My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: ejb17 on June 12, 2011, 09:46:25 PM

Title: M38 Seriel #
Post by: ejb17 on June 12, 2011, 09:46:25 PM

So my first post was about a Jeep I got and I asked you guys about the Sears Alum. hardtop. This post is to ask when this M38 was built. The dash tags were gone but the fenderwell on the passenger side still had the WO tag. The seriel # is MC 26292. Can anyone enlighten me on this M38? Thanks

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: rocketeer on June 13, 2011, 06:59:53 PM

If that's the original tag it would date the vehicle to late 1950-1951. As far as I know the only serial number info that exists for M38's is that production started in 1950 with #10001 and ended in 1952 with #72329. There are no numbers for production per year that I'm aware of.

Larry

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: Bob W on June 13, 2011, 09:32:29 PM

The Date of Delivery for your M-38 was probably July 1951. Check out the Willys M Jeeps web site for detailed information about M-38s. �http://www.willysmjeeps.com/

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: ejb17 on June 14, 2011, 09:56:07 AM

Thanks. I found the assembly date code on the tranny and the transfer case. The transfer case assembly date is 7/23/51. Does this mean when it was installed in the Jeep or when the case was assembled at Dana? The date code on the tranny by the shift tower says L4 2-2. Does anyone know what that means?
Thanks in advanmce.

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: Bob W on June 14, 2011, 08:48:20 PM

The stamped date codes are assembly dates. L4 2-2 is November 4, 1952, or it could be 1962. What is the casting date on the drivers side of the transmission case?

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: ejb17 on June 14, 2011, 09:24:51 PM

The casting date on the driver side of the tranny is 10-24. Ok so you mean assembled date of the transfer case/tranny or assembly of the Jeep? Not trying to be smart but maybe I read your sentance wrong and just want to get it right. Also, how can I decipher these codes? I signed up for Willys M is the formula on that forum?
Thanks Eric

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: Bob W on June 14, 2011, 09:41:10 PM

I wasn't very clear about those date codes  :-[  They are the assembly date of the component, not the vehicle.

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: ejb17 on June 14, 2011, 09:52:43 PM

Thanks for all the help. Does the tranny casting date 10-24 mean anything?

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: Bob W on June 14, 2011, 09:56:59 PM

The transmission case was cast on October 24th. Many casting dates also include the year, but this one does not. I suspect it could be 1962 judging by the assembly date of November 4, 19?2.

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: ejb17 on June 14, 2011, 10:13:31 PM

So would the 1951 transfer case mate the newer tranny w/o changing something? A V-6 was shoe-horned into this Jeep with an adapter kit so maybe the tranny was a donor or already mated to the engine. I cut the body off today and am left wth a rolling chassis. The rear axle date code looks to be 3 2x 51 so some stuff was left untouched. They actually lifted the body an inch or so with wood pucks and then had to move the tranny/transfer case to the right to get that engine in. Total rub job but the frame looks ok and the axles look good. I will probable part out what is left as there is no way to make it an official M38 again.
One thing I found on the firewall was a voltage reducer for a mil radio-I think. That may be handy for someone.

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: Bob W on June 15, 2011, 06:31:03 AM

T-90 transmissions are fairly interchangeable. With a V6 conversion it probably has the long input shaft while a stock M-38 had the short shaft.

Do you have any photos of your project?

Title: Re: M38 Seriel #
Post by: ejb17 on June 15, 2011, 08:03:26 AM

Yes I have some pics but I can not post directly here can I ?