My M38A1 Build.

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 4:52 pm

I started A build thread over at steel soldiers but not allot of traffic over there. I was going to post over at G503 but everyone says to come over here so here I go. I bought a M38A1 last spring with out knowing what I was getting into. I just wanted a Military Jeep to work with. I picked one up for 500 bucks form a guy here in Phoenix. When I bought it the guy told me he had it running and that it ran good and did not smoke. But he pulled the water pump out because it leaked. And never got around to replacing it. He also had the radiator pulled out and a few other things. He told me he had the parts at a buddies house and would drop them off if I bought it. Well I thought $&% there was not much rust and did not look to bad, so I bought it. He dropped the M38A1 off at my house without the parts he said. He told me he was going to get them and bring them over. After 100 emails and calls I never herd from the guy again and no parts. Oh well life moves on. So I got a water pump and radiator and rewired the thing so it would start. And what do you know it smoked like a #@$%@ chimney. I pulled the engine out and started to go through it. Found that the exhaust valve guides and valve stems where toasted. There was bad tapper in the cylinder walls and a crack in the block behind a exhaust valve seat. I sent the block off to the machine shop to get the work done. A few weeks ago I got the block and head back and that is about where I am at. As I go along I will take pictures and post up here with what I been doing. It is going to take a while I'm in college right now so not allot of funds. But here is my build let me know what you guys think. Any Info would be help full.

Aaron

The link to my build over at steel soldiers.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/m38-m38a1- ... m38a1.html
Aaron

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:23 pm

hey aaron!! sounds like you got a bad start there.. you're in a good
place now tho..wes and the rest of the guys here really know their stuff!!
do us all a favor and request a photo gallery on this site so we can
see what ya got!!

toojeeps · Post by **toojeeps** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:42 pm

Just so you know you are not alone, my son and I got into a similar situation. We paid more than $500.00 dollars too. After a complete engine rebuid, he has a really nice M38A1 that runs well and no rust.

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:06 pm

I requested a photo gallery so I will post up pictures soon.

I am rebuilding the distributor right now, And I was wondering what Tech manual covers that. I am looking for the specs for the coil. Any info would be great.

Aaron

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:31 pm

Don't feel bad. After all the body work I had to do on mine I would gladly pay 500 for a decent tub.

You might consider hosting your images on photobucket or similar site so people can view the pictures without logging on.

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:12 pm

I just posted up some pics. My tub is not in to bad of shape. The bad spot is the rear of the tub where someone tried there hand at welding. And failed. And under the pass side door there is a hole but other than that no rust really. I got most of the engine back together tonight I am just waiting on a new head gasket and a new exhaust valve cover gasket.

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:21 pm

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:54 pm

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:55 pm

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... 1826#21826

Looking for some parts let me know what you guys got!

Still putting the engine back together More pics to come.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 2:56 am

Make sure you get the original steel fuel line that runs around the front of the block and toss that dangerous hose setup laying against the exhaust manifold.

maeserik · Post by **maeserik** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:09 am

indeed, a plastic fuelfilter just above the hot exhaustmanifold......

Erik

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:39 pm

Since that picture was taken I ordered a full fuel line kit from John at Midwest military. I did not feel like burning my Jeep down.. lol

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:42 pm

I am putting the head back on the engine today and I was reading different things about the head gasket. Some people are using a sealant on one side of the gasket. And others are not. I am using a Fel-pro gasket. PN 7543-sbx The TM does not say anything about sealant that I know of. Any quick help would be great!

Aaron

Post by **wesk** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:57 pm

The directions that come with the aftermarket head gaskets are the ones you follow. The original Willys gaskets got no extra sealant but some aftermarket gaskets require it. Felpro usually supplies a piece of paper in the package with the answer to your question. Same goes for the initial run-in and retorque. Some require it and some don't.

aaron92685 · Post by **aaron92685** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:27 pm

The only thing that was on the card is a part number and brand name.

EDIT** Found the answer here http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... ic&p=21531