Body tub ID help wanted

Hi guys, Im building a ''Jeep Salad'' and just out of interest would like to know a bit more about the body tub Im using. It looks very similar to an early M38, has tailgate and the tool indents on the right side, but not got the battery box in the cowl, under the hood, close to the hinges on the left side has a VIN >85168 if thats of any help.

 

never heard a jeep called a salad before. Sounds like an M38 tub... maybe a little hacked where the battery tray is supposed to be. what's the grill look like?

 

pictures would help
early 2As have the tool indents

 

Andy, maybe the ''Jeep salad'' is just an English saying then,, like made up from loads of different models.
This tub is in good shape but its never had a battery box in the cowl.. The original grill & fenders are not with it,, planning on fitting it out as a WW2 style with Willys grill & fenders.

Its no big deal, the tub just intrigues me as Ive never seen one the same before,,, thought the VIN could have traced it:?

 

VIN would indicate an early 47 model CJ2A. If so, it would also say "CJ2A" on the VIN tag. Does it?

 

Been and double checked, just 85168, its stamped into the tub, no ''CJ2A'' that I can find.
Early 47 is fine by me, someting to tell the guys who ask Thanks Larry.

 

Glad to help!

So this number is NOT on a VIN tag, just stamped into the body?

If so, then probably still an early '47. If the numbers are about 1/2" tall, then that would be the ACM number, a number the company that made the bodies for W-O. That number typically is around 10,000 less than the VIN tag serial number.

Look at this from the CJ2A site, a brief history may give you more clues.
http://www.thecj2apage.com/history.html

 

would an early 47 still have the tool indents ?
I've only seen them on early 46s

 

Yup you got it,,,,,, hey Larry, I don't really care if its a 47 or a 97, Im just glad its mine

Just wish they could make em look that cute again today8)

 

Not unless it was military or someone pieced that section in. Only very early '46's had the indents. I have #89984 and I do not have them.

If it were a tag it could have been swapped, but stamped into the tub it could be an ACM number as stated, and they were usually varied off the serial but 1000 or something like that (I don't think it's 1000 though)

 

The tool indents sound like an early '46 CJ2A to me.

 

AFAIK The tool dents in the early CJ-2a's were on the the drivers side. Passenger (right) side dents suggests an M38 type body.

Any chance someone just welded in those sections on an otherwise normal 47 tub?

Does the dashboard (gauge area) have a removable panel (typical for M38 ).

 

My guess is reproduction tub, they came with numbers stamped on them for tracking at the factory

 

Good call, I didn't pick up that he said they were on the passenger side even.

 

Bill, as much as I would like to think of it as a 46/7 tub, I think you could be right.
Everything on this tub looks M38 except the battery box in the cowl, the dash looks the same with the small glove box thats shaped to allow for the windshield hold-downs & the large center panel that houses the clocks, gas filler looks the same too.
One thing Im sure of, is this tub has never seen a welder since it left the factory,, which makes it even more likely to be a reproduction. If it is a repro I reckon it was done a long time ago, maybe 70's,, how far do repro steel tub go back?.

 

check with g503.com or willysmjeeps.com

 

I've seen some repo tubs that where of unknown manufacture that had the MB dash, the M38 tool indents , a tailgate, no cowl battery box. I've seen two so far. neither had been modified.

 

I have a repo M-38 body with no battery box.