Differences between the M38 and 3A

Just wondering what the basic differences are between the M38 and 3A. How could I tell one from the other?

 

There are lots of little things, bolt on's mostly but the three major things that spring to mind are axe and shovel cut outs on passenger side, battery box in cowl on passenger side, and snorkel cut out on passenger side of hood. Nickmil

 

The M38 would have a functional battery box on the cowl, for one thing. I'm sure there's others, like tiedown loops on the frame, the 24volt electrics if it still has that, the single guard rods over the headlights, the larger gas filler/cap, the tailgate has support ribs for strength even though it was bolted shut, recessed taillights and four reflectors on the rear corners. Then there's the military style light switch with the three levers, the glovebox on the drivers side, etc. These are just the things I can think of offhand.

 

Mmmmmm, M38....

 

Did they all have snorkle cut outs on the hood or just the ones equiped with a snorkel?

 

All the ones that were original I've seen had the cut out but if it didn't have a snorkel it had a filler plate to cover the hole. Real common to put a 2a or 3a hood on them. Nickmil

 

Snorkel cutout...it's shaped differently than the M38A1/CJ5 cutout....

 

M38s had the larger gas cap with the pull our funnel, waterproof 24v electrical system, shovel and ax (as mentioned) blackout lights, headlight brushguards, the windshield vent is bolted on and removable where the 3a is hinged, there are no Willys markings on the hood or tailgate (but the Jeep script is still there) I am pretty sure the frames are different, the 3a frame is like a 2a frame and the M38 frame is like a 3b frame...learned that one last year when we replaced my dads. The grill is mounted with hinges instead of bolted to the frame. I'm sure I could think of more...

 

Ok here is what is different, some repeated
1) Fuel tank and filler are larger
2) Driver Seat Frame
3) Tool box is a little different
5) Bolt in floor pans like the cj5
6) Cowl Battery Box
7) Battery box under hood
9) Snorkle/slave cable cut out on hood
10) Windshield frame vent bolted shut
11) Tailgate has no willys and has reinforcements
12) Glove Box in Dash
13) Removable Dash
14) Large bolt on data plate usally coving a hole in dash, on later models, early ones had the plates riveted to the dash
15) Serial number plate behind passenger seat instead of under hood
16) 24 volt
17) Hinged front grill
18) Recessed parking lights
19) Passenger Side fender is shaped a little different
20) Tool indents
21) Tie Downs bolted to the frame
22) Frame boxed in front of front Crossmember
23) Parking brake handle location is to the left of the driver
24) Transfer case, the way the shifters are bolted on, and it has a vent where a brass line conects to then heads to bellhousing, then to aircleaner
25) bellhousing

That is all I can think of right now

 

Don't forget the passenger side glove box.


J.R.

 

Wow thanks Bill F and everyone else. This will help a lot in my quest for a Willys. Thanks again.

 

No problem

 

Here's a couple of interior shots of an M38 I have spotted....this Jeep has an Arctic Top on it, so the windshield shown isn't the M38 windshield, and I'm told it might not even be the right windshield for the Arctic Top. Someone here once said it's an MB windshield adapted to the top. It still has the M38 windshield on it, it's just folded down.

 

The windshield is off of a 2A the MB windshield is 3 ins shorter from the glass to the cowl.

 

the M38 frame also has a frame bracket to hold the machine gun.

 

The m38 frame does not have the machine gun bracket. the mb/gpw and the m38a1 did.

 

I saw the M38 Arctic top frame question brought up...

This is a M38 Arctic top windshield frame. Notice the vent bolted shut. The wipers are not original as originals would have been vacuum.




I can get pics of the top and doors too if needed, the doors have F-R sliders

 

Bob Westerman's website www.cj3a.info has loads of info to help you out. Be sure to check out the "siblings of the CJ3A" section!