M38A1CDN2 Dashboard and Windshield Frame

[Scott Bentley]

Originally Posted by Mike Baker

My M38A1CDN2 has a padded cushion at the top of the dashboard, which extends right across the width of the truck. I have been unable to find this in any pictures of other M38A1s - has anyone ever seen this before?

Also, the colour under the green paint on my windshield frame is powder blue. This raises a bit of a puzzle. I know that M38A1 and CJ5 windshield frames were interchangable, but the factory colour of all early CJ5 frames was black. And if mine is a CJ5 frame it would have to be pre-1959 because I have split glass (only a CJ5 option until 1959) and top-mounted wipers (also an early-CJ5 thing). So my frame is the wrong colour to be an early frame and the wrong design to be a late frame! Does anyone have any ideas what I have?

I think you answered your own question on the frame. Sounds like a CJ-5 frame. I can't explain the smaller details, but the crash pad is def a CJ item.

EDIT: CJ Fenders were regularly fitted to CF M38A1s (my 67 had one), but I can't say i've ever heard of a CJ windshield frame being used, but its not impossible. Maybe Rob Love the resident "M38A1 guy" can chime in with some clarity.