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The body of my M38A1, is tilted. The driver side is lower than the other side. Aesthetically it bothers me a lot. Same at the back. The frame when measured on a flat garage floor sits more or less the same only a couple of millimeters or fraction of in. is the difference. But measured at the body, the side of fenders are off by almost two inches. The bottom of grill to frame rails have also different distances. Fuel load does not make much of a difference. The spring leafs are not broken and it drives straight. The body under the Jeep where it is bolted to the frame and there are some rubber strap spacers also lower on the driver's side. Number of spacers same on both sides. What are the measurements or thickness of these spacers? Is it possible to change them without lifting off the whole body? There are some brackets on the frame wich are not the same on both sides, but they look factory installation. I have some mil. manuals, but they do not say anything about this problem.

Hey,

That is a common problem. Usually it is the springs are weakened and need to be re-arched. Spring shops are easy to find and many do the re-arching.

If your body pads/ spacers have shrunk, replacing those can be done, but may require at least partially removing the tub.

For an M38 what is the correct body tub spacing on the frame? Advice/recommendations? Thanks!

TM 9-1804B Power Train, Body and Frame for the M38 July 1952 printing

Page 176 has a diagram of the frame with measurement points and page 177 describes what your measurements should be.

The ORD 9 also describes the dimensions of the body tub to frame rubber pads with the thickness included.

The M38A1 has corresponding manuals, I just don't know the numbers off hand. I am sure someone here can help us.

My scanner went out and I haven't bought a new one yet, so I don't have a photo.

The manuals are easily obtained from the MV vendors or ebay.

I hope that helps.

Thanks for the info Ryan, I have checked my manuals, I have only four (TM9-8014C3, TM9-8015-1, TM9-8015-2, TM8015-2-C1), the manual mentioned something about body spacers, but nothing about tub distance from frame, nothing specific about thickness or number of spacers. The figure I think it was #26 is not in the manual. How many manuals do I need to cover the M38A1? I have a customer's military CJ-5 (M606A1?) in my shop (body is not tilted) and it has round single rubber pads at each mounting point. My M38A1 has for rectangular rubber straps at each point. Is this correct?

The necessary manuals for the M38A1 are:

TM 9-804A Early Operator's Manual
TM 9-8014 Late Operator's Manual (Can be used for all M38A1/M170)
TM 9-8015-1 (and it's changes) M38A1 engine and clutch Manual
TM 9-8015-2 (and it's changes) M38A1 Body and Running Gear Manual
ORD 9 SNL G-758 M38A1 service parts manual.

Since the Army used a speicalization manual system you will also need the following to service specufuc components of the M38A1:

TM 9-1825B Nov 52 AutoLite electrical components.
TM 9-8627 June 53 Delco electrical components
TM 9-1826A Dec 52 Carter Carbs (must use seperate YS950S spec sheet and Ord 9 parts list.)
TM 9-1828A Dec 52 Fuel Pumps

The applicable portions of these specialized manuals are loaded in the files section of our old Yahoo Groups and this web site's download section for your free use.

(Ryan and I know it's a big PITA to join all four Yahoo groups so you can have FREE access to these manuals and files but we have lives too and when we finally get around to moving them here folks will just have to burn up the 2 or 3 minutes of their time it will take to join the Yahoo groups.)



Nice image Eh? I found all the above data in the ORD 9 and the TM 9-8015-2.

mentioned something about body spacers, but nothing about tub distance from frame, nothing specific about thickness or number of spacers.

You can find the rest of these illustrations on my personal photo site:
http://m38a1tubmounts.mypicgallery.com/

The only dimensions given for spacers or tub distance from the frame is the spacer's thickness in the ORD 9. The set of spacers listed are the standard for a jig built M38A1 tub and frame. You must determine the final thicknesses you wish to use to make all the body panels fit the frame and each other correctly. You set the tub on the frame with all the spacer's installed per the manual. Then you temporarily install the fenders, grill and hood. If they align perfectly you are done with the spacers. If not you must determine where and what thickness spacers you will need to make the body fit well.

Hi Wes,
I can not buy you a beer, because you are too far, if I"ll send you one it will be spilled before you get it. So I can only offer you at this time, a big Thank You. Looking at your diagrams and pictures I think I know what the problem is. Today is too late to do anything about it, it is almost midnight here, but now I am not worried about my tilted(crooked) Jeep anymore.
Thanks again,
Zoli
1960 M38A1
MD19963

Zoli,
It was my pleasure to help.

Three and a half months later, yesterday I did the body to frame mounts. Removed the bolts on one side at a time, lifted the body with a floorjack just enough to remove the rubber spacers. Refitted them according to the diagram supplied by Wes. Now that annoying tilt is gone. It is nice to have a jeep wich does not looks like it was set up to run on a NASCAR oval.