willysmjeeps.com

On a 1955 M-38A1, when the body is "properly" mounted on the frame, are the bottoms of the front fenders supposed to sit directly on the frame...or is there suppose to be a space there? From some of the pictures I have looked at it looks like the bottom sheetmetal of the fender follows the curve of the frame but is "up" abount an inch. Mine sit right down on the frame and, while they "fit" the curve well and line up with the bottom edge of the tub, I think my whole body is down from where it should be. So if I lift the body back up the fenders will have to be able to go up as well...or sumptin is seriuosly amiss.......right?

Jim

Do your fenders have the brace legs that bolt to the frame rails? If your body is sitting low a 1/2" or more then that's where the late fenders will end up. The early fenders with the braces tend to settle at the back with the tub and angle up towards the front.

I posted some pictures at this url. I don't know if this is what you mean by bracket but there is something under the fender.....I just don't see how it could have been tied to the frame.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22032113@N ... 6764/ Jim

....so I'll try again. Here are some pictures of my fenders. I don't know if this is the bracket you are referring to or not.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22032113@N ... 507766764/

Jim

In this photo of your tub hat channels your tub is in very rough condition and it is squatting too low to the frame.


Your flicker album doesn't support URL listing to another site. You need to Un- restrict downloading.

In this photo your fender should have had that hat channel continue down the side of the frame and cover those two bolt holes and it would have been secured there. I can't tell for sure which fender you have without a side view of the front end.







All this brings up another issue. You frame is clearly early M38A1 1952 thru October 1953. Your say your tub is a 1955 which means your tub has been placed on the early frame by someone.

The flickr album is set to public so I'm not sure why that didn't work but I think you are very much correct in your diagnosis of my problem. I realize this isn't much info to work with but do you think the tub is salvagable with new floor boards and gas tank well and new hat channels? And believe me.....I won't hold you to your answer....I'd just like to hear your opinion. Regarding the year......when I bought the jeep I was told it was a '55......but I can find no "proof" to substantiate the seller's claim. The SN plate is gone and as you have mentioned in the past there have been a lot of civi mods to this jeep.....so I am just considering it a Johnny Cash Lincoln and use the "55 monicur as a starting point. The one thing I am learning about this old jeep......if one isn't careful.....one can become obsessed with trying to fix things......and it doesn't really seem to matter whether its economically practical or not! Thanks for your comments and help....it is sincerely appreciated.

Jim

Here's a pic of my fender. So it looks like I have an earlier version frame and a later style body.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22032113@N ... 507766764/

Jim