Gas cap

[jeeptj1]

Don't have picture but found a gas cap that fits pretty good on my 52 M 38. It has the usual writing but also has Ms 35645 on it. I think it may be for a M35 but not sure. It is a fording cap with the vent on other side. Any thoughts. Thanks john jr.

[jeeperjoe]

I'm not positive but I think the fuel caps were all standard size, both for the M38, M38A1, Deuce and many (all?) of the MEP generators and many other pieces of military equipment. I think some caps were non-vented but most have a closeable vent in them. The MS number is probably the Military Specification for the cap. Oh wait. it is. Here you go http://www.landandmaritime.dla.mil/Down ... l45300.pdf.

Wes, Do you want to add this document to the Downloads?

Edit to add:

It looks like Wes has already gone through this discussion on the G503 forum. There's lots more information in his reply there. http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=101165

[wesk]

I have it loaded on the "Web Links" page:

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... =Web_Links

[jeeptj1]

Thanks guys! John jr

[wesk]

Did you notice the date of the G503 posting? 2007! I doubt anyone can ask an Mjeeps question on this site that wasn't already answered in the past. For those folks seeking answers I have found that google searches yield a lot better and more accurate list of hits then the search functions of the individual web site search engines. The next time you have a question type it into a google search box and add willysmjeeps to the tail end of the search words. Same with G503 or steel soldiers.

[jeeperjoe]

FWIW type "Military Gas Cap site:willysmjeeps.com" into Google to limit the search to specific websites, in this case; willysmjeeps.com.

[jeeptj1]

Guys, I read the articles ( maybe I missed something) my question is, can you tell me if the cap with the number on it that I gave is for a m38 or some other vehicle. I'm sure it will fit the m38, just wondering what original vehicle it was for. Sorry if I misread the articles. John jr

[jeeperjoe]

I honestly don't know but Wes said "Then comes the G740 cap 7416477, WO# 805012 which is optional with the the cap above and was probably the cap used from MC49655 thru the end of M38 production. " What is the SN is your M38??

His article doesn't list a cap marked "Ms 35645" but it does list one with PN 35645-1. IF that's the same cap then it sounds like that it was a replacement cap from Supply Support. Was' article says that that cap was used from 1962 to 1968 so again it does not sound like the original cap that came with your M38. But either way, it's not SPECIFICALLY a M-35 cap. More likely it's just a standard replacement part.

Have you checked a M38 manual? What cap does it call for? The caps that came with my M38A1 and M37 agree with what's in the manual so in my experience the manuals are correct.

PS: I forgot that I just got a M38 manual. I just looked in it and it doesn't give a PN but it does show a picture of the gas cap and it's stamped "Pressurized Open Slowly" and has two tabs on it and a flat round button shape in the center and APPEARS to have the coining around the edges of the cap. That's from TM 9-8012 dated January 1956.

[jeeptj1]

This cap was supposedly off of an m38a1 tank. I hope I haven't made this a bigger issue than I meant it to be. It fits my m38 perfect, I just was curious about that number on it. Sorry for the confusion. One of the tabs on my cap was broke and this one had both of them so I'm just going to use it. Thanks again. John jr

[wesk]

MS35645 is a standard issue fuel cap fabricated under that mil spec MS35645 and stocked under the same mil spec. Usually a MIL SPEC is not married to any single application. It is a standardized item stocked for several applications.

That Mil Spec 35645 is up to 35645G now dated 2011. It was issued originally back in the 50's.
https://cdn.greenmountaingenerators.com ... l-caps.pdf

[jeeptj1]

Wes, thanks. That's kind of what I was looking for. Thank again guys. John jr

[jeeperjoe]

This cap was supposedly off of an m38a1 tank. I hope I haven't made this a bigger issue than I meant it to be. It fits my m38 perfect, I just was curious about that number on it. Sorry for the confusion. One of the tabs on my cap was broke and this one had both of them so I'm just going to use it. Thanks again. John jr

The .MIL later removed the tabs entirely because people were getting snagged on them when getting in and out of Jeeps. I've also seen a number that had the tabs bent flat on them. Probably for the same reason.

The 1962 to 1966 dates for the cap sound about right for a late model M38A1. FWIW I don't know if Willys ever made there own caps, they may have been supplied by the .MIL or Willys may have just bought them directly from the same manufacturers that the .MIL did. I know the latter was the case with things like magazines for the M1 Carbine. Carbine manufactures got cases of magazines from companies like Stanley (hardware) and International Silver and then just delivered the unopened cases of magazines on to the .MIL along with their contracted carbines. The.MIL made no attempt to keep the magazines with the carbines that they were delivered with. They just added them to Supply and issued them out as needed.

If you're interested in such things, then take a look at http://www.rawles.to/M1_Carbine_Mag_FAQ.html. It's actually surprising how MANY companies that there are that produce COMMON items for the .MIL. In many cases the companies are allowed to add some unique markings so often it's possible for a knowledgeable person to identify who made it and when and where.

[wesk]

In almost every vehicle contract written for the military there has been the requirement to use as many off the shelf parts as can be used in the vehicle when it is built. The factories complied by purchasing those common off the shelf items directly from one of the Army's vendors. Many factories would go with the Army part numbers and sometimes assign their own but in the military parts manual these parts were usually identified with their military part numbers as well as the factory's.