M38 Test Drive

[Birfailed]

So, one my buddies from work has this 52 M38.  We tinkered with it saturday night, got it running, and took it for a spin around the block.  It has an electronic fuel pump, an air filter that is circulated in the motor oil, and a bunch of other cool lil things like a flip down windshield and beer storage right on top of the dash!  We then took it out to some mud today and I must say, I was impressed!  We got stuck once, pulled it out with a TJ, then we used the M38 to tow out a one ton dodge!  It has some decent flex for factory as well.  We've agreed that it definetly needs better tires and at least a rear locker.  We'll keep the tire size small for the gearing.  We ran up a few pretty steep hills, laid it sideways as far as we could without tipping, and smashed it through some gnarly whoops and the old lil motor didn't stumble a bit.  I never thought I'd say it but this Jeep has impressed me.

[unclejpl4x4]

now it needs toy axles and a 22r

[bucketofbolts]

that thing is rad

[Birfailed]

It's got the original flat head 4!  It's really rad.  Toy axles would be the perfect width but Japanese stuff under this WWII rig would just be wrong. 

[CTENG in KS]

Ain't just the suspension that's a flexin!   

[70 Cam Guy]

That makes me wanna take out our Willys jeep.  Ours is a '47 CJ-2A civilian model that my dad restored when I was really young.  Ours has the original 4 cylinder and 3 speed (manual) transmission but he swapped in a Rancho suspension.  It'll go an honest 45mph but that granny gear 1st gear is worth the low top speed 

I had to scan some photos but here's ours on the family property outside Ukiah

[46&2]

Sweet, I like those old school flat fenders, they are awesome.

[twistedtoy92]

thats badass!!!! one of those badboys with a 3RZ and FJ80 axles would ROCK!!!

[alwayzbroken]

Flatfenders and the new Rubicon JK are the only jeeps I would ever consider owning.

[boggerunner]

looks like fun, i was here building chanceys truck all day.  randy has a 48 cj2a that needs restored, i took it to moab back in high school, and it was a blast, never got it stuck once, i might have a pic layin around

[70 Cam Guy]

looks like fun, i was here building chanceys truck all day.  randy has a 48 cj2a that needs restored, i took it to moab back in high school, and it was a blast, never got it stuck once, i might have a pic layin around

That's what really surprised me about the Willys is that it would just keep going.  We've had passengers get out and walk because slopes were so steep they thought it would flop over backwards and tumble down the hill

I've never really rock crawled it but it's been all over our friend's ranch with some fun terrain

[Birfailed]

I really liked how itty bitty it was.  The thing doesn't weigh anything.  We could even get traction in mud just by rocking ourselves from side to side.  Im gonna keep my eyes open for one of these if I can find one for cheap.

[70 Cam Guy]

yeah they are tiny but so much fun!

You ever seen the old war videos of these Jeeps on history?  The were beating the crap out of these jeeps and there's this footage of them jumping them over hill crests towing the trailers!   

I just never had the heart to do that to the willys.  My Grandpa owned this thing, then my dad's uncle, and then my dad brought it back from rust hell.  We actually have the windshield removed right now because it's the original glass and we don't want anything happening to that.  We also still have the original PTO shaft, my dad's uncle used to run a saw blade with it when he was logging in ukiah years ago

[Shoyrtt]

I have a good friend with an old flat fender. He is running Dana 44s, 35" MTRs and a Buick V-6. It sure rattles and squeaks along the trail and with the short wheel base gets into some interesting spots, but it does well.  Here it is at the back of the pack at the Hammers. 8)