willysmjeeps.com

OK, I've been cleaning up this M38A1. You guys asked about the length of the bumpers...

The front bumper was laying on the rear floorboard. It is 46" long, no crank hole, no rings on top. Bubba welded on some brackets for a towbar.

The rear bumper is 59" at the top and is angled inwards from top to bottom. There are pins near the outside edge, but the rings are missing.

It has the 2 drain holes & cover only on the drivers side - right in front of the gas tank strap bolt. The pass side floor looks to be original (no patch,) but rusty where the drain holes would be.

The body # on my MB is stamped into the drivers side gusset - below the firewall. Where would I find a body/chassis number on this A1?

Thanks,
49T&C

Willys built the M38 and M38A1 bodies in house. No ACM numbers on the toeboard gussets. No frame numbers either. This is why I am not always quick to believe any tub is original to any frame. One needs only to unscrew 8 # 8 screws to turn one M38A1 into another M38A1. 4 on the dash serial plate and 4 on the wheelhouse patent plate.

Thanks Wes,

I agree, I believe this A1's dataplates are on some other tub now. I'm just trying to narrow it done more. I don't think this body was ever separated from the frame. The condition above (scaly rust, layers of paint, etc.) match the conditon below (undercoating peeling off, grease stains from trans match on underside of tub, rust thru in toolbox floor, etc.) I believe the PO thought of this one as a donor for his other project. Removed headlight switch, both dataplates, gauge panel, carb, radiator, thermostat housing, batterybox cover, and grille hinges and that was all he needed. But that is also the only things neded to put this one right again - working to collect parts now.

Thanks,
49T&C

From the description of the rear bumper sounds like you have a USMC Jeep.

I think so as well. No one seems to know much about the "U. S. Marine Corps Plant Account" tag on it, but I will try to get it registered using that number. The more I looked at it the better it looked to me. Rather than parting it out, I'll let it stay inside until its turn.



49T&C