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Would the steel brake lines and steel fuel lines on the M38 be painted OD are were they unpainted? Also how about the clamps that hold the steel brake lines on the differential tube, painted or not?
Thanks,
Bill

I know for a fact that nos brake line clips are od painted as I have a few of those, As for the brake lines not sure, I prefer the unpainted cleanliness myself but thats just my opinion

Zane,
Thanks for your reply. Any one on the brake and fuel lines? I assume they were added after the axle was assembled and thus would be unpainted. I would think the fuels lines were unpainted as well, but with the older discussion about the frame color being black, and when the OD paint was applied to the frame, I would think that the brake lines might have been sprayed OD while on the frame.

I believe it is what ever you want. In the field I believe they painted over every thing. Rubber should not be painted. It causes the rubber to deteriorate faster, but I also believe that rubber was painted over in the field also. I also believe that lines and rubber were not painted over from the factory. It is an opinion thing. I like the contrast of unpainted rubber and steel brake lines on OD axles. I've heard it said in discussions that at the factory alot of stuff was assembled unpainted (bolts, clips lines etc) and after assembly a worker walked through the rows of finished jeeps with a portable spray rig painting anything shiney.

My M38 had not been restored before I got it and the frame and undercarriage were in original shape. I had already pulled out the old brake lines and I don't remember if they were painted. But the pic shows the new brake line (at bottom), original wiring harness (middle) and the original fuel line (at top). I've since replaced the old fuel line but I still have it on the parts shelf. It does seem to have been painted at one time. There is much rust and dirt but there is a thin coating of paint in places. Just from this observation I belive the lines were put in place with all the other hardware and then the whole assembly sprayed with O.D. You can see in the pic where the clutch cross shaft was attached to the frame - two black patches where the O.D. didn't reach.

Generally speaking the only way to reasonably confirm what was painted by the factory is to be able to find that part well hidden from spray gun access in the field. This will be inside boxed in areas of the frame, under plates and installed parts, under the dash and etc. We have very little published data on what was painted at the factory other than photos taken at the factory. The Factory Drawings and BOM's supply some help but that help is very little. So unless someone can give you a hard piece of written or dated original photographic evidence you have no reason to fear the Judge and should paint what you like.