willysmjeeps.com

I know there has been a lot on this on the site but a quick question I want to confirm my info on.
I'm going to paint USA on my hood on both sides. I'm not doing registration numbers - have no idea what they might be since I don't have the original data plates.

Question:
USA hood letters - 2 inches? 3? Or are they smaller or larger?
I took a look at AR 850-5 - the links that Wes provided a while back and it looks like WWII and maybe early Korean War they were 2" tall block letters. Centered on the hood.

Just want to confirm before I paint!
-Josh

What year is your Jeep? Early and factory was 2" - later was 3". I painted mine in 2", but now wish I would've gone with 3. Take a look at my album on the first page of members albums.

Have you thought about using the current data plate serial numbers for your hood #s? You didn't have the body tag either? How about the engine serial #? I, personally, would try to put a number on the hood if you have something to link it to.

Thanks for the info.
It's a 1952 but I like the WWII sizing. Right now I have nothing on there and I think of my jeep more as a combat field vehicle than a staged or garrison jeep.
But no, no numbers whatsoever. Nothing on the body, the dash number is all wrong, and nothing on the engine block.
But that's OK as I'm going with a field combat vehicle appearance.

Understood - sounds like you have a good plan going on.

why,

Have you checked for the frame number just behind front bumper on the driver's side. I've got a number there but a previous owner welded a bumper reinforcement right over them, so I can only see 2 or 3 numbers. Also, the guy I bought my jeep from said he didn't know what the real hood numbers were either........but he looked at an online "registry" and found jeeps that bracketed his by SN.....so he put on a hood number in that bracket. I haven't found said registry yet, but I'm sure someone on here knows where it is. Just mentioning this in case you find a frame number and want to know more history. I also think Rick Larsen on his stencil website describes all the fonts and sizes of hood letters and numbers and when they were applied.

regards,
bob

The M38a1 didn't come from the factory with any stamped "serial numbers" on the frame or a frame tag like the earlier Jeeps. The only serial number or "VIN" you will find would be on the dash data plate or the body tag behind the passenger seat.

If it is an actual serial number, it could have been added by a military mechanic or possibly the DMV when it was tagged? I have seen part numbers stamped on different parts - could this be a possibility? I know the M100 trailer drawbar part number was stamped up front and a lot of folks were thinking that was the serial number of the trailer.

The only M38a1 "registry" available out there is right here on Willys M Jeeps in the downloads section.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lzhlrpf9xgxy0 ... A1SNDB.pdf .

Here is the latest one https://www.dropbox.com/s/lzhlrpf9xgxy0 ... 3.pdf?dl=0

When you joined the list, Wes sent you a form to fill out and return with the information about your Jeep. Hopefully everyone is completing and returning this form, because this is the only reference we have to go by in restoring these Jeeps. Wes can possibly give you a little more info, as the registry isn't updated frequently.

All good info. I went through all this with Wes in 2008 when I got the jeep and again in 2010-11 when I was home from Iraq.
I could make a viable number up but it's just not that important to me. In Iraq, or even home-station today. we only use bumper numbers outside. There's a SN stamped on a data plate riveted to our HMMVs but we don't have a lot visible.
That's my thinking for this. If I was going to show it or be more accurate I would definitely follow everyone's recommendations.
Thanks again!

it is strongly suggested not to try picking a true hood number from the range but to use the correct prefix followed by your serial number, or if you only have an issued vin then some portion of that so it will be clear later that it is not the original and won't confuse the data bases.

Damon ,
All reasons why I have never painted a vehicle number on. I'll leave it blank. If I do create one it'll probably be a mix of the proper prefix and my service entry date.