M38a1 CDN2 - Winter Project

[Wayne Hingley]

New clutch set and engine dropped into place.

[Wayne Hingley]

Most of the chassis parts and pieces back in place.

[wsknettl]

Hello Wayne,

I notice in your very early photos of your frame the right front tub mount bracket is the extended type but in the remainder of your restored frame photos you have replaced it with the standard early chassis tub mount bracket (often called Outrigger).



Are these the same frames?

[Wayne Hingley]

Good eye Wes. Yes it's the same frame. I cut the mount back to original configuration.

[wsknettl]

What information were you able to find that led you to remove the outrigger extension? Was it ever standard on the M38A1 CDN series 1, 2 or 3? I have seen it often on CJ5's but not military.

[Wayne Hingley]

I believe the body mount extension was added to this vehicle as part of the "life extension program" in the early 1980's (Im sure someone like Rob L. can confirm that the body mount extension was part of the upgrade modifications when necessary). The CF had the body off this jeep and performed a number of modifications and repairs to the entire vehicle. That particular body mount extension is located under the passenger floor area, and was most likely added to make things more rigid as there are sometimes stress cracks that develop in the body metal around some of the body mounts (due to rough service and/or heavy loading in that area).

The body mount extension on this jeep was somewhat poorly welded in place and had been bent from an under-body impact of some type. I decided to remove it rather than repair it.

This modification was not standard on the M38A1 CDN model, but I am guessing that it was a common addition (where necessary) on the CDN 2 & 3 models that survived into the 80's.

[wsknettl]

Wayne,

Thank you for the explanation. This extension has caused some confusion even on our www.willysmjeeps.com discussion boards. The outrigger extension is listed in the US M38A1 ORD 9 parts manual as WO# 906408 but is presumably for the M170 frame but can be used on the M38A1 frame and probably was a desired upgrade when the M38A1 was used as a recoiless rifle or machine gun platform. Unfortunately neither the MWO for the M38A1C conversion nor Change 1 to the TM 9-8015-2 show this extended outrigger being used on either jeep.