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Hi guys,

I was looking at images of seat springs for both the M38 and A1 and I see there were 2 types.....round coils and "S" shaped springs. The ORD 9 for the M38A1 only lists one type and describes them as "coil", but has no illustration of them. Other pics on the web show both types of springs labeled as both M38 and A1. What' the story.....did one type replace the other or were the "S" springs for the M38 and the coil springs for the A1?

Thanks,
Bob

I have heard the S type were early. I have nothing to confirm this though. Perhaps someone will have evidence on this subject.

~ Matthew

Hi Matthew,

Yeah, I've heard that too. What I really should have asked is what timeframe does "early" cover in relation to seat springs? Seems the terms "early" and "late" are used a lot in regards to the M38A1, but they each mean something different depending on what parts you are talking about. The instrument cluster comes in an "early" and "late" version........the accelerator pedal, seat springs, seat covers, fenders, battery box lid, grille, etc, etc, etc, all have "early" and "late" variants, but their "late" versions were introduced at different vehicle SN blocks. It would be nice if all the parts that changed did so at the same SN.....but that would just be too easy.

The ORD usually identifies when parts changed by SN, but only one seat spring is listed. I guess that could mean "late" in the case of seat springs was sometime after this particular version of the ORD I'm looking at was printed (ie, Sept 1956).

So said another way........anybody know what year or at which vehicle SN the "S" shaped seat springs changed to the heavier coil design??

thanks,
bob

And another way to look at it is the part in the book was used throughout production and the suspected later version was introduced after production ceased by either Willys or another Army specified supplier. Without the factory blue prints and production line notes the answer may never be found.

Yeah, good point Wes. The Army's part supply system must have been very complex........but apparently it worked!!

If anyone is looking for NOS, near NOS or junky rear seat cushions QTM just put up a whole bunch of them on eBay in both the early and late versions. I'd put a link in the For Sale section but just search M38A1 seat or M38 seat on eBay and they'll all pop up.

regards,
bob