Could This Be Original Military Surplus

I just bought these off ebay recently and the seller did not know who made the panels (Quarter ton military) When they arrived this afternoon, they appeared to be covered in military OD green paint and painted heavily like they were painted by a production line worker. There is rust and the tell tail holes for welding are on all the panels and hat channels. Do you guys think these could have been from a production military supplier ? There going on the M38A1 project. Thanks in advance.

 

Why not? I'd guess the proof will be in the accuracy of the small details and dimensions.

 

I just brought them out to the tub and placed them over the original hat channels etc. They have the taper on the ends and the recess where the front hat channels fit over the middle cross channel. Its amazing if they are after market, never seen anyone other than production parts made like this before. I will post more pictures tomorrow.

 

I feel the same if we are thinking military rebuild.. Maybe they were factory surplus?

 

Interesting that the edges are perforated like that. That's a level of preparation that I would never expect in a factory replacement body part. Maybe the factory gas welded or wire welded these parts together? Every factory-assembled body that I've seen has been spot-welded together.

By 1974, the hat channels were not available as separate parts from the factory. Instead you had to buy the complete floor assemble. Maybe they were available and that's how they came in the 50s.

 

I would say yes judgin by the drivers side floor pan having the depression for larger fuel tank and thus being two parts. It also has the correct crease and holes in the floor.

 

I hate to even use them now, because I feel they are like a part of history from the factory.

 

I have purchased a complete M38 floor assy from Quarter Ton. Matt cut it in half, and cut it at the base of the firewall for shipping purposes. This is a genuine surplus piece that had the whole firewall, angled toe board, and flat floor and tunnel area all the way back to, but not including the riser. It included the complete set of hat channels and triangle firewall braces all factory welded into one assembly. He had a whole pallet of these, and has had some sucess in selling them cut in pieces to affordably ship. Mine took about an hour to rejoin the halves with MIG welder and you would be hard pressed to tell they were cut. I had a slightly bent corner, and it was nearly all painted OD green when I got it.
I have no doubt that the -A1 floors you recieved are factory original repair panels. This is the same seller that had (has) all the new-old-stock D44 Powerlocks that were like $135, now $200.
This guy has all kinds of original military Jeep stuff, and he has been really nice to deal with.
-Donny

 

Donny, I agree, he is very good to deal with. I am going to use them obviously, but just wish I could hang them on my Jeep memorium hall of fame instead. But, they are getting installed. Just cool parts of the Jeep history.

 

Through Donny's undercover work, we have decided that these are indeed replacement panels from Midwest Military (Prior Lake, WI). So I went to the site and there they were. I have to tell you, these had me fooled. but the quality of the work is astounding and if I need replacement panel again (dumb thing to say) I am looking there first.

 

Thanks for sharing this info about Midwest military. It’s good to have options for original style floor pan. I like how the drivers side has the correct dimples and holes and isn’t one solid piece.

 

I may call John at Midwest to see if he has any interest in making proper replacement floor sections for the civillian Jeeps. The factory CJ (at least Kaiser-era) uses a two piece drivers floor. The front portion is the same as the M38a-1, but has a flat section welded in where the a-1 has a drop section for the fuel tank sump. The only difference on the front section is the military application has the pair of floor drains near the center vs the civillian version has the drains by the rocker panel.
Look at the original floor of your CJ just ahead of the edge underseat gas tank. There is a lap seam for the flat panel under the tank. I don't think there is a replacement panel out there that duplicates this feature, but Midwest's panels could be made by moving the drain holes, and including the flat floor under the gas tank.
-Donny

 

Donny
You read my mind. I need floor pans and was hoping to keep the look original. I wonder if it’s as easy as using these m38a1 floor pans and fabricating you own piece that’s flat for the drivers side as opposed to the drop section. Then maybe relocate the holes for the drains.

 

Classic makes more generic panels that are the right shape, but do not have the details of the originals. The drivers floor is a good example. Classic's has a bent edge to join to the rocker and holes for the fuel line and drain, but it lacks the diagonal stiffening depression, and the seam parallell to the bottom edge of the tank, and the floor drain in the correct position, and the welded 1/4-20 tab for the drain thumbscrew, etc. If you are looking to replate a rusty floor, Classic's panel will do that. If you're trying to restore the floor like it came from the factory, you might as well throw the towel in as no parts are duplicates of original, though Midwest's come close. Midwest only duplicates the military version which has different details than the CJ.
-Donny