willysmjeeps.com

I have an unrestored '52A1, that I checked, with well worn military replacement (1960's?) olive drab canvas back and cushion and the seat back looks pretty much like what you got. Short on the sides. I hope that helps.

In all liklihood that worn relic was very shrunk.

Checked my back seat - older cushions and most likely repop but the cushion fits to just the edge of the sheet metal. The back also has the hole in the sheet metal at the edge - I'm betting its for drainage if the seatback is folded forward.

NICE! I like the 1919a4 - trying to decide if I want to mount mine or not.

I don't really like the way my seat back fits, but she's on there now. Maybe one day, if it bugs me enough, I'll order a replacement from another dealer. I was planning on ordering the top from them also. Since they didn't offer to fix the seat problem or refund my money, I'm having second thoughts.

What radio set have you got there (another thing I'm undecided about)?

The radio is a VRC-10 which is a RT-68 (infantry band) radio with a PP-112 power supply, MT-299 mount plus antenna, speaker, hand mic. It works! Related radios are the RT-66 and RT-67, armor and artillery bands. See http://www.hypertools.com/armyradios.html Very heavy radio at about 75 lbs and very robust and rugged. In the pic its mounted on the left fender - which would indicate a jeep was to have a driver plus radio operator (in the passenger seat or back seat). I've since moved it to the right fender since the springs were starting to sag on the left! The jeep now rides level - fixed that problem! Radios mounted on the right fender were to be operated by the driver. The M38A1 is equipped with frame mounting lugs for the gun mount so it is an easy drill and bolt operation. I don't know if radio jeeps were fitted with machine guns - probably not - but this is a "fun" demo/parade jeep so its not authentic.

Great info on the radios - saved me a little research there! I always thought I would like to have one in the 'a1 - just because it looks cool. I built my 'semi' 1919a4 about 6 yrs ago without even thinking about putting it in the Jeep, but as I get closer to finishing, I'm thinking more and more about it. Then I could strap the tripod down to the wheelwell for ground use.

There's nothing like filling the tub w/brass!

I can imagine! And all the brass and links going under the gas tank - to never be seen again

You'll see them again when one gets wedged under there tight enough to rub a hole in the tank.

In the real world less than 10 % of the 120,000 M38A1 and 62,000 M38's ever mounted a machine gun.

The VRC10 series radio installations only have signal corp drawings for left side mounting. Right side mounting was not common and was a unit CO decision and a local modification.

Looks like, with a machine gun mount, there would have been some kind of seal to fit around the tank to keep things from going under there. Well, for ALL of them, whether there was a gun or not. Just yesterday, my daughter was sitting in the back seat of mine and dropped a large washer - you know where it ended up!

Was there any count of radio jeeps (M38a1)? Mine had the holes for a driver side corner antenna mount before body work, but not the power cable bracket beside the passenger seat.

The canvas can't shrink that much there are steel springs inside.

The fact that you even brought up the seat fitment tells me that you won't be happy later on. Send it back, it's not going to stretch 3/4" on each side for a total of 1.5 inches. The bottom fits, the top doesn't period. You paid your money for something you wanted, not what they want to give you. If they are a good company, and it seems they are from what I've read, they will make it right.

You're probably right - I sent another email about it. I mentioned the fact that I still have to buy a top for this thing too - maybe that will inspire them to keep me happy and alter their pattern a little.

I'm not a pushy man, and can live with it. But I also don't often give people more than 2 chances to do what's right. The only problem here is that there are only a handful of manufacturers out there - I don't want to burn any bridges until I'm done!

What is the distance from seam to seam on the top back cushion?

I'll have to measure tomorrow. He offered to make me one to fit my frame if I sent the frame to him, or send the cushion back and he would alter it. It's not worth it to me. It's on there now - no biggie.