m38a1 rear bumper

mastertek2000 · Post by **mastertek2000** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:48 pm

why is the m38a1 rear bumper longer on one side

Post by **wesk** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 11:41 pm

The bumperettes do the bumpering work. The flat rear transverse steel unit is the last crossmember. The longer left side accommodates a license plate bracket.

Some crossmembers have the slotted license plate holes on the left and some don't. However the extended left side remains extended on both civvy and military crossmembers.

Some have the slotted plate holes

Some don't

mastertek2000 · Post by **mastertek2000** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 5:33 am

thanks wesk

donthedickens · Post by **donthedickens** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:08 pm

A discussion on the CJ-3B Page a few years back concluded the right side was shorter to allow the exhaust pipe to exit the rear.

Post by **wesk** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:28 pm

Thanks Don, That makes good sense for the civvy versions whose exhaust exited at that corner. So even though the M38/M38A1/M170 exhaust exits under the bumperette Willys elected not to alter the civvy rear crossmember when they applied it to their M series jeeps.