Looking for M38A1 info

[Ed Storey]

Brian Ashbury provided information on the Jeep CFR numbers and the Service Publication book Canadian Vehicles in Korea - 2015 ISBN 978-1-927822-03-6 contains information on the M-Series vehicles.

[DaleSinclair]

Thanks for the info Ed

[BCA]

Dale: Your Willys M38A1 is a typical American model and your restoration guide should be a set of American manuals for the M38A1: Operation and Maintenance, Body and Power Train, Engine and Clutch and a ORD9 parts book. PM me if you need to source these manuals. It probably has an added convoy light and convoy light switch to "up-grade" it to Canadian configuration. The CFR number is typical for American-acquired 1951 Willys M38's and 1953 Willys M38A1's (Otherwise we used the Ford Canada-produced 1952 M38CDN and 1953-produced M38A1CDN) in that the last five digit start with 33. In your case 53-33469. Most documented CFR numbers in this range are from historical photographs so the Willys serial numbers are not known. Your M38A1 is rather special because we know both the CFR number and the Willys serial number. Perhaps the other serial plate is still on the wheel-well behind the passenger seat; it should also be 45486. .. Brian

[DaleSinclair]

Hi Brian, thanks for the info. I did find US service and parts books online. The serial plate is on the right rear wheel well tub. That’s where I got the MD45486, so yes both plates match. There is no convoy light under it, but there is an out of place bolt on a frame rail. Possible spot. Hopefully one day I get it back to its original condition.
Take care.

[Ed Storey]

Depending on how far back the restoration is going to go, the question I have is were the convoy lights used in Korea or were they installed by the RCOC once the vehicle was in Canada?

[David Dunlop]

The other thing to look for would be signs of the Convoy Lamp Switch on the Dash Panel.

David

[BCA]

Convoy light and switch: I have the Modification Instructions for installing the convoy light on 3/4-ton Dodge (7 Oct. 1953) and 2-1/2-ton GMC (30 April 1953). Both imply that later production vehicles already had the convoy light installed at time of production and that the modification was to add it to early vehicles. In the case of the Dodge the early vehicles were pre s.n. 91401714 (3/1953).
The implication is that by March 1953 the convoy light was factory installed on Dodges and GMC's. I do not have the Modification Instruction to deal with the M38 and M38A1 jeeps. But it follows that in 1953 the convoy light was to be added to the M38 and M38A1. On M38's they always appear to be a locally added feature based on the location variation and crudeness of the dashboard hole for the switch. I haven't paid much attention to convoy switches on the M38A1 CDN (1953 production).
So for Dale's April 1954 American M38A1 that was brought into the Canadian inventory it stands to reason that it would have had the convoy light added as part of routine local E.M.E. instructions. When or if this happened is to be determined. Finally, it was produced 4/53 but when did it arrive in Canadian inventory? Unlikely in time to be a Korean veteran.