willysmjeeps.com

what is the correct way to tie down the bows to the body in the down position with the straps I've seen 3 different ways buzz

It seems to me to be only one way to do it. There is a loop sewed into the strap for the footman loop. The end of the strap goes between the tub and top bows, through the bracket on the side of the tub, over the top of the bows and through the buckle.
Kendall

I have several hundred detailed technical photos in my album that will answer about 85% of the questions asked here.

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php



And here's the answer to the next question: How to tie down the top?



And how to thread a strap into a new buckle:

tried to do a search, but came up empty, never have seen it done that way, the correct way thx buzz

I've had problems with the search engine coming up empty as well.

Wes, just looking at those overhead photos. The seat covers to be exact.
I have not seen any repros or aftermarket covers that look like those.

Note what appears to be reinforcements sewn onto the sides and corners.

Brian

That is piping and was used to reinforce or accentuate the corners. It can be found across a piece of fabric or along an adjoining edge of two pieces of fabric.

If you browse the many illustrations in the M38 manuals that show parts of the seats you will see this in just about all of them.

My guess is that since the Army wasn't fond of stocking expensive replacement parts that could be easily fabricated locally at the using units that the majority of these piping edged covers vanished as they were repaired and replaced in the field. Thus by the time aftermarket covers came around the examples used for patterns of course are what we see today.

Didn't they go from canvas to vinyl later on. Iv'e seen it both ways in the manuals buzz

You'll find several different arguments. The only official verbage mentioning a switch to vinyl was the 1952 announcement of the new jeep called a M38A1 with new style vinyl covered seats.