M38A1 Tank Strap Question

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Tue May 02, 2017 11:01 am

Hi Guys,

The top strap that holds the gas tank in actually passes over the side of the sender. My tank is a newer reproduction, but it's hard to believe they'd put the sender hole in the wrong place. What I'm wondering is.......is the strap bent to be slightly offset or are the two 90 degree bends perfectly square? I've got the strap in hand (to make sharper 90 degree bends), but I can't find any illustrations that show it from the front or back, only top views. My sender is an AC gear drive unit, so that's ok, and the two mounting locations for the strap in the floor seem original unmodified.....so I'm a bit stumped. Anybody have measurements from the sender hole to either the right or left top edge of the tank so I can figure out what's going on?

thanks,
bob

Post by **wesk** » Tue May 02, 2017 11:20 am

This is how it is suppose to fit.

You have an early MD Juan repop tank before MD Juan corrected that issue.

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Tue May 02, 2017 11:37 am

Hi Wes,

Wow..........that's exactly what I have!! Thanks for that. I'll have to work a little magic with the strap and its mounting to get it to fit properly. The tank also doesn't have any provision for a strainer......long or short.

Thanks again.........I would have been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what's wrong.

regards,
bob

ikalimnos · Post by **ikalimnos** » Tue May 02, 2017 12:33 pm

Hi Wes,

I restored all the vent lines on my M38A1 and the vent line from the fuel tank went exaclty parallel to the fuel feed line.

Is the photo you posted a different arrangement??

Post by **wesk** » Tue May 02, 2017 12:46 pm

this is the correct routing of the vent line on early M38A1 prototypes that actually had the fording vent system installed. This tank apparently is not a production tank since the filter pickup is on the shallow side of the tank.

The later M38A1's did not use the fording vent system. They replaced the vent line on the tank with a filter cap & valve.

If your vent line goes to the driver's door sill then it was installed in the field by someone. But if it parallels the fuel line towards the center of the jeep your would be correct.

ikalimnos · Post by **ikalimnos** » Tue May 02, 2017 12:53 pm

Well...

This is the routing I went for, I didn't know there was also another option...

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Tue May 02, 2017 1:30 pm

Wes,

In the pic you posted showing the Doc Juan tank you show the illustration from 8014 to the left. In that illustration there looks to be something covering the fuel supply wire as it runs over the top of the tank. Is this spring armor or that black braided tar-like covering? I'm downloading the 8014 now, but it's a big file.

Also, in the same pic it shows a clip (A) that holds the supply line to the tank. Is this clip screwed directly to the tank? I don't see the clip shown in the ORD, which is why I ask.

thanks,
bob

Post by **wesk** » Tue May 02, 2017 2:00 pm

If you peruse your ORD 9 closer when you research the tubes you will find the words Loom or Conduit used below the listing for the Line Assy. On the same or adjacent page you will find the word Loom or Conduit listed alphabetically and described there. Same with the wire for the sender. Look it up on page 122 and then look in section 613.1 you find cable assy and below that Loom is listed and then in the same section alphabetically you will find Loom with it's part number & description. I will give you a hint! No metal at all!

Post by **wesk** » Tue May 02, 2017 2:04 pm

Hello ikalimnos,

This is the routing I went for, I didn't know there was also another option...

There isn't another option unless you have a prototype M38A1 or a later M38A1 without the fording vent system.

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Tue May 02, 2017 2:53 pm

Hi Wes,

I did find it listed on pg 95, but it just says "auto, asphalt finish" for the rear fuel line. So are you saying it's literally an asphalt (or tar) over something like paper? It would need something underneath it to maintain it's form. Was this commonly used in the auto industry back in the day? If so, I assume it could be replicated with a paper or cardboard tube covered with bed liner or undercoating........no?

thanks,
bob

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Tue May 02, 2017 3:49 pm

The loom is a fabric woven tube that is covered in a tar like substance...

It is still available and easy to work with...

You can get it here... http://stores.restorationspecialties.co ... om&x=0&y=0

You will want the size for your tubing... 3/16" 1/4" or 5/16"

The vent lines are 3/16" and the fuel lines on the M-38A1 are 5/16" on the M-38 they are 1/4"

Hope this helps...

Post by **wesk** » Tue May 02, 2017 9:48 pm

Bob, It says a bit more than:

"auto, asphalt finish"

Loom | Define Loom at Dictionary.com
www.dictionary.com/browse/loom
noun. 1. a hand-operated or power-driven apparatus for weaving fabrics, containing harnesses, lay, reed, shuttles, treadles, etc. 2. the art or the process of weaving. In the context of our ORD 9 it is the final product of the machine and art.

Today plastics and heat shrink materials have superseded the loom harness covers.

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Tue May 02, 2017 11:26 pm

Hal,

Great site! Thanks!

West,

Turns out my sender is the wrong one as well. Everything I touch on this jeep is wrong! Mine is an AC Model C, not the proper 8329687. That explains why one of the sender mounting screws was missing and it looked like the missing screw had broken off. Turns out the sender could not be clocked to allow the Douglas connector to face the drivers side and reach the wire with all 5 screw holes in the sender directly over the screw holes in the tank.

Are the sender screw holes in the crappy Doc Juan tank in the proper location to allow the 8329687 sender's Douglas connector to point to the drivers side? The 5 screw holes are not symmetric around the sender, so it can only mount one way.

Thanks,
Bob

ikalimnos · Post by **ikalimnos** » Tue May 02, 2017 11:53 pm

wesk wrote:Hello ikalimnos,

This is the routing I went for, I didn't know there was also another option...
There isn't another option unless you have a prototype M38A1 or a later M38A1 without the fording vent system.

thanks

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Wed May 03, 2017 4:50 am

MD Juan M38A1 tanks are terrible. I had a early production tank and worked like crazy to get it to fit in the well and get the neck out the side hole. I had all of your issues. I even soldered in my old filler neck to correct that. Drilled new sender holes etc. The final straw that broke the projects back was the tank was too tall. The seat sat on the tank top while the feet would not touch the floor.

I now go out of my way to NOT BUY MD JUAN! They ask for any advice on their products, use your info. and never give you credit or a refund. I have no respect for them. John