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m38a1 help

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Lieutenant Mike, Feb 29, 2008.

  1. Feb 29, 2008
    Lieutenant Mike

    Lieutenant Mike Firefighter Mike

    Boaz AL
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2005
    Messages:
    313
    A friend of mine just bought what he was told is a 55 m38a1. It is military and has a F134 in it. My question is the ignition system. Did the m38a1 have a 24 volt system? If it has a 24volt system how should the wiring be ran to start the motor? Positive Battery to the starter solinoid, hot to a 12volt coil to the distributor?

    Should there be a 24 volt battery? I was thinking it should have had a 6 volt system.

    I searched the archives and could not find much on wiring for the m38a1. Thanks for your help.
     
    Lieutenant Mike, Feb 29, 2008
    #1
  2. Feb 29, 2008
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    IIRC all M38A1s are 24V. Pretty sure everything runs at 24 volts - 2 12V batteries in series.
     
    timgr, Feb 29, 2008
    #2
  3. Feb 29, 2008
    Lieutenant Mike

    Lieutenant Mike Firefighter Mike

    Boaz AL
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2005
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    313
    Thanks Tim.
     
    Lieutenant Mike, Feb 29, 2008
    #3
  4. Feb 29, 2008
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
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    might try PM'ing DonX as well Mike....he's running stock 24V in his rig
    Jim S.
     
    bkd, Feb 29, 2008
    #4
  5. Feb 29, 2008
    kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

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    Jan 7, 2007
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    shoot some pictures of dist, if its got the coil inside its orignall, and is 24V, should have batt.box in cowl,2 12V bat> as tim said, positive to negetive between the two batteries and will leave you one positive post and one negative post= 24 v
     
    kaiser_willys, Feb 29, 2008
    #5
  6. Feb 29, 2008
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    The 24v system is easy to spot, the generator is about 8 inches in diameter, a foot long and it takes two v-belts to turn it.

    As mentioned above, if the coil is inside the distributor and it has the water-resistant plug wires it is definitely 24v. Two batteries in the cowl, wired up in series. The M-38 and M-38A1 had a foot starter that had a rod running through the floor to engage the starter drive. The dash of an 'A1 also has 4 Dzus fasteners that hold the instrument cluster in place and the headlight switch will be the three-lever military version.
     
    w3srl, Feb 29, 2008
    #6
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