I was going to start a new thread but I figured it would be better suited to continue this one. So, here's one for you:
A '52 M38 "project" showed up on Craiglist. I would have been okay with it if it wasn't 20 minutes from my house and, from what I could see in the pictures, had a very good looking tub. My '52 M38 is mechancially solid (after repairing/replacing pretty much everything) but the tub is completely shot and the frame only looks decent because the tub sitting on it looks that bad.
So the calls were made and the viewing scheduled. The seller was curious (presumably to gauge my seriousness) if I was bringing a trailer with me. I told him that I did not own a trailer but would be able to borrow one if we could strike a deal. I don't like cashing in a trailer-borrowing chip for what could amount to not needing it. Most likely thinking I was out to do nothing but waste his time, we firmed up a time and said good bye.
This morning I met the seller and assessed the inventory of his project. It was indeed an M38 - just spread out across two levels of a garage and some of the front lawn. Boxes were pawed through, ladders were climbed, and a tub was carefully inspected under the glow of a dim flashlight.
After trading a few jeep stories and some good-natured *, we failed to come to terms. I was stuck at my price and he at his. I was only really interested in the body parts and frame and had to stick to my price with that in mind. He was intent on selling the whole package (motor, trans, TC, etc) and held at his price accordingly. We shook hands and I drove away.
Less than a mile up the road I saw a sign for a yard sale and, as is nearly an instinctive response, I pulled in. Nothing cures the blues of a failed Jeep purchase like rummaging through a good yard sale. Fast forward 20 minutes and I was pulling out of the yard sale towing a very nice TANDEM AXLE CAR TRAILER (!!). I've been kicking tires on trailers since I dragged home my 3A three years ago on a rented U-Haul trailer. I've seen every one that's come and gone on Craigslist and stopped to inspect a dozen or so along the road over the years. I could just never pull the trigger on a purchase. I low-balled this one at the yard sale and they were glad to take the cash. Not a wasted trip after all!
I had barely made it two miles from the yard sale when my phone rang - you guessed it - the M38 guy, and we had a deal.
I swung around and headed back - now with a trailer in tow that I had owned for roughly 5 minutes. We loaded the rolling frame, tub, fenders, windshield, and a few other odds and ends and off I went. My wallet was much lighter and the rear end of my truck much heavier.
So I present to you 1952 M38 SN#56849. My current M38 is SN# 62101. That's two '52's with a serial number difference of "5252".
The frame is light years better than my current frame. It was POR-15'd at some point so it's held up well outside.
The tub was blasted years ago and stored inside. Surface rust has started to settle back in but should cleaned up nicely. The floor panels and hat channels have been replaced but it looks like a quality job. A small section near the tool indents has also been replaced but that looks pretty good too.� There are a couple tender spots on the wheel wells and around the tool box that will need some attention but I think I can handle that.
The goal is to migrate all of the fresh running gear from my other M38 onto this frame and use this tub. There is a less-than-honorable feeling when making plans to sacrifice two workable M38's to make one but I just don't have the time, money, or garage space needed to bring both of them back.�
I'm also not going for high-end restoration. I still want something I can bring to the NH trail run and not stress out if it gets dirty but I do like the idea of being able to round corners without the genuine concern of the tub falling off.
I hope I haven't lost too many of you with my long-winded rambling. Here's some pics, which is all we really want to see anyways:
