Black out driving light M38A1 CDN 1953

[Casey B]

a couple of pics to see the connectors on the inside and back of the housing.
as well the connectors on the bulb itself.

[Casey B]

Does anyone know what would have gone on the opposite fender? The bolt pattern is larger and laonger than the Black out light on the left drivers fender?
This might help me get some more of the history of the jeep itself as the records are not availiable any longer. I know the front hole was for signal lights...removed now.

I was thinking another light or maybe a siren? It was a base vehicle and did not really leave the base...CFB Chilliwack.
Thanks for the input.

[rob love]

The black out headlamp is the later 60s type, rather than the one for a 53.

The holes on the fender look similar to the holes for the C42 antenna ATU mounting plate. Are there some extra holes on top of the rear wheel wells?

[Casey B]

Yes Rob only on the pass side where the axe stowage is...I do have an axe loop there but didn't think that CDN's came with that thought it only a US thing?
There was no wire tunnel across to the other side but there is a bakelite connector in just behind the pass. seat as well there is wiring for the radio set up under the hood.
Thanks again Rob another peice to look for now to complete the puzzle...even if there is no radio to go with it...Have to fill the holes with bolts for now to pass the inspection for collector plates and have to match the later paint.
I tried the original colour too brown...thinking it's the later paint from the late 60's early 70's... maybe the gillespie semi green for the marines...has more black.

[rob love]

Canada's colours were not in synch with the US paint codes. Add to that the likelihood that the Jeep has not been painted in 40 years, and the fading can make the matching even more difficult.

I cannot comment on the "axe loop" as I am not that familiar with the earlier 50s Jeeps. But if you are talking about the footman loops, they usually were still installed. If you are talking about the part where the axe head sits in, that, I think, would be unusual.

Most C42 installations consisted of several smaller holes to hold two mounting strips onto the wheel well and usually a couple of larger 1/2" holes were present as well. Seems to me the main power connectors could have been present whether the IKEE was installed or not. Personally I would look at having the holes on the fender permanently filled. The front ATU mounts were ugly and ruined the fine symetrical appearance of the Jeep. I have one for my M38, and as rare a piece as it may be, I am not so sure it is going back onto the truck when it gets restored.

[Casey B]

Point taken on the antenna mount not to mention I spend so much time under that side of the hood it's a pain with the heater that was installed there so it came out as well...but is going back in...as I have a better half who really likes staying warm and does like the Jeep.

Yes the footman loops but the axe blade loop is there as well to stow the axe. I wondered as Canadian Jeeps didn't have this...?
I'll thrrow a pic up to show which I mean and the holes.
Going to weld over a lot of holes in this thing. I can always drill em out.
I'll try the paint. The original colour under the darker green is a greener olive colour.
The last colour to be painted still looks more balck so I'll try to ad some black as you said before and try to match what I can to pass the test. No rust may show and it must appear to be even..Hahahaha!

[Frank v R]

some of the holes are for your C42 set items, you should also have the holes for your signal lights , these were not the same as the CDN 2 & 3 , the housing is the same but the lens used was a blackout marker door with the cats eye removed with only the clear lens remaining , using a normal clear bulb not coloured , the signal area should have a total of 4 holes , two for the housing , one for the bolt , one for the locating pin and two more for a aluminum bracket that was to keep the housing from movement ,this applies to the fender only left or right , for vehicles with the C42 set on the pass side the marker is mounted to the plate that is bolted to the fender for mounting your ATU, the aluminum was over kill and I do not know if all the signal kits were installed using this part , on the rear you should find 2 or 3 more holes at the rear for mounting two L brackets for the rear lights , lights used were of a commercial type with red lens on one side only , when I restored my wifes '53 I did not install these because it looks like something a farmer installed ,but I did leave the holes, the '52s , '53s , and all the smp vehicles had these kits installed during the same time period , you can still find the rear lights on most of the GMCs, hope all this helps,
regards Frank

[Casey B]

Thanks Frank
Yes this did have th signals But I removed them as the wiring was a joke and they never really looked good to me anyways.
The front hole had the single stud from the bottom of the marker style lights with an amber lens...I took em off. there was no bracket so I am probably going to fill these in welding them up proper then grind prime and paint.
Thanks Love to see a pic of the bracket you mean though... never know I may change my mind...?
Thanks again Casey

[paul53]

Hi Casey,

I too have the same bolt pattern and it was for the C-42 tuning unit. I had used on old mounting plate for size and made a new one, and also had to get a different fender so I used the existing bolt pattern - this one is not the same as yours as you see in the picture. I have not repaired the old fender yet so this one will do for now.

You can see it's an ungainly thing sitting out on the wing and I can see why they moved it to a different location in later years. I too also have the axe mounting bracket as you can see in the picture. Built 4/53

Paul

[paul53]

Hi Casey,

Here's a picture of my old fender, same bolt pattern, I just need time to repair it.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by paul53

Hi Casey,

I too have the same bolt pattern and it was for the C-42 tuning unit. I had used on old mounting plate for size and made a new one, and also had to get a different fender so I used the existing bolt pattern - this one is not the same as yours as you see in the picture. I have not repaired the old fender yet so this one will do for now.

You can see it's an ungainly thing sitting out on the wing and I can see why they moved it to a different location in later years. I too also have the axe mounting bracket as you can see in the picture. Built 4/53

Paul

Is your support strut original? My CFTO on the radio installation showed the strut going to a piece of angle iron on the hinge for the front grill. My CFTO is more for the M38 though.

[Casey B]

Hey Paul How are things up there?
Yes it looks a little well like an easy bake oven way up there on a plate!
I kinda like it for originality but well yes as Rob says it takes away the symetrical look of the jeep!
Now I know what you were talking about Rob!
Well that was what the holes were for... okay that is that sorted...! Thanks Paul!
Haven't mounted the gun mount yet but have it painted...just not happy with the too brown colour so tying to sort out a better darker green.
Once on I'll send you some pics!
Great to talk to you again!
Casey

[paul53]

Hi Rob

No, my support brace is not original, I had seen the diagram your refering to in the CFTO but I chose not to use that. I had seen different photo's detailing different ideas that were used and all were not like the CFTO at all.
I based mine on the idea I won't have a winch so I used the mounting hole as an anchor and it worked. If i get bored this winter maybe I'll try to make the original style. My idea seems to work rather well and is very sturdy. I will have to admit that whole idea of that tuning unit mounted there is rather ugly, but it served a purpose.

Casey, Glad the GPMG mount I sent you is working ok, you will have to post some pic's when you can. What is your build date of your M38A1?

Good talking to you

Paul

[Casey B]

Hi Paul
Yes I'll get you the pics when mouted properly.
The build date is 2-2-53 so feb 2nd and it was decomissioned 2-14-76