M38a1 cnd3
 

Hello, Picked this up with an extra engine. Can anyone help me with the BM on the windshield frame? Also there is a guy selling a Cj2a. Its a 1946 civl. I drove it today.No Brakes haha.

BM most probably indicates "Brigade Major".

Looks like a CDN2...no heater.

Can't say as I have heard that term. More likely it is one of the codes that the vehicle may have been held under. Often, if a vehicle was being held as national stock, or as controlled cannibalization, the two letter code could be stencilled onto the vehicle. I am not familiar with the letters BM, mind you, but then again I have been out of the EME system for a number of years now.

I can see the heater deflector box in the photo, so the heater would have been installed at one time or another. How can you tell it's missing Jon?

There are a couple easy ways to tell Cdn two from Cdn 3. Are the hood hinges slotted to allow removal of the hood (Cdn2) or solid (Cdn3)? Does the rear axle have the little hub caps in the center (Cdn2) or is it a flatish one piece axle (Cdn3). Lastly, if you look at the frame just over the front mounting points of the rear springs, is the frame an open C channel (Cdn2) or are there a couple 6" plates boxing the frame in this area on both sides? (Cdn3). The earlier Cdn2 were prone to cracking in this area, so this was an improvement when the Cdn3s were being assembled.

Rob: OK, ya got me! Because of the paint on the dash, I couldn't pick out the heater switch between the ignition switch and the "Pull out before fording" lever. Yes, and now I notice the cowl. My bad.

Any luck with mounting bracket for RT-524? Rain let up yet? :salute:

hello, yah i can get some better pics tomorrow!!! Kind of funny you mention brigade major... the guy I bought it off of said he bought it from a Vet that was high ranking!!!?.(retired working at the same airport) Use to take it into parades. I will ask him when I go to pick up the second spare engine. I will also check out the hood and axle. When i bought it I think the guy might have taken the heater out of it.( laying beside the spare engine with his doors for other m38a1) Maybe I should try and buy it?(how much they worth?)Anyways Iam really pumped to get this thing back in good condition:) Thanks for any help or comments you guys/girls can give me. Brad

The heaters are priceless, especially in the winter here in Manitoba. It could usually be counted on to at least keep the co-drivers feet warm.

The heater was usually removed to clear a bit of space to remove the engine. If it was summer, occasionally the mechanics would not re-install the heater cause it wasn't needed. The more likely reason was that replacing the short piece of ducting between the heater and the firewall was a PIA.

Like the heater, the doors are invaluable after you discover you needed them. A pair of doors, 2 side curtains and a tarp are probably worth a couple of hundred dollars. The steel parts needed are a bunch of 'footman' loops around the body to attach the straps to; a tarp arch; 2 short bars to go over the doors; a c-channel along the top of the windshield; and some little turn-buttons for the fronts of the doors. The plastic windows will almost always be yellowed and/or cracked.

Ok I got acouple more pictures. Iam lining up doors ,curtains and a new top for tomorrow hopefully........and maybe a new back seat:) Also getting the paper work together for an ownership! So is this thing looking more like a cnd 2 or 3? Thanks guys Brad

just some more pics

Looks like a Cdn3. The rear axle is the latest type. The rest of the photos don't show the details needed to determine. Take a shot of the insides of the frame just over the rear springs at the front hangers. You can also take a shot of the front brake backing plates.

Axles could be swapped between the years, but it wasn't quite that easy. The rear axle of a Cdn3 was a larger diameter, so you also had to replace the U bolts and the plates, so with that in mind, your is likely a Cdn3. The frame photo will tell for sure.