New to jeeps with a 51 project

Hi all. I have recently inhereted a 51 m38 from my grandfather who passed away a few months ago. From research I believe it is a 51 m38 that he had owned since the late 50's. He used it in the mountains for sheep hearding and it has sat at his farm for about 25 years now. That is the last time it was moved or started. I now have it in my garage and have started some body work. So I will be visitng often to learn new things about it. My plans are to keep it somewhat stock. New wheels/tires/ minor lift, paint. It will be used mainly in the mountains so th 4 cylinder should be fine. I did pull info form the data plate, so if you have any info about it let mme know.

Jeep info from data plate
Serial number 32716
Ordinance stock number 6795528
Stamped on plate c2740-83583/8 not sure what this is

As I said jeeps are new and I am looking for info everywhere. Here are some pics from when I picked it up.

 

Looks like a good start to your project. Nice looking Jeep! Thats definitely a military hardtop and doors. i have the same top

 

a good website to start with is www.willysmjeeps.com You should have a date of delivary (DOD) stamped on the data plate that has the serial number on the dash.

 

Cool deal, I just started a 52 CJ-3A project myself. With 5:38 gears, the 4 banger has plenty of power for the mountains. When I was a kid, we took my grandpa's 3A all over the mountains of W,Va, thats what got me hooked on jeeps. All of my adult life I've allways had an old jeep of some kind to play with, now I have 2. It's not my first willys, as I've had 3 different willys p/u trucks over the years, a 52, 54, and a 56. I've allway wanted a 3A because of my experience as a child with one, so it's like a dream come true. However, I have a lot of work a head of me. Yours is in better shape than mine. Willys overland.com is one of the places to get parts, I need a body tub from them. Welcome to the site and good luck with your project.

 

Welcome to the world of smelly grease and busted knuckles! Another site for more info for your M38 is the "G" over at the
www.G503.com message board

We can help with mechanical questions but for help with milspec info lots of good info there.

 

Thanks for the information of the other sites and welcoming me to the site. I have read a few of the posts and have had some questions answered and found some good ideas for my jeep. Thanks again.

 

What are your plans for your jeep, a stock restoration, or you gonna modify it? I want to keep mine pretty much stock. I do want to swap to 12 volt. If I can't save my engine, I will most likely put a ford 2.3 in it, just depends on how bad it is.

 

COOL looking rig!! I like the Arctic Hardtops http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Hardtops/ArcticTops.html we bought one for use on one of our flatties. Good luck with the build and make sure you post lots of pics!

 

Since the m38 is the rarest of the flatfenders I would hope it would stay stock. If not I would be intrested in any of the stock parts you take off.