Early ( January ) 1951 M38

1950 - 1952, M38, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38.
Post Reply
ol'Rusty
G-Private
G-Private
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2019 6:56 pm
Location:

Early ( January ) 1951 M38

Post by ol'Rusty » Fri Oct 08, 2021 7:42 pm

I just purchased my 1st Willy's. I have been looking for a very long time. I purchased a 1951 Willy's M38 Serial# 12888. It seems it would have been produced in Early 1951. Can anyone confirm? DOD only says 1951 - no month. The tag behind the passenger seat is also present.
What would the hood number started with ?
I bought this out of California -previously it was in Washington State. I have the title with it .Dated 1970.

It has been converted to 12 volt. Also has a t98 transmission installed .
runs -drives-stops and steers.
Needs tires badly- left rear tire -sidewall is peeling off.
I have kingpin bushings on order -left front wheel has a lot of movement between 12 and 6.


User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11811
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Early ( January ) 1951 M38

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Oct 09, 2021 4:31 pm

Welcome.
Put your location in your profile; if you are close, you can come over and I'll show you all about jeeps.
Get the green book; M38 Restoration Guide; it will answer all your questions about delivery dates and registration numbers. Also, go to M Jeeps web site; they specialize in them. .
Early M38 Registration numbers start with 20, meaning a scout/recon vehicle. Later, 23.
Also get a complete set of TMs, and the SNL and study them for two months before you even touch a jeep.
Willys Jeeps do not have king pin bushings so I have no idea what you really bought. Your TMs will show you how to rebuld your front end.
Tires are easy; you need 700x16 NDCCs. And new tubes. Don't use old tubes.
Probably has a T90.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

Ken Perkins
G-Major
G-Major
Posts: 861
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 8:26 pm
Location: LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA

Re: Early ( January ) 1951 M38

Post by Ken Perkins » Sat Oct 09, 2021 5:09 pm

M38 hood numbers started with 236xxx then 238xxx in prototypes and early jeeps...then 208 and 209....yours is early. M38s started with a serial number of 10,000... so yours is the 2888 production m38 made..model 27 front axles have Ball joints, not King Pins..think that's what you meant. M38s came with a 3 speed T90 transmission. You said yours had a T98 which is a 4 speed later ford and jeep truck transmission. Some previous owner swapped that in as their great for a rock crawler...I'll second the advise to look at the Willysmjeep site for all things M38.
1951 M38 #22936
1951 M100 DUNBAR
1953 M100 DUNBAR
M416B1
2- M762
MVPA #11788
MVCC

User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11811
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Early ( January ) 1951 M38

Post by dpcd67 » Sun Oct 10, 2021 6:03 pm

Ok, I got the registration numbers backwards. My M38 starts with 20; but it's MC23000.
But they definitely do not have ball joints. Look in your TM 9-8012, para 230, and you will see they, like all jeeps from WW2 through the Cj5 to at least 1971, have bolted on pins and bearings. Called the Flange Cap; this is the bolted on king pins. No bushings though. And no ball joints in the front axle.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch


Post Reply

Return to “M38 Technical Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests