Internet auction items

[4x4M38]

Probably:
1: spilling the beans, or
2. telling people things they already know.

However, we're all buds here, right? And if it wasn't for this site I wouldn't know to even look for stuff like this, and know what it was when I found it.

In the past week I've bought two items on EBay that I found by either widening my search with additional descriptions, or narrowing down my descriptions to related M38 stuff, but not specific to M38.

Case in point. I've been looking for a tailgate. The new replacements, are, well you can read the reviews, and they are expensive for what you are paying for. I missed out on a mistreated original a couple of weeks ago because I was stingy. Learned my lesson when I found this one.

Description:
Willys CJ2A tailgate

Note, nowhere does it say M38.

Photo:


Well the front is telling, no Willys stamped in the center, and something has been cut off the left top. And there are some extra holes where they should be on an M38 gate.

Photo 2:


Huh. Well that is no CJ2A tailgate. And it is in pretty decent shape.

Ok, I bid on it. And I made sure I put enough in there that I had a good chance. Now, granted it is pick up only, but I used to live there, and have friends in the area. It has already been picked up.

By the way, I won the bid at $25.00. Yep, 25 bucks.

Second item that I do not have my hands on yet. I've been looking for one of the Douglas crimping tools to use on my electrical. As several folks have noted here they are usually pretty expensive.

I was sitting around surfing Ebay and typed in Douglas crimping, crimper, etc., you get the idea. Not much to go on. I typed in Douglas military and as you might expect I got a bunch of stuff, including the C47 and MacArthur.

Narrowed it down to Douglas tool.

Came up with H.A. Douglas swage tool

Swage. Who'd have thunk it.

It's in the mail for $11.94 including shipping.

Be creative, and happy surfing.....

Brian

[Bretto]

Brian,

As we discussed in our PM, that is for sure a M38 tailgate. You won't find anything marked M38. When you get it, you will have to assess the work needed on it. I ended up removing all the inboard reinforcement brackets on mine in order to help remove dents then plug welded them back in place. You will also need to fab up a gas tank strap loop for that upper left edge. Also like I noted in our PM, look at that bottom edge for rust rot. There is a guy on the 2A page that makes replacement sections for this venerable spot. I got pics of what I went thru on my photobucket.

Brett

[4x4M38]

Hi Brett,
You are right. My point is don't limit yourself to searching for something in the description as M38. The CJ3A windshield is identical to the M38 except the vent can be opened, where the M38 is bolted shut. And it is missing things like the gun case mounts, which can be added.

I remember looking at all of your photo pages and the work you did to rebuild your tailgate. I say rebuild because as you say, to repair it you essentially had to nearly disassemble it, and when you did, much more damage was revealed. We shall see what this one looks like once in hand.

One of the Ebay photos shows dust leaking out of the right lower corner, indicative of some rust at least in that corner. If that is the worst of it pulling a couple of dents out of the top and repairing should be it.

I have seen the repair pieces for the lower on sale on Ebay as well as other places. I have also seen the rope channel replacement pieces which I know I will need for the windshield I bought. It does have sheetmetal work that will be necessary evident from the pictures, but the mounting arms look solid and that is a good starting point.

As I mentioned, without all of the data on this site, and all of the posts and photos guys like yourself have posted, I would have not known the difference and not even looked at this gate. It is extra work to take pictures and document your builds, and a lot of work for guys like Wes and Ryan to set up, maintain, and manage a site like this one.

I appreciate it very much.

Brian