And the mysteries never cease!

Here's another one:
I have been sure since the first day that my 1955 CJ5 was built with an M38A1 frame. Everything is the same as an A1 frame, except mine is stamped with my civilian markings......but wait....maybe not so. Since my front bumper was bent ever so slightly, I seached for straight used A1 bumpers. Well, you can guess how that search ended . . NOTHING. I then called John at Midwest Military and ordered a reproduction that he is making in house. I get the bumper at home and pull it out. First, I notice that the metal on his repro is actually thicker than my original. I then put the bumper on. There is about a quarter inch play up and down. The inside channel on his bumper is too big and I am not about to clamp it down and distort it. I then notice that, when pushing the bumper all the way on, the big top holes do not go far enough back on the frame to align with the threaded holes in the frame. Maybe because of the repro channel thickness? Anyway, set it aside as a $90 boat anchor. call John today to discuss. Tell him the problem. He double checks all his measurements as we speak and they are all correct as far as he is concerned down to the thousandth of an inch. I wrote down the measurements and will check tonight. So, what frame do I have? Do I have another bizarre one off? I figure anything is possible on these things.

 

I bought both the front and rear bumpers from John last year for my ---52 M38A1 got them and bolted them right up..I have never had any problems with the reman stuff he has designed.. Is it possible someone put a different jeep frame under your body ?????

 

Be careful with the early ones. My '56 has a lot in common with the A1's, but it is definately a CJ frame. We all live and learn, I guess. I'll bet someone will be looking for a bumper like yours and you can get your $$ back out of it.

 

If your stock bumper was only bent "ever so slightly", why didn't you just straighten it out? Mine has the left end bent "ever so grotesquely", and I'm gonna work it over with a torch, hammer and come-along until it's beaten into submission. Removing all those rivets, then replacing them with bolts doesn't appeal to me.

 

I am gonna get pictures posted here in a few. It is definitely not a civilian frame. It has A1 written all over it. It has the gun mount(square though), boxed frame, shakle in rear of front, etc. Again, it is stamped with the correct numbers, never modified, etc. I still have the original bumper. Would never let it go. The problem is not just that it is slightly bent. I could fix that. Someone has also drilled the crank start hole in it and drilled holes for licence plate. If your original piece of civilian history came with a mil spec frame and front bumper, and you were interested in only original, do you get the correct, A1 bumper or put a civilian bumper on it? Either way, it will be wrong to someone. There is my problem. I think the issue with the fitment of the repro is more of a production issue. I will be speaking with John of MWM again today. Pictures soon. CJ

 

you can fix minor holes by welding and grinding it off, with a proper finish no one will ever know....

I have a 1973 buick Apollo that i was in an accident with a couple years ago, the bumper was bent 90* and had a hole torn in it... took it to a bumper place and they were able to repair it better then new, and thats a lot harder to fix then a jeep bumper. -- just an FYI I guess

 

I think that is what I am going to do I guess.

 

Early '56 CJ5s have reversed shackles too, I got them on mine. S/N 57548 33XXX

 

My A1 has a square machine gun mount (WWII MB & GPW's have the round ring mount for a machine gun), and another indicator of military frame is the tie down brackets on the sides of the frame . . . I would say that you likely have a CJ5 frame, not an A1 frame. I checked an extra A1 frame that I have, same as described above, square MG mount & tie downs.

 

I wouldn't make too many assumptions about this Jeep - as original as it appears, I would expect that what it has is what's right for it. Jeep was known for "flexibility" in manufacturing; I doubt that if they had extra M38-A1 frames that they would scrap them rather than use them. The Jeep is its own best documentation - no way to know any better unless you were there whn it was built.

 

X's 2

 

Galen, mine does have the square MG mount and the threaded holes for the tie downs. The threaded holes had some type of plugs put in them that are slowly drying and falling out. I am sure it is an A1 frame. Thad (Ol BIll) cam over and saw it this weekend and will be posting pics for me. CJ

 

And here you go! Took these Saturday evening. Perhaps this will clear it up some.....

 

I am sending the bumper back to Midwest Military. John thinks it may have been an abnormal production.