willysmjeeps.com

on my '51 that bracket is mounted to the right hand steering column clamp bolt.

keats wrote: Maybe time for other m38 owners to let us know whats on their jeep, but this request doesn't always get results.

No hole in my orig guard 01-52 M38.

kenperkins: does your gauge panel guard have that hole in it??

thanks rickg.

keats wrote:kenperkins: does your gauge panel guard have that hole in it??

No, it does not

This topic is much to interesting and also important to any M38-M38A1-M37 owner as most of us have a #85 live wire hanging behind the dash and some taped off. Considering this wire can cause a lot of sparks if its every grounded, and at the other extreme cause a major fire and destroy the vehicle, we need some resolution to what Willys did originally to prevent this from happening.

So far it seems only one vehicle owner reports having this circuit closure connector mounted to his steering column bracket. After checking, I find that the original bracket has a hole for a 1/4 inch bolt, to small to fit over the bolts on the steering column bracket.

There is no part number for a "false connector sleeve" and it would be very odd to have such an important part that could literally cripple or destroy the vehicle if replaced with a regular connector not to have one to distinguish it.

Three owners have reported to me that their gauge panel shield does not have a hole in it for a sheet metal screw to hold this circuit closure connector bracket.

I talked briefly with BCA about his post and he stated he had original kits of the circuit closure connectors and they include a regular "connector sleeve". He also stated they had a bullet terminal in the connector.

I hope he can add some photos at some point, but to me this topic just gets more interesting as it moves on.

Perhaps these connector were never used or not on all M-38's etc???

Anyone have this connector besides the poster above?

Anyone have a screw hole in the gauge panel shield under the dash?

It would be a PITA to check out but I wonder what I did years ago w/#85. It was a repop harness, vendor source unsure..

Hey Rick!
Just pretend you're Jim Lovell in Apollo 13!
Lay on your back with your feet in the air and
scooch up and peer under the dash like you're
looking for a bad circuit breaker!

Lol!

This one does not have the extra hole.


This aftermarket repop does not have the extra hole.


This is Hillbilly's tub. The shield has 4 screw holes in it.

About the switch:

We have two primary M38 parts manuals. The first one is ORD 9 SNL G-740 dated Nov 1951. The second is ORD 9 SNL G-740 dated Sep 1955. The latest ORD 8 SNL G-740 is dated June 1956.
All 3 list only one ignition switch ORD STK # G742-7760409, ORD PN 7760409, WO PN 800451, DR PN 1997856 & FSN 5930-776-0409 or NSN 5930-00-776-0409.

The same goes for the ORD 9 SNL G-758 dated Sep 1956 and ORD 7 SNL G-758 M38A1 parts manual. The same switch is the only one shown.

The M38 TM 9-804 dated Sep 1950 & TM 9-8012 Dated Jan 1956 & TM 9-804A Dated Jul 1952 M38A1 Operator's Manual & TM 9-8014 Dated Apr 1955 all show this same 4 wire switch.

Lacking any official evidence that any other switch was factory installed we can assume that the need existed on all years of production of the M38 & M38A1 to secure the # 85 wire.

RICKG wrote:It would be a PITA to check out but I wonder what I did years ago w/#85. It was a repop harness, vendor source unsure..

Now I remember, I have the 4 pole Packard switch installed.

'Mkay,
Still wondering what you did with connector 85?

4x4M38 wrote:'Mkay,
Still wondering what you did with connector 85?

grrrr!!

Here is my simple solution to the issue: KISS

Yup.

That ought to do it.

I've seen rubber plugs in the trailer connector. I figured they
would use something similar. This will sure work.

several good ideas as to how to protect wire #85 from shorting out ie.: dummy sleeve,and dummy cap. but still the original question posted by BCA is how did the military do it originally, and were the circuit closure connectors used and how were they put together. Hopefully we can someday find out this info, and add to the M38 historical and restoration reference guide.