M38 Glove Box Inside Panels

46MB2A · Post by **46MB2A** » Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:33 am

Hello all,

Looking for info on the glove box inside panels for an M38. My recent acquisition (51 M38) has no glove box, just the outer door. All my searches come back with an M38A1 glove box insert.

Are folks just making their own? Anyone have drawings with dimensions?

Thank you all!

Kyle

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Fri Mar 28, 2025 12:05 pm

Hello Kyle,
Welcome to the forum first post!

The glove box has two panels, a floor (bottom) and a side.
The bottom panel is bolted in place and the side panel is welded to the body.

Assuming you need the bottom panel because it commonly rots away.
The part number for it is listed in the M38 ORD9 manual on page 306 as PANEL, glove box bottom, WO-673542, ORD 8673987.
The attaching screws and sizes are listed with it.

If anybody makes one it's John at MidWest Military, but the last time I asked he wasn't making them due to low demand.
You might call and ask if that's changed.

Mine was rotted, and with patience in a year or so I lucked out and found a good take-off on fleabay from QTM.
A phone call to any of our venerable military parts vendors might find a good take-off.

If you're interested, I kept my old panel.
I can send a photo if need be.
Pretty sure it's good enough as a pattern to make one and you're welcome to it for the cost of postage.

Good luck!

46MB2A · Post by **46MB2A** » Fri Mar 28, 2025 12:20 pm

Thanks Ron!

I actually need both. Previous owner gutted the inside. No battery box and no glove box at all.

Plenty vendors make the battery box so not worried there. I have hit up a few vendors already and it seems to bel slim pickins right now.

I would sure appreciate your old panel incase I need to make it. Not sure if its possible but some pictures and measurements on the side panel would be great. I can attempt to make that too.

I will DM my address so we can workout shipping. Im in Utah.

Thanks again!

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Fri Mar 28, 2025 6:35 pm

Kyle,
Without disassembly, I took a look at mine and believe the welded side panel must be on the left as you look into the glove box.
Red oxide overspray on it in my photo.
It forms a wall between the glove box and battery box.
I can't see all of it or how it's welded so didn't take any measurements.
I'll take another look --- might be able sketch something useful.

In the meantime, if it helps, here's a couple three photos, along with a 2-page fabrication drawing of the rotted floor I replaced (and you're still welcome to have, for postage).

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Sat Mar 29, 2025 9:19 am

Kyle,
Check your PM mailbox.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 10:11 am

Crickets from Kyle.
Looks like he changed his mind about wanting my carcass panel.

Available for postage if anybody else wants it.

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 12:21 pm

Ron, that's a great drawing! It wouldn't be hard to make that panel other than the raised bead lines (I don't have a bead roller).

Thanks for sharing!

Mike B

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 12:37 pm

Thanks Mike, glad to do it.
I'm guessing Kyle thought the same thing and so decided he didn't need my scrap panel as a model.
Would've thought he'd let me know that.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 4:13 pm

You can cut out a pattern for the beads from hardwood, and hand form with the sheet laying on top. Think about tracing a pattern with a sheet of paper on top, brushing lightly with a pencil.

Using a ball peen you can get the outside edges of the depressed area delineated. Then continue to work the depressed area little at a time until you get what you want.

It’s not factory but it can look pretty decent.