Newbie........Ya Gotta Start Somewhere!

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 9:15 am

Hi Guys,

Newbie to the whole jeep thing and I had a '55 M38A1 follow me home two weeks ago. Been spending time on the G503 site but it's a bit slow-going over there, so I'll try bugging you guys with my questions for a bit.

First up.........what's with all this 1st generation, 2nd generation stuff? I see a ton of M38A1's that don't fit either description exactly, including mine. I realize folks have mixed and matched parts over the years, but it's hard to believe there as so many in-betweeners.

Second........when (year/month of SN) did they switch from Douglas to Packard connectors? Would love to get a straight answer on this one.

Third.........when did the MS part numbering system get introduced? I hate seeing MS marked parts on early vehicles that were obviously made before the system existed. I realize the MS marked stuff was installed on earlier jeeps as replacements, and I'm not criticizing those who use those parts.....just want to know what's original and what's not.

Lastly (for now).......when (year/month or SN) did the M38A1 stop being build with fording equipment as standard?

Thanks,
bob

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:49 am

Welcome, Bob.

All of the manuals as well as the fording article in the post I have attached
below are in the downloads section to the top left.

Here is a good post on the fording system and A1 applications.

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... on+changes

The Ord 9 G758 is the parts manual for the A1. Learn to read it and/or ask
for help. As production changes were made they were documented in the
Ord 9 usually by dash serial number.

Be sure and ask for a photo page and populate. We like lots of photos!

Also look at Wes' photo pages in the Photo Gallery above.
It's the second gallery.

Again, welcome!

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:14 pm

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the welcome! Will do in regards to the photo page........I love pics too! Will get some up tonight after it dies down a bit around here. My folks are down for the weekend and he's been bugging me all day to "take the cover off the jeep". He really wants to play with it. Excellent!

Talk to you guys later,
bob

Post by **wesk** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 7:44 pm

First up.........what's with all this 1st generation, 2nd generation stuff? I see a ton of M38A1's that don't fit either description exactly, including mine. I realize folks have mixed and matched parts over the years, but it's hard to believe there as so many in-betweeners.

Basically late 1953. IE tilting grill and turn fastener battery cover replaced with fixed grill and latch type battery cover. There are other subtle changes like the late vs early fenders but these are not dated. You can find these serial cutoffs in the parts manual ORD 9 SNL G-758.

Second........when (year/month of SN) did they switch from Douglas to Packard connectors? Would love to get a straight answer on this one.

There is no established date or serial cutoff provided in the Parts and maintenance manuals. It occurs right around 1960 for the USMC contracts and the M170's.

Third.........when did the MS part numbering system get introduced? I hate seeing MS marked parts on early vehicles that were obviously made before the system existed. I realize the MS marked stuff was installed on earlier jeeps as replacements, and I'm not criticizing those who use those parts.....just want to know what's original and what's not.

MS numbering and FSN VS ORD SN"S VS NSN can be found by googling them. When I came in to the Air Force in 1966 MS #'s were still a new novelty. FSN's had been around for several years and AN and NAS were from the tail end of WWII.

Lastly (for now).......when (year/month or SN) did the M38A1 stop being build with fording equipment as standard?

The fording system installations at Willys ended with sn MD23359 (As shown in the ord 9) Oct 1952.