1951 M38

If you ever part ways with thing, promise me I'll have the first crack at it. I absolutely love this rig, nice work Mark.

 

Had to borrow a valve spring compressor. Called a friend that has a bunch of his dad’s old tools. Came up with this one.



To put it in to perspective it seems to be large.



But it works. Possible tight fit near the firewall.

 

That's a great M38. I like all of it. Really nice job!

 

Thanks. I have the valves lapped and adjusted so I just hope it starts when I put it all back together. I decided to do an easy fix and replace the steering bell crank. Just a bolt on with a NOS part. Well almost....

The steering bell crank I removed is fine around the bushing but worn egg shaped on the drag link end.

The old part appears to have been rebuilt using a brass bushing. It has a hole and a galley for grease to move around the part.

The NOS part came with bearings and seals installed.


It would have been a straight swap but there was no race included with the NOS part.

I ended up getting some input from @jeepdaddy2000 and purchased a rebuild kit.
I only needed the race but ended up using all of it except the bearings and seals which included the correct nut for that application. Everything now works exceptionally well and no catches.

 

I am beginning to reassemble. Again, I hope it starts once I get it all back together.


Not shown is the repainted oil pan and new gasket. This has run quite a few years with no oil filter. I think the PO kept the oil changed. I was expecting a lot of sludge in the bottom of the oil pan but there was only a slight bit of skum. This is kind of a "It's off and cleaned up so paint it," situation.

 

GM Alternator Adapter for L-134 & F-134

I purchased this adapter bracket to mount a 3 wire GM alternator on my L-134. It can also be used on the F-134.

(Vendor photo)



It's a nice little bracket which could be easily fabricated if you have the skill and tools to do it.

One challenge I found is that the plate on the front of my block is not exactly like the one in their photo. The bushing (center bolt) that is welded in the my plate is positioned more forward than the one in the vendor photo. I don't know if This is a characteristic of this engine (which came from a 49 or 50 station wagon) or if this plate came from the original military engine.



This required me to shim the outer two bolts with a few washers to get the alternator, crank and water pump pulleys to align correctly.



Overall I'm pleased with the product. A bit pricey but the adjustments I made got the alternator where I needed it to be. I was able to replace the worn out Mopar alternator and the external regulator.

 

First snow on these parts in 70 years.

 

Disassembled the components on my radiator.


I whacked the corner on the fan shroud to fit the new radiator. The pipe on the bottom is not exactly the same as the one on the old radiator.




Test fit.

 

Shroud added and most everything installed.

 

I replaced the head gasket along with all the gaskets on my L134. There was no oil filter on the engine when I bought it. So while things were going back together I added a cartridge type and new hoses. It is a kit from Kaiser Willys.
I put it all back together and rolled it outside to start it up. It cranked about five seconds and then when I remembered to pull the choke it fired right up. Runs quiet and very smooth.

After running about 30-45 seconds oil began flowing past the gasket on top of the filter and out the top around the bolt. I shut it down and thought I just had the gasket wrinkled up. I took it apart and reset the gasket and made sure it was tight.

Fired it up again and same result. Had a conversation with OLDTIME and he suggested that I check the hole in the center tube in the filter housing, the return line or the fitting where the oil return line connects to the timing gear cover. Any of those could cause the problem.

I verified the center tube and the hole in the tube of the housing were clear. Then I took off the return line. It was dry. I blew through that line and it was clear. When I checked the fitting on the cover it was clogged.

So I'm pumped - problem solved..... Well not really. I put some PB blaster in the fitting and got it to pass fluid. I blew air through it. Put it all back together and fired it up. I note the oil pressure -40 lbs at idle - and then hop out to see oil flowing out again.

I repeated the process of cleaning the fitting on the timing cover. One more try and still had oil leaking out the top of the filter housing. I do have oil flowing through the return line so I made a little progress.

More conversations led me to realize that the kit did not come with a flange bolt. It came with a standard hex head bolt, copper washer and a fiber washer which happened to be broken as shown here:



OLDTIME sent me these images so that is the direction I went.
"This shows the head on an original Donaldson.


I usually use a single neoprene washer under the bolt head. Whatever seal you decide on do not use multiple seals.

"

Flange bolts this size are definitely hard to locate. FIREBALL sent me to SUMMIT for these.



So I purchased and installed these along with a washer and grommet. This bolt is actually the correct size but the head and flange is smaller than the OE flange bolt. So I ended up with a modified set up like this.


The good news is that with a new WIX filter and gasket, modified top bolt and cleaning out the oil nozzle on the timing cover, everything seems to be working as designed. And BTW it really runs smooth.

 

I loomed up the wiring after a final battle with the alternator indicator light (I gave in and don't ask.) Lights are back on and brakes adjusted.

The old exhaust pipe was bent and rubbing underneath. Muffkin is somewhat new and no tail pipe. I had new hangers, exhaust and tail pipe installed at a local shop. Not really much quieter but certainly better than than it was.

 

Here is my grandson having a little fun.

I put the reflectors back on and installed a few minor parts I had in a box.



And I’m going to call this one done. Now to find a new project.