willysmjeeps.com

Subject: Rear Cross Member: M38
Status: Reproduction
Sold By: Midwest Military, Peter DeBella, Army Jeep Parts

Review
Shape/ Appearance:
very clean lines and correct angles

Fit to jeep:
The mounting holes are 1/2 inch diameter instead of 3/8 inch and the holes do not line up, they are close, but still require most to be redrilled. I understand the hole locations are hard to fit every jeep frame after they have been around for over 50 years, but the holes don't line up with others an inch away on the same frame rail.
The holes for the bumperettes and the other accessories are acceptable.

Summary:
I would say it is a good product. The holes to mount it to the frame need to be the correct 3/8 inch and closer to the proper location. Price was OK.

NOTE: There was an older version made by MD Juan that may still be around. That cross member had the wrong angles cut on the ends and was missing a few holes as well as the inside reinforcement piece. Ask which cross member they are selling before you buy.

Rating: 8 (1- 10: 10 is the highest)

Our pattern was taken from one that was removed from an M38 frame. The hole sizes and locations are within .002". If someone has one that they can authenticate as truly original past what was used as the original pattern, I will change the design. This part was quality checked by two other individuals prior to production and were found to be spot on.
John

John,

Thanks for the comments. I put one on my jeep and helped a friend put one on his and we both had the same problems with the 1/2 inch holes that mount to the frame that should be 3/8 inch and the holes being offset.

The overall shape and dimensions are great and I feel it is an overall good product.

I bought one from MWM and look forward to installing it on my M606. Thanks for the heads up about the holes. It is truly overgauged and alot beefier than my original. I wish it wouldn't have been spot welded together before I could primer it, but I'll work around that.

Ryan, et al:
Perhaps you could make a paper template of the cross member and send it to Midwest Military to verify their accuracy? Might help for others down the road. Just a thought.
Still "enjoying" Fort McCoy, WI - I've been laid up for the better part of the last week and a half and for the next 5 days with post-appendicitis issues! Sheesh!

Hey,

I hope you get back on your feet soon. I went through Camp Atterbury in the winter before my last deployment.

I like the cold more than hot weather.

I talked to John over the phone some about the rear cross member. I think the main reason for the larger holes is to give more room for variance in the frame. Frames can get a little tweaked over the years sometimes.

I too wish they would drill the attach holes for the frame 3/8" instead of 1/2"

I wondered why it came with 3/8" rivets and all frame attach holes are drilled 1/2". Now it looks like I'll have to send several more hours welding up the holes and redrilling new 3/8 holes for the frame. It's a good product that could be tweeked just abit to be a easy install.

FYI- it is easier for the Customer to be able to drill the holes larger to 1/2" if his frame needs it, than to weld/fill the 1/2" holes, then backdrill the modified crossmember.

Upon a closer inspection of mounting holes in my frame they are 7/16" not the 3/8" that my eyeball told me. So I'll be buying some 7/16" rivets to fill the holes instead of the 3/8 that came with the crossmember.

Overall the bumper is a quality replacement for the price. I'm just going to manup and smash some rivets.

I used the rivets supplied with the crossmember.

Here's links to see how mine turned out;
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... rossmember

http://z4.invisionfree.com/CJ3B_Bulleti ... topic=1060