willysmjeeps.com

I haven't posted on here in awhile. The main problem I had was with the speedometer, and as I was getting set to address that, the engine took a dump. This was after the second rebuild by the shop that the seller originally had do the engine. After all the problems with that shop, I called Army Jeep Parts and went with their guy. So, after a couple months, first having my buddy Chris pull the engine, then finally having it inspected, L&M engines got back to me with this:
Dan,

We have disassembled and inspected your engine.

The source of the loud noise was a connecting rod bearing failure. The one contributing factor in the failure was the rebuilder used a .020” US bearing on a .030” undersize crankshaft, so this engine should have had noise from the very beginning and if it was removed immediately it may have been salvaged.

The worn metal is throughout the engine and caused other parts excess wear.

There are some other worn parts that were not replaced on the rebuild and should have.



Without going through the formal estimate process, which I will soon, one could easily expect this remanufacture process to exceed $3500.

You should address this issue with the prev builder. If that is a true assesment, they should be held liable. Do you have a itemized parts list from the prev rebuild?

You can buy a jeep for that!

I didn't pay for the engine rebuild. I bought the Jeep, with one of the selling points being that the engine was rebuilt. Everything ended up being so badly patched together on the jeep, I had to do a frame off rebuild. Then the engine took a dump. I called the seller, and he put me in contact with the rebuilder, who spent 7 months, and was arrogant and insulting. After 7 months, he said there was nothing wrong with the engine, and I had to pay him $500 for labor and new gaskets just to get my engine back. After the 2nd rebuild, the engine didn't knock for a few months. The new guy, who has completely disassembled it, says very little was done. .020” US bearings on a .030” undersize crankshaft were used, caused excessive wear on other parts, previous internal rust was not removed, engine leaks were not sealed, and so on. Everything else on the jeep has been rebuilt or replaced at this point. Everything. And I've added a new canvas top and doors, Ramsey PTO winch, original military jack, shovel, medical kit and ax, and much more. That makes it more than a $3,500 vehicle, if I wanted to sell it. I don't. I want it to work. I considered court, but it would be small claims court in a small town, and I am heavily tattooed

Kaiser Willys sells rebuilt engines with a 3yr warranty, free shipping $2750. Seems like Surplus City sells them too - point being, there are more affordable options than spending $3500 on rebuilding your engine again (if you were thinking about it), or you could buy a complete m38a1 with a running engine for less than that (to use the engine) and sell the rest of it for parts.

Just a thought.

I have had bad experiences with Kaiser Willys. Namely, they have sold me cheaper, flimsier civilian stuff made overseas and said it was for an M38A1. And that was if it was right at all. They sold me a windshield seal that was missing parts, a speedometer cable that was the civilian version, even though they said it was the military version, and so on. The jeep I bought supposedly had a rebuilt engine, so I have no confidence a new one would be any better. There are cheaper options perhaps, but as you can see I tend to have the worst luck, and I will actually save money in the long run if I do it right the first time. This place came highly recommended by the guys at Army Jeep Parts. I have been working on this vehicle almost 2 years now. i just want it run correctly.

One of the buying points for me with the Jeep was that the engine had just been rebuilt. I ended up, over two years, replacing everything else as it broke down. Everything. Even the rotted out frame.This is L&M's evaluation of the engine. The first rebuilder now wonted answer his phone.

That is a very nicely detailed invoice/quotation. The fact that it is broken down into such detailed steps, like "Wash rods for assembly", would give me confidence that they know what they are doing and how much it costs - a key to running a successful business.

Yeah, Army Jeep Parts highly recommended them to me, and I talked to the head guy Mike there several times.