preserving Arctic Top insulation

1950 - 1952, M38, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38.
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scruffy1
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preserving Arctic Top insulation

Post by scruffy1 » Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:19 pm

The hard top I acquired a few months back has what I believe to be the original rubber-type insulation. It looks good but is starting to dry out. Is there any product that will protect it from further breakdown?
The top has also lost most of it's paint and I plan to repaint this spring. Is there anything special I need to know about painting aluminum?
1952 Willys M38
serial # 68656


Joe Gopan
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Re: preserving Arctic Top insulation

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:34 pm

Zinc Chromate Primer. The foam rubber? I doubt there is much that can be done, it is 60 years old. I believe it is more of a sound deadner than insulation.
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Re: preserving Arctic Top insulation

Post by Top Cat » Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:18 pm

Maybe Ben will know but I think these tops came with thick industrial felt glued to the insides of the top. I think the felt was then possibly painted.

If so, industrial felt is still made and readily availble.

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Re: preserving Arctic Top insulation

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:12 pm

The liner appeared to be a molded non absorbent foam rubber material that was cemented in.
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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alpino
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Re: preserving Arctic Top insulation

Post by alpino » Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:36 am

You can use ensolite camping and/or "snivel" pads.
"Snivel" if you have ever been infantry!
I scrounged a ton working on fires & coming back from Iraq.
You can find them for varying prices at pawn or surplus stores OR
high speed commercial stuff, with adhesive on the back.
http://www.raamaudio.com/ensolite-iuo-p ... he-market/

I used that 3M spray on adhesive

The insulation on my M-38 arctic cab was quite wretched indeed,
a low tech [1950's chemistry] compared ro today
Good Luck!
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