M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Create a thread to track the progress of you MB/GPW restoration progress. Previously a General Discussion board.
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Joe Gopan
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M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Oct 19, 2016 2:52 pm

Any MB/GPW Jeep owners out there who have opted to install an M-38 Radiator in their MB, and how many would catch the difference if you peeked under the hood without being told that the radiator was from an M-38? M-38 Radiator makes a great MB Radiator, differences are very, very minor, the M-38 support rod brackets are the major difference and barely visible unless one looks for them.
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Chuck Lutz
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Re: M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by Chuck Lutz » Thu Oct 20, 2016 8:09 am

I believe that the SHROUD on the M-38 radiator would be a dead give-away the radiator was not a Ford/Willys WWII radiator. Not to say it isn't going to work OK, but its pretty easy to spot I think.
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Re: M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Oct 20, 2016 3:10 pm

And I just got a heads up from Fred Coldwell on the detail difference of attaching the upper tank. It is like a sore thumb once aware of it. M-38 Radiator 649855 has a much thicker core than the A-1214 used in the MB, more rows of tubes, too. The difference when looking under the hood is not all that evident until one notices the rows of holes where the upper tank us soldered to the bracket, MB has 2 Rows, M-38 has 3 Rows of holes and a wider bracket
For all the years I have had Jeep radiators recored, I have used the same shop my family started using in the 30's and always requested the same size core on Jeeps. It would be nice to know how the A-6941 Radiator used with the surge tank compares with the A-1214 in detail.
Anyone have an A-6941 Radiator that is specified for use with the Desert Cooling Kit. If you do, can you count the number of rows of holes where the upper tank is soldered to the brackets on the sides? Also is the core thicker?
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Marty, SoCal
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Re: M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by Marty, SoCal » Mon Nov 07, 2016 7:31 pm

Not sure what radiator I'm running in my GPW other than it's not a stock WW2 radiator. it originally had three rows, now it's four. It was in the jeep when I bought it in '84. It came out of Arizona and it has the holes in the grill for the surge tank.

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Mark Tombleson
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Re: M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by Mark Tombleson » Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:51 pm

Here is a thread on it some time ago.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=156653

And, we discussed this very same topic just a couple of months ago, Joel.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=278192
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Re: M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:49 am

It's been rehashed a few times Mark, but the Illustration of the M-38 in the earlier reference does not match the features of the radiator shown by Schneider. The bottom bracket is different and it lacks the provisions for the M-38 Support rods on the lower sides.
Also, the upper tank of the M-38 is soldered to wider M-38 brackets. It would be nice to access the Willys Factory Drawings for a comparison of the Core Specifications between the MB Radiators and that of the M-38.

I had a stock of NOS M-38 Radiators for a few years and actually installed one in my MB. It has performed flawlessly and so far all who have looked under my MB hood have not noticed it.
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by JD136 » Wed Nov 09, 2016 10:01 am

Marty
The radiator in my GPW looks very much like yours. Unknown origin but was recored a few years ago.
Grill had four holes for mounting surge tank. Rad overflow tube shortened as per illustration for mounting
surge tank kit. I have installed a surge tank on it.

John
1942 GPW #6834 3-20-42 Dallas, Texas [USA 2065808 est.]

Joe Gopan
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Re: M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Nov 10, 2016 4:23 am

Anyone care to compare the drawings of the MB Radiator and M-38 Radiator?
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Joe Gopan
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Re: M-38 RADIATOR IN MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Nov 03, 2018 1:50 pm

Anyone ever compare the A-6941 Radiator used with the Desert Cooling Kit with the features of the M-38 Radiator? There might be a pleasant surprise.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


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