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Is the aircleaner and oil filter canaster the same on the M38 and M38A1? I have an opp;ortunity to salvage some parts off and M38A1 that has met it's death.

no on air cleaner, yes on oil filter cannister, however anything you can salvage from either model that you dont want someone else will for sure.

Actually the oil filter depends on what is installed on the A1. The M38 and very early (1952) M38A1 used the Cuno type filter. The remainder of the A1's used the Military Junior filter. The 6 pilot model M38's also used the Military Junior.

The air filter for the A1 was early about up to 1959 and late about 1959 on. See the two different air filters below.


M38 air cleaner


M38 & early M38A1 Cuno Oil Filter


M38A1 military junior oil filter.


Early M38A1 air cleaner


VCery late post 1959 M38A1 used the M151 style air cleaner and the military junior oil filter.

And to add one more to the list. My 1962 USMC model uses an M151 style air filter except that the top is perfectly flat without the circular rings pressed into the lid.

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe this flat style came from the Willys prototype M151 production.

Excellent photograph of the later M38A1 engine compartment by the way. Every time I work on my jeep I discover some new detail in how these later vehicles were assembled. They are really quite interesting.

Ford did all their own M151 prototype production from 1952 thru 1959. Ford licensed Willys to build some production M151's for them while Ford was trying to get up to speed on the government orders. The commonality of air cleaners was a Army requirement.

Hi Wes,

Here is the link to pictures of my 1962 USMC Willys M38A1's air cleaner. http://photobucket.com/1962USMCM38a1

I was thinking of a Willys XM151 jeep that I once saw as a Willys program source for these air cleaners or possibly that Ford and Willys shared the same sub-manufacturer for air cleaners like you said.

Either way a very rare M38A1 air cleaner style as only around 2000 of these jeeps were built.

Isn't that your photo of the green A1 in my post above?

That M151 air cleaner also found it's way on to later M170's.

I think all M38A1 and M170 production from 1960 on used that air cleaner.

For the A1's that would be about serials MD86000 thru MD95500. Also the late US Kaiser built M38A1CDN's also used that filter.

I thought that was my jeep too till I realized it has a regulator and generator plus a solenoid.

My air cleaner version is another one of those odd features about these jeeps.

I did a little more research on the M151 and found a listing for the very first ones with magnesium wheels as having a "flat top air cleaner" The magnesium wheeled M151 I have also seen described as a Willys XM151. So, maybe the information and dates have become a little mixed up over the years. Or maybe not, but it does seem that my air cleaner must have come from the very early magnesium wheeled M151 production regardless of the manufacturer.

I think this flat top air cleaner may have only been used on the 1962 USMC production with the 1964 production possibly using both the ringed and smooth flat top air cleaner. If you look in the pictures... the ringed air cleaner top appears to have a straight "output" while my air cleaner points down at the "output" with a distinct curve in the hose.

I have no doubts as to the authenticity of my jeep. Other than the obvious things that have been added or modified by the DEA it is nearly 100% original. Luckily, I know most of its history.

While I have read a variety of estimates ranging from 2000 to 4000 for production numbers for this particular model, I have only seen in real life or pictures about 10 of these jeeps in civilian possession. So, it is hard to get a complete idea as to what was actually used and when. However, several of these had the same smooth air cleaner top.

What does seem to be true is that very few still exist.

Just to complicate things further, my 1961 USMC M38A1 has the earlier version. It is vin 86606. This A1 has not been altered except possibly when in military service, but I cannot imagine they would have exchanged an air filter assembly.

At a USMC or Army depot overhaul with the tub, frame, engine and drivetrain seperated it is not hard to imaging anything getting swapped.

As an update to this thread. I met an Army mechanic (yep, a real one) who specializes in M151 restorations especially the early 1960's models. He wanted to take a look at my vehicle and did.

According to him the smooth top air cleaner is a very early M151 version only seen briefly in production. Even more rare is the 24 volt distributer as it too is a model variation only used for a short while. Same for the dash gauges and a bunch of other electrical stuff His opinion is that the vehicle is original. It is a combination of very early and rare M151 and M38A1 components. It is not a rebuild. It is a factory built vehicle.

The vehicle has a very well known history and never traveled probably more than 20 miles away from the base where it was used. That is the reason it still exists.

Our 62 M170 also has the smooth top air cleaner.