Spark plugs

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 3:07 pm

So, which are the right sparkplugs for the M38a1, and the M37...
MS 35909-1, -2, or -3

I know there are heat transfer differences etc with each and specific for each vehicle I think....

And is there a current mfr or supplier for new ones?
I find myself in need....

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 4:50 pm

Hi Rich,
Is your M38A1 still 24 volts?

Go see this post:

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... ic&t=11018

Take care,

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 12:13 am

YEs and so is my m37.
I need one M37 plug and is a 35909-2 model of the Mil PN. AKA 2245
It broke off the back cylinder. It rusted bad and snapped off, still trying to get it out of the head.....
I assume that's the right one...

I still am not quite sure which is supposed to be correct for M38a1 and M37.
There is a heat range design with the -1, -2 and -3.

The -1 is the 2243.
My M38a1 had the -3 Champion in it from the military so go figure that...

So are you guys saying we have to go to Ebay now? I saw they were charging ridicules amounts for plugs there...

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:03 am

You must use the appropriate engine application chart for your plugs. The heat range charts list plugs in the same heat range but not always with the same thread sizes on both ends. Champion & Autolite are the only two still in production and it seems since last year both are not in production at this moment however production will resume OCCASIONALLY when an adequate demand makes it necessary. It is very obvious that the prices will be WAY ABOVE the $6-7 each we saw a year ago.

Yes, right now the plugs you see on Ebay or in other private sales are all you have to choose from right now.

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:24 am

So then which is correct number for the M37 and for the M38a1?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 2:04 am

Just find your vehicle in the far left column and any part numbers to the right of it will fit.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 7:53 am

eBay.

I look there a lot, and buy very little.
It is a great place to find things totally unavailable
and to research things that photos don't even exist.

However, I never buy anything without a photo,
and I always find out what I can buy it for elsewhere.

As you noted, the prices on spark plugs are typically high,
and usually all over the place.

A good example is Omix Ada items. I usually see many offerings
of the same Omix Ada part with prices all over the place, and in many
cases from the same seller. I guess they think people are that stupid not to
notice or actually get that many buyers that jump on the first offeriing
of an item they see.

If I'm looking for new, old stock or parts that are critical in terms of
quality I start with the known suppliers. If I'm looking for something
that I can buy used or a takeoff, or hard to find I'll start there but will
check eBay. Sometimes you get lucky. Like my 25.00 tailgate listed as
a CJ.

In the case of plugs, when this thread started I looked at several of the
suppliers' prices, googled other sources and then checked eBay.

Prices are all over the place.

In your case if you only need one plug why not throw yourself on the
mercy of your brethren here and Steel Soldiers. I'd be willing to bet
somebody has a serviceable takeout sitting around somewhere.

Take care,

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:28 am

Wes, thank you for the chart. I saved that!
Now I know I have M38a1 plugs in my M37, and probably M37 plugs in my M38a1.
The manuals are no help on plug PN at all....
I also have a full set of mule plugs that I kept when I changed them on the M38a1. That military had put -3s in it. I bought it from DRMO that came off a base back east back in 2000.

Well, I need a 2243 plug I guess. The other 5 are 2245 but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to change one up, or maybe I should just put a 2245 back in it and keep them all the same for the moment till I can afford a whole set, that's a budget item for sure now....

kenperkins · Post by **kenperkins** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:05 pm

Rich, unless you can find one down there...I'm closest to you. found one used 2243 in a junk box. pay the postage and i'll send it to you.

PM me if your interested

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 7:28 am

Ya gotta love this board.

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 4:48 pm

wesk wrote: Champion & Autolite are the only two still in production and it seems since last year both are not in production at this moment however production will resume OCCASIONALLY when an adequate demand makes it necessary.

I contacted Autolite last week inquiring about special production runs of these plugs. I was quoted 20,000 units to get a special production! I think John said it was 5,000 units. I don't know who is correct, but either way, that's a LOT of plugs.

keats · Post by **keats** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 8:30 pm

I have talked with a marketing person at autolite also and he basically said the same thing. He is going to have some conversations with engineering about this issue in a few weeks and said he would get back to me on any chance of a short run of production. He wasn't optimistic however as it would mean "thousands" of plugs needing to be made, even if they still had the parts. He stated that there has not been any sales of this plug for 2 years. I also notified the MVPA about this in hopes that they may have some advice or suggestions. They said that they will look into it.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 8:52 pm

Been watching these two now intertwined plug conversations (2245 discontinued and this one). Interesting. It was bound to happen sooner or later? Probably not the first time either I'm guessing. And it's bound to happen eventually with every other part on these old ladies, one at a time? Been happening since the 60's for the M38 I'd guess.

Is that 20,000 plugs at $5 each or $20 each? It seems to me that any numbers about special runs need to include cost as well as quantity? And I can certainly understand nobody talking dollars in a public forum, especially investors and/or speculators. It seems to me that's what it's going to take each time this happens (investors and/or speculators stepping up). Or make do without. Given the right paper, I might chip in.

In either event ($5 a plug or $20 a plug) we're talking about what short parts and short manufacturing capability in the military used to be called a "lifetime buy", meaning one last chance to stock the shelves before the last demand (the last jeep) is gone. It's a lot cheaper to do now than after the tooling has been scrapped. When that happens, plugs will be priceless.

My stubby pencil tells me that the cost range on a 20,000 plug lifetime buy at $5 a plug to $20 a plug is $100,000 to $400,000. Quite an investment risk, especially if nobody knows the demand. Or if you're the only game in town. It could be a beneficial and profitable investment, especially if they can be had for $5 a plug and sold for $20 a plug, and in enough time to enjoy it. Or if somebody had enough geeters to buy the tooling and start their own brand. Quality first of course.

Either way, this is a great thread to follow. My .02 cents.

From the guy who lost money on 84 brake drum to hub screws....

Regards,

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 7:49 am

That's kind of what I was thinking, but 20,000 units will prob be wayyy out of anything I could afford to do. Didn't see much interest in a group buy on this forum.

If it comes down to me having to pay $25/plug, I will just take the military plugs and wires off and adapt civilian ones for every day use.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 8:58 am

Course unless you drive the bygimminies off these things like RickG and Oilleaker, a set of plugs may last your lifetime!