M38A1 Transfer case capacity and data plates

[walt33]

I have a 1964 USMC M38A1 and it's approaching 12000 miles so I'm replacing the transfer case oil. According to the lube chart in the manual the transfer case capacity is 3 pints, but after putting in 3 pints the level isn't anywhere near the fill plug. The amount I drained was about 3 pints too, but I always thought the rule of thumb was to fill these kinds of things until the oil was at the fill plug level. Am I missing something obvious or is it normal to be this low?

Also does anyone make later style data plates? The original plates look like they are just printed on aluminum. The background isn't etched and filled in with paint, and a few of them have completely faded to the point where they are basically just a blank plate. All the repro ones I see are etched brass. Thanks

[4x4M38]

Sounds like you are filling the transmission too?

[wesk]

Walt, There is a transfer hole between the tranny and the transfer. The military manual doesn't mention these transfer holes but the CJ manual does. Keep in mind that both the military and civvy maintenance manuals were written for trained experienced mechanics. They often overlook simple things their writers assumed was a known throughout the maintainers note! Get your hands on a copy of the civvy manual and get in the habit of referencing both military and civvy manuals before undertaking unfamiliar tasks.

It's a good idea to always top tranny first then service correct quantity in transfer.




Paragraph B-15

Here's a link to a PDF copy of SM-1002R6 https://1drv.ms/b/s!AqEz4MqcTZDBngLLmcs ... w?e=RWAT2F

[walt33]

Thanks for that manual page. I did drain and fill the transmission first. The amounts drained from both were pretty close to the amounts specified in the manual but after filling both back the transmission just seems to be much closer to the fill hole than the transfer case. And I did double check that 3 pints equals 1.5 quarts