1952 M38a1 Build: Not For The Purists

Exactly. Putting the fhead back in is just for someone doing a factory resto. The v6 is much more fun to drive.

 

Found out that AA, who makes the Saturn Overdrive won't have any units until late Sept. So I placed the order for everything else with Sal at Vintage Jeeper. I got the 3.15 with the standard 4 gear and not the one with the saturn bowl gear. I realize, I have the bowl gear on my list twice as the Saturn has the bowl gear as well as the 3.15. You only need one. Since the Saturn is on backorder, I decided to just get the standard gears and get the bowl gear with the Saturn later. I've got my old T90A case from the M38A1 that's empty and a full rebuild kit from KW that I've been sitting on till I decided on if I want to go T90C or not. I've also got a spare D18 that will give up some parts for the 3.15. I'll need to take the rear output from the current D18 so I can keep the ebrake. I want to keep the running M-series parts all together so they will be a mostly complete unit if I ever sell the Jeep or the parts. They are really low mileage parts. I think they're less than 20K miles on them.

 

The 225 can be scary fast. The whole point of this Jeep is to be a "cheap". Now that it's running and driving, I'm throwing all the good stuff into it.

 

That's my method because I can't wait to get them on the road. I'll get it driving then upgrade slowly.. or maybe never.

I've done one frame up resto on my A1 and I don't have the patients for that again and to be honest, I much prefer the updates. You were smart to upgrade the brakes first. Usually works the other way around.

Are you thinking of updating the engine? sbc?

 

Engine's staying the same unless something happens. I'm guessing the engine has around 60K as that was what was on the speedometer. It doesn't smoke at all. If I ever do an engine swap I'll do a 4.3L and make it carbureted. They're cheap, plentiful and in the same vein as the 225.

I don't see myself doing a restoration at least not one that returns it back to factory fresh. I like the markings it has even though I don't care for red. I've been spraying a lot of the new parts Krylon OD green just so they're sorta green. This Jeeps going to get toured and wheeled offroad. The Jeep has spent most of its time sitting and not being driven so I think it's earned that. My vintage jeep friends want to do the 75th Jeepers Jamboree so I'll have to see if I can get it sorted before then if I want to go. Stock suspension and 650s would be interesting.

 

Did you sell of of the items?

 

I discovered a trick a long time ago. In some cases you can apply paint stripper and wipe it off right after you apply it. The old military paint was very tough and remains but the red might come right off. Test it out on a small part if you're interested. I was able to lift my hood numbers using this method. It actually worked better than sanding. I bet you have a hood number on there. Go slow if you want to lift them.

 

No, I still have some of the items.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1708240333106712
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/700294315696796
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1717322812492918
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1024999965745907

 

The problem is, it's all military paint. There's there's at least two different military greens and the red oxide primer. Some of the markings are on top of the primer as well. I have been taking the primer off with some light sanding. I don't think there are any hood markings as it looks like the hood may have been sandblasted or maybe there was an engine fire. It's seems to be red oxide down to the metal.

 

While waiting on parts, I've started to see if I could figure out what this said on the windshield frame. I've played around with the saturation in an attempt to see what's hidden so that's why it looks weird. It's usually where it says "Max speed 45, On Base 25" or "Max Speed 35/45/50" but this clearly says something else. I've got an idea what it says but I don't want to influence anyone from seeing something else.



This M38A1 seems to say something similar to mine.



What do you see? Also, does anyone have pictures of other M38A1s or even M38s that say something similar?

 

Send it to Abby on NCIS.

 

You got me curious. I see the following:

2133, UNCLE & COSTS.

https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threads/what-does-a-jeep-cost-uncle-sam.84003/

Maybe?

 

I think this is what it says as well. Would love to see a Jeep with it all legible though. I can't see a larger version of that 1953 on that link.

 

What I'm thinking is they used whatever stencil that they had and would fit on the dash. They might have even shortened the wording down to something like "This Jeep Costs Uncle Sam $2133".

The funny parts is they were probably considered over priced for a disposable vehicle at $2133 a pop. From our perspective they were over build and were probably worth more than $2133.

 

I think you're close. I see VEHICLE COSTS

 

Here's what I'm seeing. Does it look like the 2 was painted twice?

COSTS
$22133.00