1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

1951 M38

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by ojgrsoi, Feb 14, 2020.

Tags:
  1. Feb 14, 2020
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Messages:
    2,231
    I bought a 51 M38 this week. It was posted in the CL section and everyone was helpful with "check this, look at that." Can't beat that help at Sears. My plan is to make it roadworthy and maybe fill in a few of the 1,000 holes in the body. The body, floor and hat channels are very solid. This has been kept in the machine shed at a ranch in the Hill Country of Texas for the last 40 years and appears to have been stored inside before that.

    This is the text and photos from the CL listing.

    This is the 1951 Willy's Jeep. In working order with original motor and transmission. "New" re-manufactured carburetor installed. Body is rust free. New brake parts and electronic ignition module included, not installed. Original seat frames, windshield and tail gate included. This jeep is ideal for restoration enthusiasts. It has been used as a utility vehicle on a hill country ranch for forty years. Originally purchased from a military officer who bought it from the Army when he retired. $2,750 or OBO.
    Pickup from seller will require own trailer transportation.

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    More to come shortly.
     
    blalp!, 47v6, homersdog and 1 other person like this.
  2. Feb 14, 2020
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Messages:
    2,231
    This is a video I received from a relative of the seller.




    I decided this was not for me and left the door open - "Please call me if you get it running. I like it and am really interested." Never expected to hear back from them. Last week the daughter called me and told me it was running now and was I still interested? So I went and looked. As I have said (about three times) before, "You know what happens when you go look."
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2021
    gpjeep13 and ITLKSEZ like this.
  3. Feb 14, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,622
    That is a really nice find!
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  4. Feb 14, 2020
    shadetreetim

    shadetreetim Member 2022 Sponsor

    Riverside, Ca -...
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2019
    Messages:
    199
    That there is purty!
     
  5. Feb 14, 2020
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Messages:
    2,231
    It has been converted to 12V and the wiring is all home made with no fuses. It should be an interesting project. The alternator looks like one that came from my 65 Valliant. It runs very smooth and quiet. The oil bath air cleaner is gone.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    The fuel tank is home made or from something else. It is just a steel box with a fuel neck.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Electric fuel pump and a pressure regulator. :shrug:
    Anyone have any links to engine numbers?
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2020
    melvinm and Fly Navy like this.
  6. Feb 14, 2020
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Messages:
    2,231
    The windshield and frame are very solid. The vacuum wiper motors are there. I also have both original seat frames including the back seat. They need some repair. Imagine that.
    I dislike the overused "barn find" but this rig had been on this ranch for 40 years and not started in five. You know - "Ran when parked." The first photo of the windshield is how it looked before they decided to sell it. They washed the JEEP to make the photos look better. They forgot to bring the windshield out. LOL
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    A new cowl gasket is on the way and then I'll get the windshield installed. They even had the glove box door and dash side of the latches for the windshield in a box for me. The pivot bolts where the windshield pivots were screwed back in the cowl when the windshield was removed back in the day and stayed there. It came with a new master cylinder and wheels cylinders. He could not find the brake shoes. I think if the owner hadn't been so tired he would have let me look around his machine shed. I suspect there are more pieces still there. It looks like they didn't throw anything away.

    I asked about the original wheels and the PO said he believed a couple of them rusted. The tires are at the end of their life so I am undecided on what to do there. The steering needs work. I suspect a worn steering box. Time will tell.

    The seller was concerned about a few things that were wrong with it and told me if I had any major problems to give him a call and he would give me some money back. Yes he really said that. I told him thanks but it is 69 years old and I don't expect a warranty.

    And now the title work begins. I have the title but we discovered the VIN is not the same as on this JEEP. The title is for a different M38 based on the VIN- starts with MC. I am checking on that but think I will have to do a bonded title. I have done that before and the process is not too bad.

    I always wanted a flat fender and this seems to be in pretty good shape.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2021
    Alan28, 73 cj5, homersdog and 4 others like this.
  7. Feb 15, 2020
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    I love this jeep so hard.
     
    ojgrsoi and Rich M. like this.
  8. Feb 15, 2020
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    Messages:
    5,407
    there's not much . Not to like about this jeep
    so cool to see the military light switch (y) is still there
     
    ojgrsoi and 47v6 like this.
  9. Feb 15, 2020
    mortten

    mortten I can’t put my finger on it 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Peninsula, Ohio
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2006
    Messages:
    1,738
    Excellent.
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  10. Feb 15, 2020
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2012
    Messages:
    2,351
    Congrats on the great find!
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  11. Feb 15, 2020
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    May 28, 2014
    Messages:
    971
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2020
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  12. Feb 15, 2020
    melvinm

    melvinm Member

    Arvada Co. 80003
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
    Messages:
    196
    You got A great buy on that .
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  13. Feb 15, 2020
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,169
    Love it! While I'm a make it what you want type, this is one of those just run it as is. Lose the lawnmower air cleaner for stocker and source some rims / tires and off you go.
     
  14. Feb 21, 2020
    IRQVET

    IRQVET Bubbaification Exorcist

    Tallahassee, FL.
    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2015
    Messages:
    680
    Cool find. Another ECJ5 member crosses over to the flat side . . . (y)
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  15. Feb 21, 2020
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2006
    Messages:
    1,929
    Great Jeep. I want a flat fender. Just like that.
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  16. Feb 21, 2020
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Messages:
    2,231
    Big progress here. I washed it and replaced a bumperette. Although the black one looks larger it isn't. I had to measure to convince myself. :shrug:
    AAAAAnd I ordered some parts to install the windshield.

    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
    Focker, Rich M. and Twin2 like this.
  17. Feb 21, 2020
    shadetreetim

    shadetreetim Member 2022 Sponsor

    Riverside, Ca -...
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2019
    Messages:
    199
    And they say black is a slimming color...
     
    Muzikp, Rubicloak and ojgrsoi like this.
  18. Feb 21, 2020
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
    Messages:
    12,367
    The number itself is different? Or just the MC location...the data plate has MC on it. MC is the model number.
     
  19. Feb 21, 2020
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2002
    Messages:
    2,231
    The VIN on the title starts with MC and has the serial number after that.
    The body VIN on my M38 starts with MC and is different from the title.
    The guy that sold it to the previous owner must have mixed his titles. The way I understand it he had more than one JEEP. I think this is so because he gave the manual to the guy I bought it from. On that manual he had handwritten the VIN that matches my purchase. They were friends so I don't think he was trying to get over on him. But that was 40 years ago and the first guy is gone. The PO is 85, not well and divesting himself of stuff.

    The last five digits of the body VIN match the last five digits of the serial number on the dash so I am confident that number is correct. The engine number is something different (4SW11381). I read on G503 that 4SW number indicates the engine came from an early Willys Station Wagon. IDK if that is true.

    Dash plate-Manufacturer's Serial Number 24198
    [​IMG]
    Body VIN tag. It is hard to see but this says MC 24198. This tag is the Willys tag that usually appears on the passenger side firewall. On M38 the body tag is behind the passenger seat.
    [​IMG]
     
    Glenn likes this.
  20. Feb 21, 2020
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
    Messages:
    12,367
    Well at least you feel getting the title in your name shouldn't be too difficult. Anyway, glad you got the Jeep and for a decent price. Glad it's got a good home too! :)(y)
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
New Posts