- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Finally finished up reinstalling the new knuckle. Next on the punch card are the brake lines. Also disassembled the tie rods and have the components soaking in my parts cleaner (diesel in a bucket).
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M38 Frame Off Restoration
- Thread starter HoveringHMMWV
- Start date
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Waiting on tie rod parts, so I starting restoring the drive / propeller shafts. First the slip yokes. Have NOS universal bearings and replacement shaft seals waiting to be installed.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Feels good to be assembling and installing rather than disassembling, cleaning and repairing. Bell housing stripped and repainted. Front brake lines installed. Tie rods assembled and loosely installed but not adjusted. Master cylinder refurbished and installed with heat shield. Brake and clutch pedal arms installed. Transmission shield, cross member, and mounts properly secured.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
More progress…. Got the T90 / D18 mounted.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Got the Z tube, clutch cable with new boot, clutch release bearing and fork installed.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Hung the rear diff recently and also installed the water pump today. My M38 did not have the front bypass hose installed but rather a brass plug. It took me a few days to research how-to, then remove the “frozen” plug and retap the hole. Successfully completed but who woulda thought that a brass plug would “weld” itself to cast iron so forcefully!
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- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Intake/exhaust manifold installed. Although they’re not listed in the parts diagram, I added brass washers under 5 of the 7 brass lock nuts. They seem a bit too large and unsightly so I will be removing them if I can’t find something smaller.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Today I cleaned up and repainted the wheel rims, adjusted the exhaust manifold heat riser arm, and installed the fan blades. Still waiting on some parts to arrive in order to finish the Ross steering box.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Parts arrived. Ross steering box rebuilt and installed along with rebuilt drag link.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Got the motor mounted today. Was a bit of work since I was solo. Took two low passes, one of which was a touch n go, before getting it lined up. All snugged up with proper dowel bolts and all. The front mounts gave me the most trouble. I kept them loose but still had trouble lining up the holes. The only mistakes were some scratches to the frame around the front mounts. Also had some time to install the exhaust pipes/muffler and four new sets of tires on refinished rims. It’s now an official rolling chassis.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Slowly worked at the restoration over the past few weeks. The radiator took me several days alone as I had to strip old paint, straighten bent fins as much as possible, and then repaint.
Also installed a new Cuno oil filter, bracket, and hoses.
Ended the day today by installing the radiator and associated hoses and fuel pump.
Also installed a new Cuno oil filter, bracket, and hoses.
Ended the day today by installing the radiator and associated hoses and fuel pump.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Got the tub media blasted before starting repairs to the floors and portions of the side panels. Flux core welding will be a new skill set that I’ll start soon.
flyfishtrailer
Well-known member
- 593
- 1,134
- 93
- Location
- Cool, CA
Your tub looks to be I pretty good shape considering its age. Not fun welding the thin stuff, but from those pics it doesn't look like you're really going to have much to weld.
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
Ran across a decent restoration candidate that will be next in line behind the M38.
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- 1,720
- 499
- 83
- Location
- Leavenworth, KS
Where’d you order it from?
- 599
- 1,460
- 93
- Location
- AL
WWII Military Vehicles, Parts and Accessories, Prior Lake, Minnesota, USA
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