willysmjeeps.com

I have a 1962 USMC M38A1 that is missing the dash data plates. Before having a set made, I need some much needed info that is listed on the data plates.

Anyone that has an M38A1 close to serial number 87350 I would like to know

Are your data plates Aluminum?
Does it have Willys or Kaiser listed as the manufacture?
What is your contract number?

There seem to be several contracts and changes at this time period. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!!

Hello Harold,

I will keep looking for some samples of the dash serial plate. Here are the two type Patent plates used on the 1960's USMC contracts.

I have the patent plate behind the seat--What I do not have are--all the plates on the dash. I am trying to determine if the data plates are aluminum by this time and what the contract number is for my serial number 87350. I now know that Willys was the listed manufacture well past my serial number and may be the reason why the contract numbers changed so suddenly.

Hi Harold:

I probably have the information your seeking about your '62 USMC M38A1. I have a '62 USMC M38A1 jeep too. Our jeeps were very likely on the assembly line at the same time considering how few were built.

The data plates are aluminum alloy (not sure which alloy probably 3003) and for a '62 would be Willys. The data plates have no texture except where they have been stamped. The '64 contract vehicles I believe are the Kaiser models. As far as I know there were only two contracts...'62 and in '64. Although as more is learned about this era there may be other contracts that come to light. Another post on here lists a Navy M38A1 from this time. I had never heard of Navy M38A1 contract vehicles from the 1960's... but there it is... so they did exist. Also, there are Air Force M38A1'S out there but I do not have any info on them. But like many things that have been forgotten over time they waiting to be rediscovered.

The data plates are photo etched (black on silver aluminum) not pressed brass like the previous M38A1 data plates.

The '62 model is different from the '64 model and has some parts that are shared with the early Willys M151. The most notable of which is the flat top air cleaner. It is the only M38A1 that used this style. The '64 model has pressed rings in the top like the later M151.

Check your differentials for Power-Loc locking differentials as these jeeps were originally fitted with them. Wes has the proper oil listed on here for them which is still made.

These jeeps use a mixture of Packard and Douglas connectors. There are many unique details to these jeeps that are different from the earlier and later M38A1 jeeps. They are pretty rare only about 2000 where built in '62 and another 2000 in '64. Almost all went to Vietnam and stayed there from what I have been told. In 10 years I have only come across about a dozen and they where really beat up. Mine is unrestored and almost 100% original. It is in great overall shape. Got lucky in finding it!

As soon as I get a chance I will get the contract information for you.

Be sure to share this data with the web site and post detailed photos in your albums.

Bullrun I only see the M38 in your photo album
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Hi Wes: Right now the jeep is in storage. As soon as I get a chance and a nice bright day for photography I will get some pictures. My '62 was still being serviced by a USMC motor pool until about 2005 when it finally was sold off as surplus. I am the second private owner and have owned it for awhile now as the first owner only had it about a year.

I always say it is the most capable factory Willys jeep ever built. From what I have read they were custom built for the Marines to their specifications with some parts from the Willys M151 program thrown in, probably to reduce costs and speed delivery. No jeep built before or since has had the same level of go anywhere capability of these jeeps.

I agree they were the best of their time but as the CJ5 matured the average 66 to 71 CJ5 with the dauntless V6, 4 spd, and factory posi's both ends clearly outperforms any stock M38A1.

With the strong dislike of the M151 that the Corp had I am surpised that they never pushed Willys/Kaiser for the V-6 option in 65.

I will have to agree on that! A friend still drives his '67 CJ 5 as a daily driver and it is great. The only caveat that the M38A1 has is the waterproof wiring and underwater driving capability.

Interesting observation about a V6 M38A1 USMC model...

I once came across a Chevrolet document on Ebay from their engineering department that was their version of the M151. Apparently it was a prototype vehicle that was never built in numbers except for engineering studies. It had solid axles, unibody construction and was sort of like an M151. It "looked" amazing as an off road vehicle. Maybe the Marines had a lot to choose from with the M422 / A1 still in service.

Oh yea, the Chevrolet document sold within minutes of being listed and I have never seen another one!

Your reply cleared up a lot! All I need now is a contract number and I will be ready to order my data plates. If you take pictures of your 62 A1, I would like to see a clear photo of the serial number plate for details of how they stamped the plate--fount, size, cross cannons ect.
Thanks!!

Here is the information I think you were looking for...

MFD. By Willys Motors, Inc. Toledo, Ohio

MFD. Model MD

MFD. Part # 657323

Contract Number DA-33-019-ORD-3897

ORD. Stock Number 2320-835-8319

ORD. SER. # (blank, nothing listed here)

Serial # 88xxx (hand stamped)

Date of Delivered 11-62 (hand stamped)

Inspected by "Crown" stamp (no initials, no cannons, hand stamped)


Responsible Agency (plate on lower left corner) Ordance Corps is under Procurement and Marine Corps is under Depot Maintenance, Chassis, Body, and MTD. EQPT. do not have a heading

Procurement Depot Maintenance

Chassis Ordnance Corps Marine Corps

Body Ordnance Corps Marine Corps

MTD. EQPT. (blank) (blank)


Service Data Plate (center plate on right side)

Publications Parts Lists -SNL G - 758

Operators Manual TM-9-8014

Maintenance Manuals TM-9-8015-1

TM-9-8015-2

Lub. Order NO. LO-9-8014

Fording Valve Plate is pressed brass like earlier M38a1's.

Hi!

Mine was an original M38A1C with the data plates seen below:







All the features listed are here: flat top filter, rubber connectors, aluminum data plates, no power lock though...

That is a recoiless rifle jeep. cool

Keep in mind that Willys & Kaiser did not build any M38A1C's. They were M38A1's first. Then the Armed forces modified them in the field, usually at one of their depots and replated them M38A1C's.

wesk wrote:Keep in mind that Willys & Kaiser did not build any M38A1C's. They were M38A1's first. Then the Armed forces modified them in the field, usually at one of their depots and replated them M38A1C's.

Good morning Wes,

I think here that there are two cases as I have seen a lot of recoiless my self here.
Some of them are clearly as you say field modifications where you can see how the rear body tab was cut and opened for the recoiless rifle installation.
Some other though (mine included) they have been clearly build from the beggining as recoiless jeeps and I can support that from the below evidence:
On the back side there are no tranverce reinforcements on the inside, usually on the modified jeeps you can see the part remaining after "cutting" and same for the back side externally.
These evidence led me to the assamption that these body tabs where purpose build and not modified afterwards.
If there is interest on this I can post some pictures from my body tab when I got it.

Yes, it would be very interesting to see detailed photos of this. It would also be very interesting to see some evidence of M38A1C production records from Willys/Kaiser as well.