Stowing top bows on a 1955 M38A1

cabinfever · Post by **cabinfever** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:37 am

I am a bit confused on the proper way of stowing the top bows on my 1955 A1. The photos below show the brackets for attaching the bows (forgive the gratuitous pictures of the grandkids). The front bracket in bent outward and has a hooked lip. The rear bracket has a slot which I assume a strap goes through. I guess my questions are:
1. Are the bows suppose to fit inside or outside of the brackets?
2. How exactly is the front bracket used?

Does anyone have a photo showing stowage of the bows on a '55 or newer A1? I do know that the earlier A1's used a different set of brackets.

Thanks

Post by **wesk** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:49 am

That's the late style bracket and the flat portion of the bow snaps under the lip on the outside. The bows lay in the same place as they do with the old style bracket but you have no way to fasten the "T" bolt to the bracket.

GIJOE290 · Post by **GIJOE290** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:05 pm

Cute kids & nice looking A1.

cabinfever · Post by **cabinfever** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:40 am

Couple more questions:
1. Will the footman loops on my tub edge cause a problem with stowing the top bow?

2. Does the stowage strap simply go through the slot in the rear bracket, around the top bow pipes, and then snugged tight?

Thanks

Post by **wesk** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:25 am

The three lower loops in the photo are added by the field installed side curtain kit. They do not create any serious issues but eventually in the field they were relocated to the outboard sides.

Bow stowage usually occurs when the entire top is stowed on the jeep. The foldable doors and the canvas panels were split evenly and strapped to the top of each wheel house. The strapping at the rear usually included the tie down of the back of the bows. Doorway rodding was stowed on the wheel houses with the canvas.

Below is the M38 but the top is stowed the same on both:

cabinfever · Post by **cabinfever** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:42 am

Wes, thank you for the explanation. In the photo, it appears that the rear bracket is not being used to secure the top bows. Is this the case or are these old eyes getting bad?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:09 am

It's your eyes. There are two single short straps , one on each side, through the two rear brackets and once around the top tubes. The 4 long straps secure the canvas parts.

Look at the larger of that photo at:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _photo.php

The driver's side is clearly seen but the passenger side just barely shows the silhouette of the edges of the short strap.

cabinfever · Post by **cabinfever** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:36 am

I was actually referring to the rear bracket in the photo by Luciano. But, I do see the short strap in the manual drawing you provided. So, thank you again, I will give it a try.

I have a feeling, however, that I will be swapping out my "new style" front bracket for the "old style" thumb screw type bracket.