Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Thu Aug 19, 2021 12:32 pm

Hello,

I touched up a few pinholes in the patch weld seams.
Resized_20210819_142002.jpeg
I will grind these smooth, then add an application of metallic filler over the repair.
Resized_20210819_164949.jpeg
Once cured, I will sand that down, add some primer and paint.
Resized_20210819_184054.jpeg
Sanded down, looks great !
Resized_20210820_192014.jpeg
Then I will install the nos battery cables, battery tray, and will get 2 batteries correct for this jeep.

It is great to get a little done everyday , she will be in service again soon 😃😃😃😃😃

I also added some metal filler to the seat capture nut repair job.
Tomorrow once it is cured and hardened, I will sand both areas down and finish them up.
Resized_20210819_184120.jpeg
I can hardly wait !!!
I have some mechanical maintenence to do as well, the seal in the steering box front and rear differential seals, etc.
Routine maintenance, flush radiator, add antifreeze, change oils, and install gas tank .

All of which will be covered as it gets completed 😃😃😃

Best Regards,
Ray


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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Sat Aug 21, 2021 3:09 pm

Hello,

Great progress today on the battery box !

I got it all sanded down and cleaned out.
It was primed, and now the first coat of paint has been applied
😃😃😃
Resized_20210821_183833.jpeg
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It came out great !!
The od shade looks beautiful !
Resized_20210821_190052.jpeg
I noticed that the bottom floor of the box was painted black, as well as the inside of the top hatch.
I saw no olive drab or red primer.
There also appeared to have been a black coating sprayed inside the box.
Resized_20210821_190616.jpeg
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I am assuming that this is the way it was originally ??
Does anyone have a black painted top underside of their battery cover, and the bottom of the battery compartment ?

I will prime and od paint it all, but may add the black paint as well, may also add the preservative like spray on flex seal. It works great !


Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Mon Aug 23, 2021 7:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Mon Aug 23, 2021 7:37 pm

Hello,

I have found an additional upper front seat spring cushion, that I can restore with some weebee seat covers.
I am getting it from another G member who had it advertised over a year ago.
It is originally from a CJ2A.
However it is the same type spring cushion used from that model jeep until the M38A1.
They seem to be hard to locate, and I was fortunate to have another one that was installed on my 1942 GPW.
Here are a couple pictures of the seat cushion, that is in great shape still.
I am so happy to get this 😃😃😃
DSFSO-900(1).jpg
DSFSO-901(1).jpg
The spring cushions are super comfortable with these type original cushions !!

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:05 pm

Hello,

I cleaned up and installed the original windshield I bought from a seller in Nashville.

This is beautiful, and in perfect shape !!!

It is really a major step in restoring the Jeep 😁😁

Here are some pictures:
Resized_20210827_125113(2).jpeg
Resized_20210827_125123(2).jpeg
Resized_20210827_130255(2).jpeg

I am very pleased to have found this elusive , and hard to find, original M38-A1 windshield !!!!!
It fits perfect and is just so nice !!!
It latches good and tight as well !!

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 11ACRLT » Fri Aug 27, 2021 1:10 pm

My M38 had the remains of some type of black material on the inside of the battery box,( bottom, sides and underside of the cover).
I stripped it all off, primed it, painted it green and then sprayed it with heavy duty rubberized black undercoating.
Did the same thing on my M151 and the battery compartment on my M35. Batteries are always venting so the more protection the better especially in a closed or semi closed space.
Your A1 looks great, it's always fun to find such nice parts to use in a resto.
Curt W Kitter II
'42 MB (sold)
'51 M38
'52 M37 (sold)
'53 M211(sold)
'64 M105A1
'71 M151A2
'72 M35A2C
'72 M561 (sold)
MVPA # 17981
MVCC-MI

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Sat Aug 28, 2021 7:54 am

Hello Curt,

Yes Sir !!!
I love this Jeep !!!

Thanks so much for sharing that info with me and confirming that feature !
That is great, I will do the same on this jeep.

There is some black stuff on the cap, there was some on the bottom, and even traces on the sides as well.
Seeing that the old batteries did cause the only damage on the jeep, and rusted through the battery box, and the fire wall, this will add a great layer of protection !!
I will use the black flex seal product.
The battery trays are rusty and need cleaning up and restoring.
I will spray them as well to preserve them against any future corrosion.


I really like having a "new" windshield now, that isn't bent and damaged like the original.

Now I can finally install the new WeeBee canvas top I already have 😃😃😃


Once I get the jeep running and
and all the mechanical maintenance done, and driving it for a while, I really am thinking it would be great to add another repaint on the jeep.
The Army repainted the jeep several times already, and I am thinking another fresh paint job, stencils, stars, it will look great !!
It will also preserve the jeep as it needs to be preserved !!!


Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:13 pm

Hello,

The next small part that needed to be replaced was the rusted away mirror.
The rusty one is being sent to be recycled 😁
I took the non F marked King Bee mirror off my 1942 GPW Jeep, which I replaced with an F marked King Bee mirror, and then installed it on Flash !

It looks great !!!

Resized_20210829_225427.jpeg
Old rusty one ...
Resized_20210829_225945.jpeg
Nice new one !!
Resized_20210829_230118(1).jpeg
One more thing accomplished !!!


The original steering wheel is cracked in many areas.
I will replace this next,with a correct green Sheller wheel.

Update :
I ordered a new Sheller steering from a vendor.

I spoke to Ron first, but he didn't have the Sheller marked one in stock.

I also just placed and order for 4 new Coker Firestone NDCC tires from Jegs. Made in USA !
They offer free shipping, and a $25 discount. $50 off if you get 5.

I ordered 4, because I want to use one good original tire as a spare .

I am looking forward to getting these great items !!

Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Wed Sep 01, 2021 6:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Tue Aug 31, 2021 2:19 pm

Hello,

I flushed the empty radiator out,
some rusty water was the result. I kept flushing it until the water looked pretty clear.
Resized_20210831_172626.jpeg
Resized_20210831_172619.jpeg
I next installed the new reinforced , correct , lower radiator hose.
I also used the original type hose clamps.
They should hold up, but not as robust looking as modern clamps.
I used the same type on my GPW and they are doing absolutely perfect.
So we will see how they do on this jeep.
Resized_20210831_180344.jpeg

Another step done towards getting her up and running again 😄😄

I am exited about getting the jeep running so I can hear it for the first time !
Driving her will be a great reward !!

Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:16 pm

Hello,

Here is the new air cleaner hose.
This is the correct hose for a 1953 M38A1.
The hose pictured earlier was a rubber hose, but for a much later model M38A1, with a totally different air cleaner unit.
I am assuming 🤔

This hose is just like the WW2 MB/GPW hose.
Resized_20210901_171132.jpeg

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:22 pm

Hello,

The next area of repair will be the firewall, where the battery acid had eaten through the inner battery box, and the outer firewall !!
Resized_20210901_171147.jpeg
I will cut this corrosion out to clean metal, and make a patch to weld into position. It will be the same repair as was done to the battery box inner wall earlier, almost a mirror image repair .
This should be a little easier to do, as there is plenty of access.
I will weld it in, grind it back, add some metallic filler, prime and paint. It should blend in pretty good as the under hood paint is still dark olive drab, and unfaded.

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Thu Sep 16, 2021 11:18 am

Hello,


Well, it seems the other vendor doesn't have the sheller marked steering wheel now.

So, I am ordering an unmarked Sheller type wheel from Ron, for half the price.


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Sun Oct 24, 2021 2:36 pm

Hello,

Well, plan C, as Ron didn't have a good wheel available.

So I just got one from a vendor on ebay.
It looks perfect, and is solid green plastic material.

It will really improve the jeep having a nice new wheel, with no cracks and damage on it.
Here is a pic of the current damaged wheel.
Resized_20211024_230830.jpeg
You can see that it is in need up replacing. It is cracked around the center hub, as well as a few places on the outer ring.

Here are pictures of the new replacement wheel.
The vendor says this is the correct color, and over many years of dirt and use, will get a darker shade like the original.
Resized_20211024_230750.jpeg
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I really like this new wheel !!
The details are perfect and match the original wheel.
It doesn't say Sheller, but those wheels are seemingly not available anywhere due to supply line issues.

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:09 pm

Hello,

Here are some of the new Firestone tires that I ordered from Jegs .
Resized_20211015_151352.jpeg
They are really nice tires and will
add a great improvement to this jeep.

I will post more pics once I get them mounted. I already have a set if new correct tubes.
I got them from a good vendor on ebay from whom I ordered my GPW tubes .

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:37 pm

Hello,

Now I am ready to work on the next area of effort !
The outside firewall had corrosive rust through from the battery compartment.
The inner battery box had the same issue and has been repaired .

I will cut this rot away with a rotary tool, make a new patch and get it welded into position.
That will be ground smooth, and metal filler added over the welds, and sanded down.
It will look great and be a solid repair to this area.
I unclipped the wiring harness across the fire wall near the repair area.
Resized_20211029_185212.jpeg
Resized_20211029_185217.jpeg
Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Sat Nov 20, 2021 3:03 pm

Hello,

Ok, I cut out the rot hole from the battery that ate through the firewall.

Here are some pics:
Resized_20211120_131215.jpeg
Resized_20211120_131536.jpeg
I sanded back to bare metal around the hole, to prepare for welding in the new patch.
Next I taped around the edges to prime the patch that I welded in from the battery box.
That way the inner welds had some primer to help prevent future rust .

Note : There is about a half inch space between the battery box and the fire wall. The battery acid went through the box and the firewall !!
Next,
I took a piece of paper and rubbed over the edges of the cut out area.
This way I made a good template to cut out and transfer the pattern, to a piece of steel, to make the patch.
It makes things so much easier to have an accurate sized patch !!
Resized_20211120_134224.jpeg
Resized_20211120_135003.jpeg
Here the patch is test fitted in the hole :
Resized_20211120_141701.jpeg
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I then primed the back side of the patch to help prevent any future rust issues.
Resized_20211120_171615.jpeg
Now once fitted into position, and held there with the magnets, I welded it in, working my way around the patch piece to tack it into position.
Then I removed the magnets and slowly filled in the seam around the patch.

So now I will grind the welds smooth, and do any follow up welding of pinholes.
Resized_20211120_184247.jpeg
I will use the rotary tool to grind the welds smooth as that tool can get in the area pretty well.
Once that work is done, I will prime, sand and then add the metallic filler over the repairs.
Once hardened, add several coats of primer, then olive drab over the patch.

It should come out beautiful, and be restored rock solid 😁😁😁

A little forward progress 👍👍👍


Ok, the patch welded in very nice !
I ground it down smooth, and will touch up the pin holes with additional weld, grind down, and prime and add metallic filler.
😄😄😄
Resized_20211121_183851.jpeg

Update :
The first coat of metal filler has been applied.
Once this hardens, I will sand it smooth, and add another coat, and sand smooth.
I also added a little to the inner battery box and sanded some hot spots that carried through to the earlier finished work.
Resized_20211122_121540.jpeg
The next area to work on is taping up all the small wires under the hood.
I am going to try and save the complete original wiring harness.
Since the exposed wire covering has crumbled and deteriorated on many wires, taping them up should do the job.

We shall see 😃😃😃 !!

I also will install the gas tank, now restored.
I received some spare parts and a warranty replacement of the broken plastic handle on my vacuum sandblaster unit that worked great until parts wore out.
I ordered some new brush attachments that go around the end to catch the media from going everywhere, and allow it to be sucked back into the blast tank via the vacuum.

So party on !!
I also just scored 2 pallets of new glass media in 50 pound bags !!
This will really help move many projects along in short order, as I will try a new blasting unit that attaches to a power washer, that sucks the glass beads into the power washer forced stream.
Talk about pressure !!!
And no dust, so it will be great on my WC-56 Command Car project, and my new 1941 GMC CCKW project, and to blast my current GPW jeep body to get it ready to prime and paint .

I hope to get the firewall patch completed tomorrow.
I will also order 2 new fan belts for the M38A1 , and I may just go ahead and replace the original water pump for good measure.

Keep 'em Rolling !!!!

Best Regards,
Ray


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