Decals and Underhood stencils for M38A1

JBJeep · Post by **JBJeep** » Sun Mar 06, 2022 2:54 pm

Just wondering if anyone here has a preference for the multi piece interior and underhood decal sets sold by the various MV Jeep vendors?
Several sell them at widely varying prices, just looking for a recommendation on terms of quality have especially, completeness.

Also, in photos I have seen something stenciled under the hood of A1s...something along the line of "Prop up the hood while working on engine".
Does anyone make a decal for that or a stenci?

I see that the often recommended MV stencil guy is no longer in business.I

Thanks

dpcd67 · Post by **dpcd67** » Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:44 pm

Since all this was up to the unit, there can be anything you want under the hood. I get all. my stencils and stick on letters from my local graphics shop. They all now have CNC plotters and computers that can make literally anything you want.
No need to use any vendor for this kind of thing.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Mon Mar 07, 2022 7:08 pm

I didn't realize that graphics shops aren't vendors.

In case it helps, here's an old school oil-board paint stencil vendor: https://www.ebay.com/itm/201915930105?h ... SwjqVZC6Qq

Same way the Army has been doing it for decades....

Good luck!

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Mon Mar 07, 2022 10:00 pm

Hi JB,
Maybe this photo is also useful.....

kenperkins · Post by **kenperkins** » Tue Mar 08, 2022 10:49 am

there's no personal heater on the cowl on an m38a1, so, why would you need a safety hook anyway? the MWO for the m38 adds one...so could see that statement on an m38...

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Tue Mar 08, 2022 11:16 am

Hi Ken,
I certainly could be mistaken, but think that with both M38 and M38A1 --- if you had your head under an open hood that's resting on the windshield and the wind blows from the wrong direction --- you stand a pretty good chance of getting conked in the noggin?

I always thought that's what the stencil warning was mostly about. I can see that a M38 cowl heater where the hood opens near vertical would make it even more dangerous, especially if parked facing downhill, breeze or not.

I know this stencil was applied in the field not the factory, but never saw the Army order in writing. I wonder why the Army didn't have Willys stencil them all at the factory since the need for it is because there's no factory safety latch on any M38 or M38A1. I guess Willys wanted too much money to make one (stencil or latch).

Does the Heater MWO describe how to make a "safety hook"? Never seen a photo of one.
I use a bungie cord on mine, from an original hole in the under-hood center seam to the footman loop on the top of the windshield.

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Tue Mar 08, 2022 7:42 pm

Ron,

The M38A1 does come from the factory with a hood safety catch on top of the windshield that excepts the tall U bolt that's located on the hood.

The M-38 does not have this catch or U bolt...

Mike B

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 8:00 am

Hi Mike,
Thanks, I stand corrected!
Does the safety catch engage automatically (spring loaded?) when the hood is raised or does the operator have to fasten it?
I guess the stencil warning under the M38A1 hood is still appropriate either way.

dpcd67 · Post by **dpcd67** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 9:34 am

The hood has to be manually secured to the windshield with a strap. Which no one ever did.
By vendor, I meant, and the OP specified "MV Jeep Vendors" one of the companies that sells pre cut letters and stencils for MVs on the internet, of which there are more than one. Of course my local graphics shop doesn't' care if it is for a jeep or a submarine, he will make whatever you tell him to; or rather, his plotter will make it. I take him pictures like the one above, and the rest is automation. He will make the old oil board stencils too, if you want to replicate the original fuzzy lettering and under spray. I like them perfect though.
Dodges have hood latches on the windshield but jeeps never did. Wear your steel pot.
There are many versions of what to put under hoods; such as Driver: Check these daily; Oil, etc. You are the unit commander so direct whatever you like.

dpcd67 · Post by **dpcd67** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 9:39 am

Here is an example of under hood Driver's instructions:

Beast · Post by **Beast** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 10:39 am

Yep, my M38a1 has the factory latch to keep the hood from falling on your head and several others do as well. the M37 has a swing out hook that catches on a fixture on the passenger side of the hood and the M35 trucks have one that swings out from the cowl to hook to the windshield tie downs on the hood. So this was a quite popular under hood marking that was added at the motorpool level by most units. The best is when you see it on the undersides of hoods on units like the M715 and M880 which have conventional hood springs like civilian vehicles which keep the hood open. You know some motorpool Sargeant told Private Snuffy to go paint it on all the vehicles in the motorpool that needed it and he just painted it on all of them weather they needed it or not.

While I don't have it listed on my markings website, http://www.deltateamdecals.com/ I do make the under hood warning in both paint masks and decals and have made several for members here. If you are interested you can either PM me here or through my webpage.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 1:01 pm

Dave the Beast makes great paint masks. Superior service and fair pricing too!

Translated:

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 4:34 pm

dpcd67 wrote:The hood has to be manually secured to the windshield with a strap. Which no one ever did.
By vendor, I meant, and the OP specified "MV Jeep Vendors" one of the companies that sells pre cut letters and stencils for MVs on the internet, of which there are more than one. Of course my local graphics shop doesn't' care if it is for a jeep or a submarine, he will make whatever you tell him to; or rather, his plotter will make it. I take him pictures like the one above, and the rest is automation. He will make the old oil board stencils too, if you want to replicate the original fuzzy lettering and under spray. I like them perfect though.
Dodges have hood latches on the windshield but jeeps never did. Wear your steel pot.
There are many versions of what to put under hoods; such as Driver: Check these daily; Oil, etc. You are the unit commander so direct whatever you like.

To correct you- on an M38A1 if the windshield is laid down on the hood, it is to be secured with the strap that is provided on the windshield. If the hood is to be raised to the windshield it is to be fastened to the latch on the windshield.

DaveM38A1 · Post by **DaveM38A1** » Tue Mar 15, 2022 5:27 pm

One M38A1 hood I got with some spare parts had a decal that said, "This Vehicle costs 1987.00."
Interesting, Did they think the soldiers would take better care of the equipment if they knew how much it cost?

I have seen the secure hood and the antifreeze stencils on the hoods and one with the cost stencil.

Dave

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Wed Mar 16, 2022 11:56 am

DaveM38A1 wrote:Did they think the soldiers would take better care of the equipment if they knew how much it cost?

.....or how much they'd have to pay if they didn't.