pretty clear you have a CJ3A frame.

TomM · Post by **TomM** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 6:55 pm

agreed, the frame looks like a CJ3A frame rather than than MB.
Front bumper mount style is post 48 CJ2a
Shock mounts are CJ3 style not MB or CJ2A
The transmission cross member mount is post WWII style
Body mounts on the left side are post war. WWII had inboard mounts on the left side.
No apparent damage to the cross member if a MG mount had originally been welded in place for an MB.
Location and configuration of the engine mounts would give more information.

The missing steering arm mount I have only seen on reproduction frames and WWII frames.

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 8:24 am

Thanks for your replies and especially to Wes K for your help with the photos!
I am still confused as to what chassis I have, have we decided on CJ3B? Can't see it being a repro as it is ancient.

I will try and assemble it for a picture so you can see the whole thing but it is pretty much all M38.

I have the hood so I will rub it down and see if we have any numbers.

Maverick

Post by **wesk** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:36 am

Late CJ3A and early CJ3B used the same frame. Having seen all of your photos it is clear your frame is not an MB frame.

AdLav · Post by **AdLav** » Sat Oct 12, 2019 12:02 pm

How are you progressing with your M38?

Being in the uk we might be able to help each other - do drop me a line.

Adam

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