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My M38, s/n MC11481 has a replacement/rebuilt engine from the Pueblo Ordnance depot, dated 1955. No serial and the block has been decked.

It has the ten bolt pattern bell housing mount with threaded bell housing drain hole. This would suggest it is a later engine that could have come in a unit with the later fording vent system.

Upon replacement of the original engine in 1955, would the Army have retained the early fording ventilation system and just ignored the changes
Bob has listed in the late system?

It seems a stretch that they would go so far as replacing all of the offending early ventilation fittings and lines and install new or takeoffs but I just don't know to what extent they would go. The system would have performed as originally delivered, other than the sealed bell housing, correct?

I'm trying to figure out what configuration the system would have had after the engine switch out.

Thanks!

At the end of Sep 1952 or the beginning of Oct 1952 the Army quit purchasing M38A1's with fording systems. I would assume the decision had been made that fording requirements weren't required anymore. Then it would stand to reason as jeeps were repaired after that date some consideration would have been given to retaining the fording system during maintenance. The Marines re-installed the system on all their M38A1's so one would assume a Marine A1 would have the system installed and functioning and one can assume at some point the Army abandoned the system.

Personally I would restore my M38 to the correct early or late system specified by serial in Bob W's article. It can only increase the resale value. Yes, I would also look for an engine serial before MC74420 for the same reason. If I could not fit the correct engine for any reason I would still use the correct vent system.

Hi Wes,
Thanks for the reply. It all makes perfect sense.

As I'm restoring to a daily driver/motor pool and the Army
replaced the engine themselves in 1955 I plan on retaining
this one. I will however install the original vent system except
I plan on installing the additional gaskets used with the ten
bolt bell housing.

Thanks,
Brian