Restoring my M38 1952

[JahRafa]

I am new to this site and I am looking for some help. I am restoring my '52 M38 and wanted to know if anybody new the color code for the NAVY Gray paint. And also if the chassis on the NAVY version was black or is it all gray as well.

[wesk]

By 1952/53 the Services were having Willys paint the services color instead of just OD2430 on all of them however the frames were installed satin black as always. So your jeep would be Navy grey with a lot of grey overspray on the frame. You can find all the Gillespie paint codes here: http://www.rapcoparts.com/padenew.html

[JahRafa]

Wesk. Thank you for the information. So just for my clarification and that I can understand better I have a few questions. My Jeep is 1952 M38 but not the M38-A1. You said that by that year they were having Willy's paint the jeeps in services color. By services color do you mean all in olive drab or each service distinctive color? Also, did it incude the M38 not A1? Now the frame. The frame on the NAVY M38 should be black or painted gray? And even if it was painted in olive drab, the frame should be black as well?

[wesk]

My Jeep is 1952 M38 but not the M38-A1. You said that by that year they were having Willy's paint the jeeps in services color. By services color do you mean all in olive drab or each service distinctive color?

As I said above: By 1952/53 the Services were having Willys paint the service's color instead of just OD2430 on all of them. (M38/M38A1/M170 and any other contracted military jeep)

The frame on the NAVY M38 should be black or painted gray?

with a lot of grey overspray on the (Black) frame with a poor coat of OD2430.

And even if it was painted in olive drab, the frame should be black as well?

the frames were delivered satin black as always (forever) (all jeeps) Then after initial assembly the frame got a rough coat of OD2430 before the tubs went on.

[4x4M38]

Wes,
Are you saying that all jeeps left the factory with black frames?

[JahRafa]

Thank you! Anyone can share places to buy parts it will be appreciated

[southpw]

Wes,
Are you saying that all jeeps left the factory with black frames?

Thats what he is saying. I painted mine green though

[4x4M38]

I believe he means the frames left the frame factory black and were painted
OD2430 by Willys.

[wesk]

This has been discussed many times if one would just search the old posts. Let's see if we can make this clear as a bell!

The frame supplier supplied the frames to Willys in Black. That is a satin black and no primer so assume it was self priming.

Willys would after assembly of hardware to frames spray the whole shebang with OD2430. Not the world's best paint job.

After the tubs were on the frames and they had started painting jeeps in house for each service (IE Strata Blue, Navy Grey, Marine Forest etc) then the overspray from that paint job would also end up on the frame.

Keep in mind we have very little data on the exact methods use in this painting process nor the exact dates for changes other than a few historical letters found in the museum at the Toledo facility several years ago. We have had some paint spec drawings surface but these were not all encompassing but instead very specific to a part or process.

[4x4M38]

Thanks Wes.

That is what I read in the old posts.

[JahRafa]

Wesk. Thank you for the information. So just for my clarification and that I can understand better I have a few questions. My Jeep is 1952 M38 but not the M38-A1. You said that by that year they were having Willy's paint the jeeps in services color. By services color do you mean all in olive drab or each service distinctive color? Also, did it incude the M38 not A1? Now the frame. The frame on the NAVY M38 should be black or painted gray? And even if it was painted in olive drab, the frame should be black as well?

[wesk]

My Jeep is 1952 M38 but not the M38-A1. You said that by that year they were having Willy's paint the jeeps in services color. By services color do you mean all in olive drab or each service distinctive color?

As I said above: By 1952/53 the Services were having Willys paint the service's color instead of just OD2430 on all of them. (M38/M38A1/M170 and any other contracted military jeep)

The frame on the NAVY M38 should be black or painted gray?

with a lot of grey overspray on the (Black) frame with a poor coat of OD2430.

And even if it was painted in olive drab, the frame should be black as well?

the frames were delivered satin black as always (forever) (all jeeps) Then after initial assembly the frame got a rough coat of OD2430 before the tubs went on.