Help Identify Fording kit

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:58 pm

I just got an NOS fording kit. I dont know if its M38 or A1. I took a picture of it without the tailpipe extension or the hose and precleaner.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:55 pm

The new OS kits came in a wood crate with G740 or G758 ink stamped on them. Was there no stamps on your crate?

Full size photos are at: http://m38a1fording.mypicgallery.com/

M38A1 Note the front tube support is curved about 1/3 of the way up.

M38A1

Full size photos are at: http://m38fordingkit.mypicgallery.com/

M38 Note the front tube support rod is almost straight up all the way.

M38 (G740) kit crate.

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:52 pm

It came in a sealed carboard box with very old plastic wrap around the entire box.
The pic, plus the hose which is not near long enough to make the curves for an M38a1 out of the hood, the tail pipe extension, and the pre cleaner, are all that was in the box, and the GOV packing slip lists all the parts that were in the box. Every thing is present.
I wonder because, I have an M38a1 tail extension, and this one is too short to make it past the spare before it goes verticle.
Also, the packing slip says American Motors on it, could it be M422?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:03 am

Yep that does look like an M422 kit. Do you have the data written on the package? Can you post a good readable photo of it?

Large photo at: http://img.mypicgallery.com/m422/kit.jpg

Do you mind if I copy your photo to my site as well?

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:12 am

Go ahead Wes. I can take a pic of the hose tailpipe and precleaner if you like, as well as the packing slip. The cardboard box and the plastic that it was factory sealed in did not have any labels. I bet that it fell off due to age. The give away I think is the American Motors on the packing slip.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:40 pm

Yes Richard, all those photos would be most welcomed.

Thanks

miljeep52 · Post by **miljeep52** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:37 pm

Who has the flex tubing, the one I have is an original (Iam the owner of the M38A1 in the pics) but its showing its age, still usable but Id like to get a new one Thanks for any help. Scott out

Post by **wesk** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:39 pm

The correct oil impregnated fabric hose is no longer produced. There are black hoses which look very close. Heater duct hose used in both automotive and aircraft applications. In the aircraft industry we call it Sceet for double wall and Scat for single wall (cheaper).

Just google flexible heater ducting or flexible air ducting. Pick a supplier close with the color and look you want.

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:47 pm

Wes, here is a photo of the rest of the stuff in the box. This side of the box also has the label dated 1967

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:55 pm

So, it seems now I have landed the fording tailpipe and bracket for an M38a1.
They are as you show in the pictures.
But, when I bolt the tail extension on, it leans forward real bad, and will in no way line up to go into the bracket if placed where shown on the demo M38a1 in this thread.
I also have an issue with the alignment of it with the spare.

My exhaust system is a repro from Midwest, I assume this is the reason for the miss alignment.
Any Ideas on how to solve it? I think it would be really nice to at least have the fording tail pipe hanging there by the bracket with wing nuts ready to ford a swollen stream, or street this time of year.

Anecdote.....back in 04 at the end of the year we had a bad rainy season in San Diego. I had just bought a repro fording kit for my m37 and tweeked it to fit. Well, the town flooded and I only had it installed for a couple days. To leave work I was driving down the road with water coming in my doors and a nice bow wave. The only draw back was changing all the fluids the following week.

Post by **wesk** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:33 pm

Rich,
Thanks for the photo.

Exhaust alignment is a little bit of magic and a lot of experience. You could have a mis-bent tube or you could have an accumulation of very small alignment errors on the way from the front to the rear that become very big issues at the rear. You do have a small amount of adjustment in the hanger positioning under the jeep.

To work with what you have then you have two ways to do it.

1-If you are working alone bolt the fording pipe to the rear of the jeep then heat the tail pipes on both sides of the muffler or one side as needed with a torch so you can bend the pipes into alignment.

2-If you have a helper then bolt the fording pipe to the tailpipe then one guy heats while the other guy bends until the pipe is positioned where you need it.

RichJohnson · Post by **RichJohnson** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 7:32 pm

Roger that!