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

[4x4M38]

Ah.

Let's have a look at page 209 of the TM9-8014.

Sometimes you just can't find a photo.

167. Service Tail and Stop Light Assembly
b. Removal (fig 108)
1. Remove the four lock washer screws in the passenger compartment
securing the service tail and stop light and the trailer coupling
electrical connector receptacle guard to the body. Two of the screws
are located on the top of the wheel house and two are located on
the body side panel of the wheel house.

2. Remove the lock washer screw securing the guard to the bracket
welded to the inner side of the wheel house outer panel, and
remove the guard.

I had to read the TM9 description to mount the radiator to cowl rod. Not a good photo of how all the bits went together.

Thanks for the mystery!

[wesk]

A photo showing the parts alluded to in para. 167b(2) would once and for all clear up any doubts about how the guard is fastened. Had I had an M38A1 parked in my garage I would have already taken the photo and posted it here.

[4x4M38]

I agree Wes! I went through every A1 photo in your gallery and many members photos, as well as the TM9 and SNL manuals.

Other than the description for removing the tail light assembly and Midwest Military’s panel photo I found nothing definitive.

John’s back side panel photo shows a screw hole at that location, which sent me on a look for an outer wheelhouse inside photo. None found, and many members photos of the location show no guard in place. Classic Enterprises support shows nothing either.

[wesk]

Our original poster has the panel and the jeep in his garage.

[4x4M38]

I know. I speculate his wheelhouse support may be a replacement without the referenced welded bracket attached.

We will have to wait for his reply.

[OKCM38CDN]

I was asking the question as MY M-38A1 came as Pieces when I bought it back in 2007 from a gent on this board from Wisconsin. In 2013 I started the restoration of this jeep after open heart surgery as a way to recover and keep from climbing the walls.

The original body was trash, the PO found a donor tub and that came with the jeep. In the tub I have are holes for the Guard and the SNL lists it as "GUARD, tail light and trailer connection on page 362 very top entry.".

So not having the part and seeing holes for one, I asked the question. Until a previous post about the ones from John at MWM, I did not have one. Discussing it here has given me a sounding board to research further and find that per the SNL dated September 1956, this part is required. Further investigation provided the answer to the question about the 5th hole. However I have not yet checked John's part (Will in the morning) but that hole should be for a 10-24x1/2 screw. I think john's is for a 1/4-20 screw. That is no problem as we make due to put these old jeeps together.

I will take some photos in the morning of the part I have from John and where it appears to go in my jeep. I still have some welding and grinding to finish up Bubba's mods to the tub, mainly filling in holes for mud accessories and bullet holes (I think).

With heat index of 105 due tomorrow I will try to get this done early.

Thanks

[4x4M38]

Hello Hal!
We are suffering from excessive heat as well. I get up every day at 5:30-6 to water the garden.

Thanks for the reply. As I suspected, and with many of our vehicles, yours has been a victim? of not only Bubba, but parts swaps and general age related deterioration. Many times investigations like yours turn into an archaeological excercise. In the end it’s good for all of us because we all learn something new.

As I mentioned earlier, at times I’ve had to dig through descriptions in manuals to determine assembly or disassembly data. Yours was just another example.

Thanks again for the fun treasure hunt!

Take care,
Brian

[OKCM38CDN]

Well managed to get a look under the Driver's side wheel well and there is a bracket just rear of the top weld nut for the reflector. Here is a photo I took the photo looking top to bottom, but the saved picture came up rotated...





I am going to have to get under there and clean up the area to allow the panel to fit properly...

Here is the MWM Panel for M-38A1, I have placed bolts in the holes to see where they go...

[4x4M38]

Fantastic Hal!

Thank you.

You want to tack that bracket on the wheel well a little better once you get it cleaned up. It probably got snagged in the many years the panel has been gone.

Take care,
Brian

[4x4M38]

I’d almost be willing to bet a rattle can of Rapco green the Omix Ada tub doesn’t come with that bracket...

[wesk]

Thanks for the photos Hal. I believe we can now see the relationship.

[pedormont]

Who is "John" in these posts? Is it a military secret? Will you have to be shot if you answer? Just asking.

[RonD2]

It's no secret pedormont.

One of the best (if not the best) of many great people in the military vehicle parts and technical support business is John Bizal, Midwest Military (MWM).
Here's his website: https://shop.midwestmilitary.com/

Good luck!

[pedormont]

Thanks for the reply! MWM is already a supplier to me and you are correct regarding your assessment of John Bizal and Company!