hi new member here

1950 - 1952, M38, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38.
Manic Mechanic
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2021 4:41 pm
Location: thurmount MD

hi new member here

Post by Manic Mechanic » Sun Dec 12, 2021 5:48 am

title says it all im new here. long time gear head muscle car enthusiast and Jeep nut or just nuts not sure yet. i have many many many Jeeps. mostly CJs and YJs but what i drug home yesterday is what brings me here now as its out of my realm of experience. id love some help identifying it and year.

i do apologize if this is the wrong area for this post.

last one is my regular CJ 7 i roll around inImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk



User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11814
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: hi new member here

Post by dpcd67 » Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:47 am

Welcome to the forum. You have an M38 and you are in the WW2 Jeep section; scroll down a bit and you will find the M38 section. Nice jeep too; I have restored worse.
The M38 is the best military jeep ever made, but is also one the hardest and most expensive to restore because of the 24 volt system and the under water running vent system. I have done them. Got one now that needs an engine....
Before you do anything, get a complete set of TMs including the SNL and read them for a month before touching a jeep. Also, get the green book, M38 Reference Guide and memorize that. There is also a web site dedicated to the M38 called M series jeeps. Read that, but the people here are nicer. Smiley face here.
I'm sure a moderator will move this maybe.
Welcome.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

dinof
G-Major General
G-Major General
Posts: 2860
Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:32 pm
Location: Arcadia & Johannesburg Ca.

Re: hi new member here

Post by dinof » Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:43 pm

Welcome also to the "G". You made the right move coming here, and like dpcd67 said, get the TM's.

I do have to admit, seeing "Mash 4077" brings a tear to my face....don't ask, well, if you want go ahead.
Dino Falabrino
On the "G" since 1998.
1943 GPW 102310 DOD 3-3-43
1928 Model A Roadster Pickup
1930 Model A Tudor
1968 Taco Minibike

User avatar
Buster1
G-Master Sergeant
G-Master Sergeant
Posts: 124
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:45 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX

Re: hi new member here

Post by Buster1 » Mon Dec 13, 2021 3:53 am

Welcome!!
USAF Retired

mdainsd
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1926
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2017 1:01 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: hi new member here

Post by mdainsd » Mon Dec 13, 2021 6:48 am

Welcome. You have a M-38 on your hands. Cant tell the era from the pictures. A close up of the data plates if they remain would help. Also look for a second data plate behind the passengers seat om the front of the rear wheel well.

A couple of things:

The gas tank is not the correct one.
Something not right with the frame. An M38 does not have the grill mounted to the frame like that or the brackets its bolted too. The M38 grill has hinges on the front that mate with hinges on the frame.
The heater on the cowl is the type generally used with the arctic top.

Good bones to start with though!
52 M38 2X, '52 M37, '44 WC51, '42 WC 56/57, '50 CJ-V35(U), '42 GPW, '44 M3A1 Scout Car, 2010 M-Gator

JMZ421
G-First Lieutenant
G-First Lieutenant
Posts: 646
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:21 pm
Location: N.E. Ohio

Re: hi new member here

Post by JMZ421 » Mon Dec 13, 2021 8:06 am

Yes Welcome and ask many questions like I do. There are several on this site that are very good at answering questions. I need to know what project will begin first, that Firebird/Transam or the M38? John

Manic Mechanic
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2021 4:41 pm
Location: thurmount MD

Re: hi new member here

Post by Manic Mechanic » Mon Dec 13, 2021 12:09 pm

i replied once already however i dont see it above.
as i stated i am out of my realm of knowledge on this one.

as for the 77 trans am its patiently waiting its turn like my other fire birds and my wifes 79 cj 7

User avatar
DieFledermaus
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 515
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2003 6:37 pm
Location: Lewes, DE 19958

Re: hi new member here

Post by DieFledermaus » Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:52 pm

Welcome! Just a few questons:
Where are you located?
Where did you find your M38 and how much did you spend on her?
How nice are you going to make her?
I've had (7) M38s and fully restored (2). The M38 is a great jeep!
List more pics for us please ;

Regards,
Mike
AUG 1944 MB, US NAVY
MAR 1952 M38
APR 1952 M38
1957 F2A AERODROME TRAILER
1993 M101
A & P mechanic
Delaware 19958

Manic Mechanic
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2021 4:41 pm
Location: thurmount MD

Re: hi new member here

Post by Manic Mechanic » Tue Dec 14, 2021 4:34 pm

im in Maryland i got her from a farmer around the corner from my house. she set me back 125 bucks plus a case of beer to the guy who towed it home for me

User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11814
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: hi new member here

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Dec 18, 2021 1:11 pm

That never happens to me.
This is strange; you have an M38 body, reinforced frame with tie down loops (so not a CJ frame), hood, etc; the grill has the cutouts for the BO markers, but is not hinged and does not appear to have the holes for the headlight guards. . Very strange. You have the first prototype M38. (that would be one explanation)
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

Manic Mechanic
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2021 4:41 pm
Location: thurmount MD

Re: hi new member here

Post by Manic Mechanic » Sat Dec 18, 2021 5:31 pm

i know nothing about it. someone mentioned the data plate on the passenger side rear wheel well. there is a plat there but I can't read it for all the paint. im going to try and clean it up and take a pic. maybe you all can help me figure out what it is that I got myself into..

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk


User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11814
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: hi new member here

Post by dpcd67 » Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:48 am

Ok, do that today. We can't wait for the serial number. Which is also on the dash plates; which appear to be the late type screwed onto a plate instead of the dash.
You wanted the year; these were only made win 51 and 52, but what we want to know is the MONTH.
Get that green book and a full set of TMS on order; you can't possibly restore an M38 without those. Too many details on them. I counted 948 that need to be correctly addressed. The M38 was a unique animal, nothing like it before or after, that could drive underwater, and only 60K were made.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

GPW1263
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 388
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:18 am
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Re: hi new member here

Post by GPW1263 » Sun Dec 19, 2021 1:26 pm

That there is the Blue Breasted Golden Lipped Warbler..long thought to be extinct.

But seriously, the first thing you should do is state what your goals are for this rig.

Cheers,
GPW1263

Manic Mechanic
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2021 4:41 pm
Location: thurmount MD

Re: hi new member here

Post by Manic Mechanic » Sun Dec 19, 2021 1:55 pm

GPW1263 wrote:That there is the Blue Breasted Golden Lipped Warbler..long thought to be extinct.

But seriously, the first thing you should do is state what your goals are for this rig.

Cheers,
GPW1263
well TBH I have no clue what my plans are for it just yet. wish I could say it was my only project but that would be a bold faced lieImage

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk


User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11814
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: hi new member here

Post by dpcd67 » Sun Dec 19, 2021 2:41 pm

Nice shop.
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 43 guests