M-38A1 Driver's Side Guard for Trailer Plug...

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 12:57 pm

On the M-38A1 is there a guard plate inside the driver's side rear fender for the Trailer plug as in the M-38.

I am getting near the end of the bubba hole filling and finalizing the body and want to start gathering up the misc parts I need to bolt on...

Tried to do a search and could find no answer...

Any assistance welcome...

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 1:41 pm

Yes. Guard, Tail light and trailer connection is found in group 2101 of the SNL.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 2:37 pm

The guards for the M38A1 and M38 are very similar, but different dimensions --- they aren't interchangeable. I believe John at MWM stocks both as reproductions.

Both mount with four 1/4-20 bolts to the weld-nuts on the guard as I recall. The inside of my M38 fender well is slightly tweaked after 65 years, so I had to exercise some patience to finesse mine into place.

Not mine, but an M38 guard in place:

And mine. The center vertical crease and cut at the base was necessary to fit it into the space because of the body tweaking previously mentioned:

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 4:32 pm

Thanks, just wanted to be sure. Working on a '54 M-38A1 and trying to fill MOST of the bubba holes.

Will check with John to see what he has.

kenperkins · Post by **kenperkins** » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:41 am

saw one on eBay yesterday...

G740 · Post by **G740** » Fri Jul 31, 2020 4:46 am

John has both types in stock. $20 ea.

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:56 pm

I ordered and received a Guard Panel for my M-38A1, I notice it takes 5 bolts to hold it in, I find 4 holes on my tub, 2 top of fender well, 2 on inside of fender well. Where does the 5th bolt hole attach? Is there an angel bracket used from the reflector bolt on that side? Have looked thru the M-38A1 Body gallery in Wes's Album but do not find that connection... Also nothing that I could find in the SNL. Little assist welcome.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:33 pm

Hal,
I’m looking at the photos of the panels above. I only see four as well, but they are inside fender well into cargo compartment, and fender itself. I do not see anything in the top of the panel.

Where is the 5th hole in the panel?

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 10:04 pm

Brian, the photos above are for the M-38 panel, not the M-38A1 panel... they are different...

The question you asked about the 5th bolt is what I am trying to figure out...

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:19 pm

I think I found what the 5th Screw / Bolt is for, got to thinking that this shield protects electrical components / wiring. And did a search and found this...

CLIP, loop type, closed, s hole for no. 10 screw (positive
cable to dash (1); negative cable to dash (l), negative
cable to splash apron (1))
SCREW, mach, w/int-teeth lock washer, pan-hd, cross recess,
S, cd- or zn-pltd, no. l0-24 NC x 1/2

Any comments?

Post by **wesk** » Sat Aug 08, 2020 5:58 pm

Hal,

Where is the 5th hole in the panel?

I think he was asking where, in the panel is this 5th hole you mentioned. Not where in the tub was the 5th hole. It would get all of us on the same page if you just posted a couple of photos of your new panel itself.

The bottom right photo is the only one I have of the panel itself.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Sat Aug 08, 2020 6:07 pm

Here's a link to a couple of photos of MWM's product for the M38A1. The second photo shows the relationship of the 5 weld nuts on the panel.

I sure hope John has no objection with me posting this.

https://store.midwestmilitary.com/product-p/mwm152.htm

My bust for confusing the post with M38 photos....

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Sat Aug 08, 2020 7:56 pm

I stated the question wrong for the 5th Hole in the panel... It should be where does the 5th hole in the panel attach to the body or what is it for? (main face of the panel, if 2 weld nuts are at top, two are at left matching the holes in Wes's Top right photo The four slots are for the panel. The 5th hole will be low on the right side of the main face.)

The two holes Wes's in the top Left photo is for the reflector.

If I read the SNL correctly in my previous post this is where a ground connection is made for the wiring harness... Bad spot in my opinion, but that is what the SNL says...

Post by **wesk** » Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:06 pm

Why not just post a photo of yours directly to your post above. Pictures are always worth at least 1000 words! Or ask John for permission to post his.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 9:03 am

Hal,
John has a photo of both the front side and back side of the panel on his website.

I now understand your confusion.

The M38 grounds the trailer plug harness on one of the screws on the plug bracket on the tail end of the tub, fyi, not on the panel.

Off to the archives!!