M38A1 Battery Box Question

1952 - 1968, M38A1, M170, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38a1 series.
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9mmAuto
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M38A1 Battery Box Question

Post by 9mmAuto » Thu Feb 16, 2023 12:38 pm

I came across what appears to be an M38A1 on Facebook marketplace. It's about 200 miles from where I live so I haven't actually gone to look at it yet. From the photographs it appears to be correct with the recessed headlights in the grill, It has the round cutout on the right side below the cowl like it should but I have a question about the battery box. Did the later versions have the battery box on the cowl? this one does not have it, and the fuel tank does not appear to be under the drivers seat because the fuel filler opening isn't cutout... It's solid like on the later CJ5's with the gas tank in the back. Something else that is throwing me off in the windshield wipers are above the windshield like on early CJ5's. I am thinking of buying it but I don't know a lot about the M38A1's so I wanted to ask the experts.
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Bill H.
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Re: M38A1 Battery Box Question

Post by Bill H. » Fri Feb 17, 2023 7:32 am

There should be a battery box in the cowl. Early lids used 8 thumb screws to secure it, later used a latch.

This jeep may have had the box removed or possibly the cowl was repaired or replaced.
Bill H.

"Each shall seek his own kind, in other words, a bird may love a fish but where would they build a home together?" Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof

1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: M38A1 Battery Box Question

Post by parker007 » Fri Feb 17, 2023 11:09 am

i bet body went through a civilian rebuild, or it mixed parts from cj5

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Re: M38A1 Battery Box Question

Post by 9mmAuto » Sat Feb 18, 2023 2:39 pm

That's kind of what I thought... Thanks for the info.

AFM38A1
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Re: M38A1 Battery Box Question

Post by AFM38A1 » Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:27 pm

Bill H. wrote:
Fri Feb 17, 2023 7:32 am
This jeep may have had the box removed or possibly the cowl was repaired or replaced.
I agree with you, but...
If they replaced the cowl, wouldn't the lower right side also be replaced, and thus not have the round cable recess?
I don't know the parts or sub-assembly breakdown, but that's what it looks like to me. I certainly could be wrong.
Just trying to learn...
M38A1 MD 82551. Built 3/1955. Purchased in Nov. 2021.
Former owner/restorer of 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade Levis Edition.
All stock w/factory V-8. Used as a daily driver for 7 years.


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