Greetings from north central Ar.

[slicktop]

Recently acquired a 38A1 from a Friends estate.
Body is good. 12v converted. Runs good (except idle), Stops, shifts ok.
Biggest problem is the oil filter is disconnected.
It's kinda convenient because I can buy a gallon of rotella and change oil frequently.
Is oil filter delete comen?

[wesk]

Norm is any filter is better than NO FILTER. On the Willys fours the oil filter is a partial flow system that doesn't filter every ounce of oil but probably closer to 2/3 rds of the oil. It would be quite simple to re-connect it. There are only two hoses.

[4x4M38]

Hook it back up, unless you want to rebuild your engine sometime soon.

Course there’s no telling how long it ran without one.

Mine was there but not hooked up correctly.

Take care,
Brian

[RonD2]

Hi Slick,
Welcome to the forum! Post some photos!
Obviously it's supposed to have an oil filter.

Do you want to keep your M38A1 original -- or just anything will do?
If your biggest problem is a disconnected oil filter --- why not connect it?
Either that or take it off and sell it cheap (to keep from silly questions).

With the price of oil going through the roof lately --- changing it frequently doesn't sound "kinda convenient" to me --- it sounds expensive.

I always change the filter with every oil change anyway. Filters are a lot cheaper than oil. And engines.

The manuals are free to download if you need to see how to connect the filter (or need parts to do it).

You came to the right forum.
It's your jeep --- do what you like.
I think you'll find most folks here are helpful and supportive.
Many lean towards keeping them original as the Army had them.
Good luck!

[RonD2]

Hi Slick,
If you're interested, here's a very informative 16 year old post about how the oil lubrication system works on these old motors.....

http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... torder=asc

Good luck!

[slicktop]

Thanks all.
First noticed that it was disconnected after i had bought and installed filter element, Now I can see where the hoses would go and will gladly reconnect the cannister.
There are a lot of little things that has been bubbafied, but that can be expected on a old vehicle. All the data plates are missing but i do know it has a F head. The original color seems to be Strata Blue but it is darker blue now.
I'm guessing it to be a my54.
Going foward, I'm conflicted as to pay tribute to either USAR 123rd ARCOM or USN CVN 70 PHOTO. Both of which I served 79 thru 87. I'm leaning USAR which means back to green.

[slicktop]

This rig is kinda special for me to own.
I worked the summers at a Boy Scout ranch when I was 13 and 14. We had 2 MBs that us kids were allowed to drive. I rode in the back for about a week before I was ready to drive. Once I took the wheel there was very little learning curve to run flat out all the time, never wrecked but I did come rolling down a steep hill going to the chow hall, had to make a hard right into the drive and came up on two wheels for longer than was comfortable. Barely touched back down before I had to slam brakes to keep from hitting the building.
That's how I learned to drive.
We had trails that would throw your butt 2ft off the seat, we all lived.
Those were the days.
This jeep is purely nostalgia for me.

[slicktop]

Waiting on permission to post pics.
Seems complicated .