M38 Jeep Restoration
- Thread starter Hawkshadow
- Start date
After being delayed for several weeks, I finally had a Saturday without snow needing to be plowed and was able to get the engine into paint.
Getting the engine onto the stand, I was able to get a look at the full picture for the first time since getting it back from the engine shop.
Rust converter applied and prep work completed.
And into the booth!
With etching primer applied to the various bits.
Begin paint!
I chose to go with PlastiKote Engine Enamel in colour 202: Universal Gray, and I have been very pleased with the colour and results so far. Final product for the day:
Getting the engine onto the stand, I was able to get a look at the full picture for the first time since getting it back from the engine shop.
Rust converter applied and prep work completed.
And into the booth!
With etching primer applied to the various bits.
Begin paint!
I chose to go with PlastiKote Engine Enamel in colour 202: Universal Gray, and I have been very pleased with the colour and results so far. Final product for the day:
I have an M38 CDN as well. It was in about the same shape as yours when I got it. be prepared for a lot of work but all the information you need is at willysmjeeps.com and there are many vendors for parts you can buy every part on it just about. It's a lot of fun once you can drive it you get a lot of looks horn honks and people coming to talk to you with questions and stories.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Hi guys....Just wondering where you originally purchased the jeeps from. Did any of you import from the US ? Just looks like theres' much more available down south (unless you know otherwise) so just looking at import options...Any advice.? thanks..
Amazing what a can of paint can do to make things look about 300% better. I just put the last paint on my Opel 1.5l, so few of them around even the correct colour was open to debate let alone the shade of grey. Next big thing will be when you start mounting all the "bling" like starter, generator, oil filter housing and umpteen lines for the fuel and vent lines.
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
jst got to look they where sold as surplus at one time you could get one for cheaper then a VW bug
Here is a piece of advice for those looking for a old jeep. Check Ebay Motors as there are a couple things working in your favour if your reasonably close to the border the exchange rate is pretty good and alot of Americans are saying Hmmmm do I need the old jeep or want to make the mortage payment ? And visit G503.com (thats THE site of old MVs in general and jeeps of all ages in particular).
Thanks...Came across the G503 site a while ago. Also scan ebay and craigslist in various areas close to the BC border and a few historical military vehicle groups...I'll get there in the end.
I found this one on kijiji. There are lots of them out there and they pop up fairly regularly in conditions varying from junk beaters to parade-ready. I can't emphasize enough the need to do your research before you decide to buy. Pick your model and hit the books and forums to learn as much as you can.
XRC - you are So right! It's getting exciting starting to plan all of those small bits.
Thanks for the advice. I've been researching/window shopping for 4-6 months, all the various types, differences between them, costs for spares etc. etc. and the 'refurb' level at which I'm comfortable taking on plus the desired end result. Have re-built the odd vehicle in the passed, but just need to find my comfort level with this purchase...Picking up a few tips along the way with your pictures, so keep-em coming..thks
Hello TommyinBCI picked up my sons M38CDN after running an advertisment in a local buy and sell paper. The ad had a little 3/4 view of a flat fender MB and I like the M38s so it came home at a decent price I also ran (in the same paper) an ad for a jeep trailer and picked up a M100 for the worldly price of $350. As my lad is 12 and I am finishing up a couple other builds I will be rolling it out of storage in two years, then he and I can spend quality time rebuilding his jeep. He likes driving my MB and last summer he got the hang of double clutching. The thing is throw out a little ad seeking a old flat fender and its amazing what will surface. The next thing is once you drag a project home (if you go that route) the trick is to be persistant, and DO something on it every day. Even if its 10 minutes on the net seeking a certain part, or just plain staring at it and figuring out how your going to address a problem it will bring you one step closer to the finished vehicle. I have seen lots of "stuck builds" and once one losses momentum it is doubly hard to get back at it. I like the old flat fender jeeps as they are super simple, tons of parts available from great venders, not over expensive, and they just plain have a look that is second to none (besides the VW Beetle they are the most recognized vehicle in the world). Here is a little jeep story. I took the MB for a drive along the canal in Ottawa one evening and a Porsche convertable comes racing up off a side and I am sure if it got to the T junction one second sooner it would of done a left turn in front of me and zipped off. Anyways Porsche guy had to fall in behind me as I am enjoy a nice liesurely canvas off/windshield down drive but he is not a happy camper back there. We both come up to the stop lights at the Pretoria bridge and and wait till the traffic (both vehicle and foot) are clear to do a right hand turn. I am front wheels on the stop line with Porsche guy now on my LH side, I look over and there is a SMOKING hot oriental chick (think Lucy Liu to the power of 10) walking across the cross walk staring at the jeep. As she crosses in front she says "I love your jeep" with a super smile. A moment in time, what I found funny was that Porsche guy (who did have a really nice car) was not even noticed yet some old olive drab ride with white invasion stars got her attention. Once the lights changed Porsche guy was gone in a flash and I carried on with my drive.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The M38A1s in Canada are much newer than any US military surplus. Ours are 1953, 1967 and 1970 contracts. The US ones are all early 1950's, and were replaced by M151 Jeeps. All of Canada's M151 so-called '74 Pattern Jeeps were cut into quarters and sold as scrap metal. Only the very luckiest collector has a roadworthy true Canadian '74.
In my experience, once the Jeep stops running and is no fun fixing, it will sit and deteriorate. Kijiji usually has a couple listed at any time. Watch out for the really overpriced and overhyped ads. Watch out for the end to end off-road modified ones too.
Thanks for the input fella's. XRCD011 I enjoyed reading your post...Useful info about putting an add in the local..Both my boys (18 -14) want to be involved with this as well, so in due course that will be nice..My brother has just restored a 44MB (I'll try to send a pic) but he's back in the UK, however I've picked up lots of advise from his project..As you say, just gotta keep on top of it. The episode with the Porsche must of left you smiling from ear to ear. Maple_leaf_eh....Seen a few M38A1's but very little around BC...More available Seattle / Portland way...Something will come up
I bought my 1951 m38 from Marcus at Willys acres in Ontario. He's an awesome guy to deal with and can help you find what ever you want.
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
im odd i will buy the bubbaed and rotted jeeps these can be had for cheap and so can sheet metal jeeps are flat for the most part patch pannels are not hard to make for them i learned how to do patch work at about 10 year old that was on a mustang kijiji had a pair in my area not long ago the guy wanted lke $1600 for them both a m38 and a cj2 the m38 is not bad shpe but it had been bubbaed and the cj2 was rotting badly
good note on the cj2 is alot of the early one use a MB frame so if you find one like this a repro MB body could be put on it
as with all military vehicles there is a rentable side to them i have a few desert rat mounts on order but finding a vickers k is the tricky bit
good note on the cj2 is alot of the early one use a MB frame so if you find one like this a repro MB body could be put on it
as with all military vehicles there is a rentable side to them i have a few desert rat mounts on order but finding a vickers k is the tricky bit
It's been a while, time for an update!
Here are the last few pictures from the re-paint
I spent a while rebuilding my fuel pump with the kit for sale from Then and Now Automotive. It was a fairly painless process which just requires some time and concentration to complete.
Everything went together well, and when I encountered a problem with one of the diaphragms they sent out a replacement right away.
You can see in these pictures that the original fuel diaphragm was significantly smaller than the first replacement.
I went to re-install the pump onto the motor, but couldn't locate my pump spacer. It may be possible that the motor went in to rebuild with the spacer still attached and came back without...
Continuing engine reassembly now, will have more updates shortly.
Here are the last few pictures from the re-paint
I spent a while rebuilding my fuel pump with the kit for sale from Then and Now Automotive. It was a fairly painless process which just requires some time and concentration to complete.
Everything went together well, and when I encountered a problem with one of the diaphragms they sent out a replacement right away.
You can see in these pictures that the original fuel diaphragm was significantly smaller than the first replacement.
I went to re-install the pump onto the motor, but couldn't locate my pump spacer. It may be possible that the motor went in to rebuild with the spacer still attached and came back without...
Continuing engine reassembly now, will have more updates shortly.
Hi Hawkshadow
Good to see your latest round of pics. Looks like your nearly at the stage where everything can start going back together instead of stripping down. Some while ago I posted a comment about finding a 'project' of my own. That comment brought forward a fellow CGN with a 1951 M38 for sale, so after some communication and subsequent visit to view, I went ahead and purchased it.
Great little vehicle to work on (very simple...which suits me) and not at the level of restoration you are dealing with, but still a few months of weekend work to get it up and running.
I'll post a few pics later...Cheers and keep the pictures coming...
Good to see your latest round of pics. Looks like your nearly at the stage where everything can start going back together instead of stripping down. Some while ago I posted a comment about finding a 'project' of my own. That comment brought forward a fellow CGN with a 1951 M38 for sale, so after some communication and subsequent visit to view, I went ahead and purchased it.
Great little vehicle to work on (very simple...which suits me) and not at the level of restoration you are dealing with, but still a few months of weekend work to get it up and running.
I'll post a few pics later...Cheers and keep the pictures coming...
