Starter and bell housing

Skipanellin · Post by **Skipanellin** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 6:27 pm

Hi guys -

My dad, a World War II vet, is in the process of restoring an M38. He picked up a 12 volt starter for it and discovered that it won't fit the bell housing. He also had an original 24 volt starter that he then tried as well, and that one wouldn't fit either. Neither the access hole or the mounting holes matched up. The access hole in the bell housing is 3 1/8" and the mounting holes are 4 1/2" cl to cl. It seems that this bell housing can't be original M38. Does anyone have an idea of what it might be?

thanks,
Skip

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 6:51 pm

Hi Skip,
Serial of the jeep and photos will help.

The early M38 used an unsealed bellhousing
with an open nose starter.

The later M38's had a sealed bellhousing with
closed nose starter, as used in the later M38A1.

What are the bolt sizes in the bellhousing for the starter?

You'll need to match the bellhousing to the starter as well as confirm
the number of teeth in the flywheel.

Use the search function above and look for sealed bellhousing as
well as "What bolts go where?"

Take a peek through Wes' photo album. Lots of info there

Take care,

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 7:02 pm

Here's a late starter treatise:

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... ll+housing

Post by **wesk** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 12:12 am

Just use my technical photo album. It is the second album in our member's albums page. http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

More specifically the M38 running gear album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
On the third page:

Early M38 bell

Late M38 and all M38A1

Early vs late measurements.

The bell to block adapter plates are specific to late or early bell also.

Which starter you must use not only depends on which bell you have but it also requires the correct match flywheel ring gear.

Willys use three flywheel ring gears, 97 tooth, 124 tooth and 129 tooth.
Early M38 uses the 124 tooth and late M38 and all M38A1 use the 129 tooth.

Finally the bells were designed to mate with either the early or late block castings.

Early engine block rear face.

Late engine block rear face

Skipanellin · Post by **Skipanellin** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 7:06 pm

Thank you so much for taking the time to put all of that together. I have printed it out and sent it to my dad. The last I heard it sounds like he was able to figure it out from there.

thanks again,
Skip

Post by **wesk** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 9:38 pm

Do let us know the outcome!