willysmjeeps.com

.I have a 1951 M38 Jeep with a later OHV Jeep engine. It also has a snow plow welded to the front. The engine runs and the drivetrain appears to look like it will perform ok. The body is shot as well as the electical system. How difficult would it be to put an M38A1 or civilian CJ3 body on the M38 chassis? The main reason for the body change is that the M38 body will not allow me to use the standard M38 hood supplied with the body kit due to the OHV engine. I think that the M38A1 body kit would allow for normal hood closure.

How do the following items line up -
Frame to body mounting holes
wheel base
instrument panel for guage mounting
brake,clutch,shifing handles allignment with the body opening
M38 windshield frame vs. M38A1 windshield frame (will I need the M38A1 whindshield if I go to the M38A1 body)

Thanks,

Wally

You are digging a large and expensive hole to get yourself buried in.

The M38A1 is built on a 81" wheel base. The M38, CJ3A and CJ3B are built on an 80" wheel base. So you will have a misaligned tire with the wheel openings.

The CJ3A and M38 windshields will interchange. The CJ3B will allow the M38 windshield to mount but the top of the windshield will be about 2" too high for any stock tops. The M38A1 windshield uses an entirely different mounting system so you can forget mounting an M38 windshield on the M38A1.

When you say late overhead valve engine are you referring to the Willys/Kaiser F134 four or the AMC 232/259/4.0 inline six?

If you have the Willys/Kaiser F134 then all you need to make it fit under the M38 hood is a 1960 thru 1962 Ford Falcon Carb.

Wes,
Thanks for the input. I will stick with the M38 body. I do have a starting problem that I will address with a new question. I will also attempt to get the engine number so it will be easier to tell what I am working with.

Thanks,

Wally

Wes, I have done some research on using a Falcon carb to resolve my height issue on the M38 hood with the F134 engine. Can you tell me the following:

Holley or Carter Carb
4cyl engine or 6 cyl engine

Thanks for your input

Wally

1960's Ford Falcon 150 to 170 CI six's. Model 1904 Holley.