M38A1 Winter Top Update

[oilleaker1]

Air mail and the right package I'd sell/send you some to Texas. Oilly

I meant snow!

[4x4M38]

Ah.

A true friend indeed!

[wilfreeman]

Wes, those illustrations show the small height footmans loops on the shelf for the side curtains. The only way they would work is if there is no metal end installed on the curtain straps. Otherwise, you need the taller type footmans loops. Dave at WeeBee said that the short height ones were frequently used on the sides because of this. John

Also, with my top from WeeBee, the straps would not tighten the side curtains down enough if the loops were on the shelf. I'm sure Dave uses OEM patterns with his tops, so side curtain height would be factory size.

[wesk]

I am sure you will find that today's new tops are actually reversed engineered. I have never seen a factory blueprint of a canvas top. Have you? The tops during the life of these jeeps in the military were supplied by several different manufacturers over the years. Many replacement tops were fabricated by the Army in their own fabric shops in later years. As the tops ride on the jeep they stretch with age and tightening the side curtains would become more difficult and the obvious answer was to move the loops down the side of the tub.

[wilfreeman]

Nope, never have. But surely there were. Everything starts off with a drawing/blueprint and pattern before being produced in a factory.

That's kinda what I meant by Dave using OEM patterns - reverse engineering an original equipment side curtain. I guess my terminology is a little different.

[wesk]

The origin would have been a blue print from engineering. Patterns may have been utilized at the factory sewing tables or in the field.

A copy will only be as accurate as the part it was copied from. That was my point.