M38a1 no data plates

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:18 pm

So I bought another M38a1. Ive been after this one for several years and he finally sold it to me. Sadly, it sat out up in the mountains for several years and it looks a lot worse than when I originally saw it.
It was at some point Strata Blue and was painted white by NASA who was using it on Edwards AFB in SoCal. The guy I got it from got it though DRMO as a volunteer Fire Dpt end user and they disbanded and he bought it from the FD. It has a metal hard top installed on it that is just a top, nicely done though. The rear panel is cut out and it had an entry step, the wheel house sponsons have seat cushions with back rests, most likely it was transporting pilots out to their planes on the ramp.

Any way, both plates are gone. I need some serial number for it so should I just use the one on the block? Got to go digging and find it. Unless they stamped the frame somewhere on these things I didnt know about.

jnissen · Post by **jnissen** » Mon Jun 22, 2020 11:09 am

What’s the title have on it? No title then you will have a lot more hoops to jump through. Not sure of your state but check to make sure they will even register an old military vehicle if the numbers are missing.

In general if your state has provisions to title the vehicle the tub number, data plate number or the engine were likely used. Rarely did two or three of the numbers match.

Ours had a number from the engine on our title. It hadn’t been registered in 20 years so we needed to apply for a bonded title. A bond is taken out then once that’s available you can apply for the title.

Do a bit of research. You may still have the plate behind the passenger seat on the wheel well. Often painted over they can be carefully cleaned to reveal numbers.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Jun 22, 2020 11:46 am

Oh, Man, please tell me you are restoring it to the NASA version!!!

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Mon Jun 22, 2020 1:43 pm

No, both of the plates, dash and wheel well, are gone.
Hence i wondered if there was a number stamped in the frame like dodge did with m37s.
I could use the engine, but we all know that may not be original.
My other m38a1 that I a, the first civilian owner of the engine does not match the two body plates.

Im in CA and I did not get a title. I sort of think when they disbanded the VFD, he just took it home..... i know what I will face with dmv, but having a clean serial number is my #1 goal to start with.

Its still NASA. I didnt need it but I wanted it merely to preserve it. All our other friends wanted it to remove the roof and put a new back panel on it and paint it OD and flip it.

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Mon Jun 22, 2020 3:26 pm

The engine serial number will not match the two body plates (those two should match). In Kansas my jeeps are registered with the engine serial number. If you have troubles in CA you could try to get it titled in another state and then transfer the title to CA.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:13 pm

1 - Willys & Ford stopped matching engine serials to tub serials at the end of WWII. Everything built by Willys/Kaiser from 1946 on does not match engine serials to tub serials.

2 - Willys/kaiser did not use frame numbers after WWII. But most military jeeps that went thru a military depot rebuild had the tub serial or the hood number stamped on the left front frame rail.

3 - Many states thru 1970 use engine numbers on titles. 1000's of surplus jeeps from 1950 thru 1970 had the engine #'s on their titles.

4 - 1954 marked the introduction of varied VIN number systems. In the 1970's the 10 digit VIN became the norm. In 1981 the Federal Dept of Transportation forced by law the standardized 17 Digit VIN number system on all US Built vehicles.

5 - Today many states require a conversion to the 17 digit system of older manufacturer's serial #'s and VIN's. Some states will issue a brand new VIN where old serial numbers or VIN's have been lost.

Bottom line is if you have a military jeep today with no known serial number or evidence thereof just be honest and querry your DMV for their suggested route to titling your jeep.

For our other members thinking of buying military jeeps lacking papers and/or serials/VINs at least obtain a bill of sale from the seller before you drag it home.

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:14 am

Wes, thank you for that.
I will look on the left front frame to see if its been stamped.
Turns out I have a civilian engine in this nasa jeep. It has a brass data rebuild tag from a shop on the passenger side of the block.
The number on the water pump embossment is FA#####. Could be F4##### not sure

I have CA paperwork to fill out, seller an i are going to get together and do a statement of facts and bill of sale, just needed to find the ID we are going to use for the vehicle.

mdainsd · Post by **mdainsd** » Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:29 am

Buyer be ware! Just saying.

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:24 pm

I found the number on the frame.
Wes i sent you a pm eith the number to cross referance.