Can you help me identify my 1964 USMC M38a1 hood number?

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 5:08 pm

OK, so I was able to uncover a hood number. The problem is - the first 2 numbers are not completely clear. Was there a certain configuration the USMC used on their hood numbers? I know it was 6 numbers, but were there any letters like on the M35a2s? Was there a certain range for hood numbers? Mine is a 12/64 model. I think it says 316784. The second number kindof looks like a 7, but if it was the same size as the other 7, the top would be overlapping the 3. Any thoughts?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 10:55 pm

You have it right. 316784. I have several USMC 1963/1964 M38A1's in the data base with USMC hood 3's. They do not progress without interuptions meaning the serial count will not equal the hood number count differences. This is because the Marine contracts were not delivered with a hood # per each serial # in order off the line.

The reference M38A1's with serials near yours and their hood numbers are:

7105 92980 - - - 311751 Oct 63
7105 93221 - - - 311907 Oct 63
7105 95314 - - - 316242 Nov 64
7105 95395 - - - 316361 Nov 64
7105 95889 - - - 316784 Dec 64 Yours

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:08 am

Thanks Wes,

Thanks for the additional info too - I love learning all I can about these Jeeps and I suppose that is part of the fun! My wife looked at the pics last night too - she agreed on 316784. Looks like she has her identity back! Now I guess I need to do some light sanding on the front fenders to check for a crest, but it looks like they sanded them even better than the hood. I have seen pictures of USMC crests on the cowl and rear quarters, whether that is original or not. Is there anywhere else that you have seen that I need to check? I know they didn't bling them up like the Army Jeeps.

There is also another 1964 on Willysmjeeps that is USMC 316418 - belongs to mdog in SC. I guess he didn't send in the info for your database. I sent him a PM asking about the build date but not the serial #. That reminds me - I haven't forgotten about the form, I'm just trying to complete as much of it as possible before submitting it.

DaveM38A1 · Post by **DaveM38A1** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:36 am

Matt,

The hood # from my dad's in Vietnam is 311761.

Here are some pics of the USMC markings on his Jeep:

Thanks,
Dave

Dave,
I made your photos appear by using the Image brackets instead of the url brackets and by linking directly to the image and not the page.

DaveM38A1 · Post by **DaveM38A1** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:43 am

Matt,
I have heard that some of the later M38A1's had the M151 style air cleaner.
Hugh Kennedy had one of these. What style air cleaner does yours have? I don't know if this was a field mod, or if some come from the factory with these air cleaners.

Thanks,

Dave

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:01 pm

Man, that's a CO's rig. Look at that shine!

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:27 pm

Hey Dave,

I actually still have those pics that you have me in Denton a few years back. I referenced them when I first got the Jeep.

The USMC contract Jeeps actually used 2 different air filter housings. The early one was the flat top m151 style and the later ones had the pressed top with rings in it. Mine has the latter style with the pressed rings. I would upload pics, but I'm at work and really can't do it on my phone. My blog has a pic of it though.

DaveM38A1 · Post by **DaveM38A1** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 4:16 pm

Cool, I'll check it out.

Thanks,

Dave

Post by **wesk** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 10:51 pm

The M151 type air cleaners were Kaiser installed from about 1962 and on. Same with the instrument cluster M151 style lamps.

DaveM38A1 · Post by **DaveM38A1** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 6:15 pm

Thanks, Wes, that's good to know. About the shine on that Jeep, my dad said his driver spent all his free time shining that Jeep. The order came down to replace it with an M151 and the driver (Gary Fox) asked to keep the M38A1. My dad wrote letters that this was a good Jeep and they should keep it, but no dice. It may still be in country. It will live again when I finish my project.
My dad was CO of first Hospital Company in DaNang. He was Col. Potter from MASH. When I was in high school and MASH came on my dad would leave the room. Guess it brought back too many memories. I've got all his pictures to display with the Jeep. I've heard they used to rub them down with diesel fuel. I will re-create the signs also.

Thanks,

Dave

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 6:53 pm

Dave, Shake Dad's hand for myself and others if he's still with us. Salute!

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 7:16 pm

DaveM38A1 wrote:Thanks, Wes, that's good to know. About the shine on that Jeep, my dad said his driver spent all his free time shining that Jeep. The order came down to replace it with an M151 and the driver (Gary Fox) asked to keep the M38A1. My dad wrote letters that this was a good Jeep and they should keep it, but no dice. It may still be in country. It will live again when I finish my project.
My dad was CO of first Hospital Company in DaNang. He was Col. Potter from MASH. When I was in high school and MASH came on my dad would leave the room. Guess it brought back too many memories. I've got all his pictures to display with the Jeep. I've heard they used to rub them down with diesel fuel.

Thanks,

Dave

WD40 works too - helps to hide the scratches

Post by **wesk** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 10:40 pm

It was common military practice to make the flat & semi-gloss finished jeeps shine by rubbing them down with various petroleum products for parades and etc. In the case of Dave's dad's jeep since he was company CO it was common for those jeeps to get a full gloss paint job.

DaveM38A1 · Post by **DaveM38A1** » Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:14 pm

That is such good information. I have lots of pictures from 1st Hospital Company along with his command records. Took him 40 years to finally go through his slides and I put them all on CD. My dad is a retired physician, still in good shape for 87 years old. Took him to Welcome home celebration in Fayetteville for Vietnam Vets. We enjoyed that and he fielded questions about wait times and directing patients to the different field hospitals based on number of patients waiting and acuity.

Thanks,
Dave