Finally started working on my M38

[wesk]

Does the contact between the mounting bracket and back of the panel make a good ground or just the back of the gauge bezel to front of panel?

As long as the two surfaces touching each other are bare metal and the correct tension is maintained between them you can reasonably expect a good ground. I would not overlook ensuring the receptacle portion of the fastener is paint & corrosion free as well as the stud portion along with the edge of the four fastener holes.

[ocwd]

Awesome, thank you.

[ocwd]

So I replaced the fuel gauge and sender and it looks pretty good. But, the fuel gauge reads half full when the tank is over ¾ full. Is that typical for these gauges?

[wesk]

What are the part numbers of your new fuel gauge and sender?

[ocwd]

The gauge is repro 8376374 from Midwest Military and the sender is NOS 6680-656-5283.

[wesk]

Is there a manufacturer's part number or any other number on your sender besides the FSN 6680-656-5283?

[ocwd]

How about DSA400-71-M-P046?

[wesk]

That's the Defense Supply Agency contract number:

DSA Number
DSA stamped items use a more complex dating system for items from early Vietnam to the end of the Vietnam War.
• 1962 thru 1964 – Prefix of DSA-1, Suffix of E6Y (Y=Year)
• 1965 – Prefix of DSA-1, No Dating Suffix
• 1966 – Prefix of DSA-100, No Dating Suffix
• 1967 thru 1977 Prefix of DSA-100, Dating Suffix of YYM (YY=Year, M=Month)


On this tag the contact number would be found above the manufacturer. In this case the contract number is "DSA 100-71-C-0181" with "71" being the year of manufacture. The remaining numbers & letters do not relate to the date.

That does tell us the contract was let in 1971 for that part.

You can't see any trace of a manufacturer's part number like "AC# 1517756" or " DP# GG9096" or " SW# 507F"?

[ocwd]

The sender has 1200923-2 stamped on top.

[wesk]

Hello

8376374 is an early M38A1 gauge and late M38 gauge.

6680-656-5283, 1200923-2 Is not shown in any of the M38, M38A1, or M170, Parts manuals!

[ocwd]

Thanks Wes,

Both came from MWM. I guess I will have to call them and ask about it.