willysmjeeps.com

Hi,
I am a newbie awaiting delivery of a M38A1 and was wondering what people do about security. With an ignition switch and floor starter, is there a good way of isolating the electrical system with a keyed switch, and what is the best way and which switch should I use?
Thanks

The folks with the most experience with the M38 and M38A1's (The US Army) developed two very simple security methods. One was to remove the distributor rotor when left unattended and the other was to lock the steering wheel.

Any other way is simply to keep honest people honest. Some of those ways are to disable the ignition or electrical systems with a hidden switch.

Thanks Wes.
I will use a wheel lock for the moment, though I think I'll get a hidden switch as well, can't be too careful here in London.

The GI wheel lock was just a short piece of 1/4" chain welded to the bottom edge of the dash. With a pad lock installed it would just reach the rim of the steering wheel.

GERMAN SHEPARD works pretty good at my house...Eats a heck of alot but at least he doesnt complain...!! Take Care over there

When I stayed at a motel recently. I had the jeep parked in front of the room. I took the steering wheel off. It also has a hidden switch.

I took a bicycle cable lock (of course with the rubber insulation), wrap it around the bottom side of the steering column (the side BELOW the dash), and several times around the spokes of the steering wheel (to get rid of the slack so you cannot turn the wheel).

Honestly though, no one knows what a starter pedal is. And second, the biggest threat is little kids with chocolaty hands with parents that don't seem to care that their child is in your vehicle getting their crap all over it.

We take our M38 to the Fort Smith, Arkansas, Air Show, along
with a lot of vehicles from the Arkansas Traveler's MV club. We
park on the 'short' runway (never did enjoy landing on it!) and
we all try to keep an eye on each other's vehicles. On ours, we
disconnect the battery lead from the post, which has a wing nut
arrangement, chock the wheels fore and aft, and put a "caution"
tape across the door wells. They'll take the tape off. I had 8
kids in it at one time last month! The chocks are useful because
some idiot moved my Hi-Lo lever to neutral this time. I was
really concerned when we started it up and it wouldn't go. I
even had one 'gentlemen' raise the passenger seat and start
going thorough the tool box! He said he was 'just curious' when
approached. So, they'll do anything. Manners aren't taught very
much anymore. All in all, however, it was fun and educational
for a large number of people. You should have seen the National
Guard armored howitzer!! Kids all over it, under it, in it, and so
on. It took some of the load off of us.

Jim in Darkest Arkansas

I'm interested in battery cable cut-outs for security. One concept I used on another antique was to replace the battery cable with one that has a removable key. Without the key to bridge the gap there is no juice to start the engine. I haven't looked closely at my M38 in a while but wanted to get some feedback on that idea as well.
Any other security ideas? Thanks!

Anything inserted in the primary battery circuit increases resistance and often corrodes and goes un-noticed until she suddenly won't start. Leave the electrical alone and either install a brake system pressure lock or a fuel line key.

OK. That sounds reasonable. I'll use the bicycle lock and locking bar method. I guess an alternative would be to enable the engine switch to be pulled off every time I left the vehicle for a while. Not many would know that that switch turns on the power. But a fuel line key is another interesting idea. Thanks.

The joy rider probably wouldn't recognize the switch but the real thief would.

All of these security methods are only to keep the honest people honest. A serious thief would simply have large bolt cutters, jumper wires, battery jumper cables and some hefty tools and probably a lift bed truck

yes, having been in the towing business (mostly legal stealing) i can attest that real classic car thiefs use a flat bed truck. I dont know any way one would prevent that eventuality.

When you are talking about fuel line key you mean the fuel tap before the fuel pump at the left front corner of engine bay? Because if you turn off the tap, let the engine use up fuel from float bowl, it wont run too long if at all. All of the M38A1s have this valve or tap?

Ok, I'll jump in too. My USMC A1 has two links of a chain welded on, one on the bottom of the dash and another on the shifter. When you park it in reverse, they are just the right spacing for a master lock. When I first saw it I thought it was a Bubba job until I saw one on epay with the same mod. So I'm wondering if this may have been a field mod by the USMC. I do like the idea of locking it in gear so it won't roll if someone tries to play with the shifter.