Dip stick info meeded

1952 - 1968, M38A1, M170, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38a1 series.
Post Reply
42GPW
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:31 pm
Location: Mt.Vernon, MO (southwest area) Driving the Jeep
Contact:

Dip stick info meeded

Post by 42GPW » Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:42 am

OK i have an m38a1 motor in my cj. The dip stick is not marked anymore. I need to know how far up from the tip is full? could someone measure theres for me and let me know?

Thank you,
Matt R
1947 cj2a
1956 dj-3a dispatcher
1946 t3c
U.S Army (11C3P2B) 1989-2006
82nd Abn, 1st Gulf War Vet
101st Abn oif/oef Vet
2ID Korea
40th Inf
45th Inf


User avatar
timjuhl
G-Sergeant First Class
G-Sergeant First Class
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:36 pm
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by timjuhl » Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:00 pm

The length of the dipstick tube and dipstick is different on the M38a1 and the CJ5. Measure the distance from the opening in the engine block that the tube sits in to the top of the tube and post it - I have one of each and will then check the dipstick for you.

Tim
Aeronca L16-A, 1952 Willys M38A1 - Elderly winged or wheeled vehicles are my downfall.

42GPW
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:31 pm
Location: Mt.Vernon, MO (southwest area) Driving the Jeep
Contact:

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by 42GPW » Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:21 pm

As per your directions 15 1/2"

Matt R
1947 cj2a
1956 dj-3a dispatcher
1946 t3c
U.S Army (11C3P2B) 1989-2006
82nd Abn, 1st Gulf War Vet
101st Abn oif/oef Vet
2ID Korea
40th Inf
45th Inf

User avatar
timjuhl
G-Sergeant First Class
G-Sergeant First Class
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:36 pm
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by timjuhl » Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:52 pm

Ok - I'm going to help confuse things here a bit.

1st of all - the Dipstick tube (measured from the hole in the engine block to the top of the tube is:
• approx. 14.75 Inches on a CJ - Matt reports 15.5 so we're in the ballpark.
• approx. 16.75 inches on a M38A1 (measured on my Jeep.) The tube for the M38A1 has two vent hose connections while the CJ will have only 1.

The length of the dipstick on the CJ (tip to cap) is 25 inches. On a M38A1 it is 27.5 inches, a difference of 2.5 inches.

The markings on the ends of both dipsticks are identical - however the differences in tube and dipstick length don't perfectly match up. I would think that a CJ with full oil would actually have more oil than a M38A1 with full oil.... I'm going to have to think about this one a bit.

This shows you the measurements for the various marks on the dipstick tip.
Image

I hope this is of some help.

Tim
Last edited by timjuhl on Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Aeronca L16-A, 1952 Willys M38A1 - Elderly winged or wheeled vehicles are my downfall.

42GPW
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:31 pm
Location: Mt.Vernon, MO (southwest area) Driving the Jeep
Contact:

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by 42GPW » Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:58 pm

Tim i might have a cj motor. How do i tell the difference on a cj vs an m38a1?

Matt R
1947 cj2a
1956 dj-3a dispatcher
1946 t3c
U.S Army (11C3P2B) 1989-2006
82nd Abn, 1st Gulf War Vet
101st Abn oif/oef Vet
2ID Korea
40th Inf
45th Inf

User avatar
timjuhl
G-Sergeant First Class
G-Sergeant First Class
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:36 pm
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by timjuhl » Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:25 pm

Matt,
Maybe one of the real experts will chime in here. I have a CJ Motor in my M38A1. From what I've seen the basic engine is the same. The accessories will be different and the CJ has slightly different engine mounts but other than that......

The dipstick tube on the M38A1 does stick up farther (2 inches) and does have vent connections to the rocker arm cover and the cross over tube while the CJ has only the former.

Do you have the 24 volt electrical system typical of the M38A1?

Check out the serial number stamped above the water pump - if it begins with MD it is from a M38A1
http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules/gall ... .sized.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good Luck!

Tim
Aeronca L16-A, 1952 Willys M38A1 - Elderly winged or wheeled vehicles are my downfall.

42GPW
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:31 pm
Location: Mt.Vernon, MO (southwest area) Driving the Jeep
Contact:

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by 42GPW » Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:48 pm

OK tim i went out and looked, Mine is civy. serial #4J423934. No MD.
So mine would be a CJ5?
what year would this come out of?
Would my T-90 tranny have been in a CJ5?
Im going to yank this thing out this spring and put the original motor back in it.
Whats the value of a running CJ5 motor?

Thanks for the info you have given me. Im clueless on the jeeps after m38's

Matt R
1947 cj2a
1956 dj-3a dispatcher
1946 t3c
U.S Army (11C3P2B) 1989-2006
82nd Abn, 1st Gulf War Vet
101st Abn oif/oef Vet
2ID Korea
40th Inf
45th Inf

User avatar
timjuhl
G-Sergeant First Class
G-Sergeant First Class
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:36 pm
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by timjuhl » Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:17 pm

Matt,
OK, you've got a CJ engine. I can't tell you what year but I'm sure there is a database out there somewhere. As to value, a Hurricane engine is a Hurricane engine - I'm sure somebody will want it if you don't. If you have a MD motor that you want to install does that mean you also have all the 24 volt stuff including the waterproof distributor, spark plugs and such? Is the carb a YS-950 or the YF used in the CJ?

The T-90 transmissions were virtually identical although the shift tower was a little different. It looks like it has a cap on it whereas the civvy one is a solid casting. Post some pictures and I could tell you what you have. The bell housing and transfer case also have a few differences. The bell housing should have a boot over the clutch cable and no vents in the access cover. Does the transfer case have the M38A1 parking brake (smooth drum, external shoe) or the CJ type?

Wes K on the WillysM jeeps site really knows the little differences between civvy and GI components. He's certainly helped me. Post your questions over there if you're not getting the answers you need here.

Tim
Aeronca L16-A, 1952 Willys M38A1 - Elderly winged or wheeled vehicles are my downfall.

User avatar
timjuhl
G-Sergeant First Class
G-Sergeant First Class
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:36 pm
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by timjuhl » Fri Jan 18, 2013 2:38 pm

I meant to mention this earlier. I was reminded on another forum that the best way to mark a dipstick is to drain the oil, replace the filter then fill the crankcase with the specified number of quarts. Run the engine long enough to distribute the oil and while parked on a level surface, check (and mark) the full point on YOUR dipstick. Since we know that 1/2 inch equals 1 quart of oil, you could also mark the "add 1 Qt, add 2 Qts" marks as well. For those of us whose factory markings still show it might be wise to see how close the marks are and if they don't match up well, mark the backside of the stick with the actual levels.

Tim
Aeronca L16-A, 1952 Willys M38A1 - Elderly winged or wheeled vehicles are my downfall.

MASH_4077
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 440
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:55 pm
Location: Fairmount, Indiana

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by MASH_4077 » Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:43 pm

If you are still having issues with this I do have an extra Hurricane dipstick & tube from my engine swap last fall. Its from the civi version Hurricane so its only got one vent tube at the top. Let me know if you are interested.
Indiana MVPA Vice President
52 M38A1 8/52 MD17418
52 M100 9/52
61 M101 4/61
FOR SALE 54 M38A1
1/54 Build Date
MAKE OFFER!

James L
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 275
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:39 pm
Location:

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by James L » Thu Feb 07, 2013 1:24 pm

I have new M38A1 dipsticks. 10.00 plus shipping. jlobue47@hotmail.com thanks jim

pedormont
G-Private First Class
G-Private First Class
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2014 2:51 pm
Location: New Providence, NJ

Re: Dip stick info meeded

Post by pedormont » Fri Aug 06, 2021 3:51 pm

I just arrived at the dipstick problem on my MD. Do you still have dipsticks available? I wouldn't expect the price to be the same.


Post Reply

Return to “M38a1 Technical Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests