Just purchased my 2nd MV...M38A1

[DevRev]

Just wanted to say thanks for your extensive posting of progress on this. I read every post in this thread! Goodluck and keep us updated, I do appreciate it!

 

[Maverick1701]

Just wanted to say thanks for your extensive posting of progress on this. I read every post in this thread! Goodluck and keep us updated, I do appreciate it!

awesome! Thanks for saying thanks. I really love sharing projects on forums...especially if it helps someone else along the way. I have learned so much off forums, I try and give back every chance I can.

 

[clinto]

1. I would not overfill any manual transmission. The engineers specified the correct amount of fluid for it and if it needed more, they would have specified so. I understand there may be some special instances like the aforementioned Ford, but I have never read about the T84/T90 family of transmissions benefiting from overfilling.

2. If you are concerned about braking performance, you can upgrade the M38A1 to later model CJ 11" drums I believe. I think the M38A1 has 9" drums and supposedly the 11" drum package will fit behind the stock rim. I did all the brakes on our M38A1 and I thought it stopped well enough to be safe. I modern car with disks and ABS will always be able to decelerate faster than our antiques so at a certain point you have to say "good enough". I am sure there is some kind of disk brake conversion out there for the A1 as well.

 

[Maverick1701]

1. I would not overfill any manual transmission. The engineers specified the correct amount of fluid for it and if it needed more, they would have specified so. I understand there may be some special instances like the aforementioned Ford, but I have never read about the T84/T90 family of transmissions benefiting from overfilling.

2. If you are concerned about braking performance, you can upgrade the M38A1 to later model CJ 11" drums I believe. I think the M38A1 has 9" drums and supposedly the 11" drum package will fit behind the stock rim. I did all the brakes on our M38A1 and I thought it stopped well enough to be safe. I modern car with disks and ABS will always be able to decelerate faster than our antiques so at a certain point you have to say "good enough". I am sure there is some kind of disk brake conversion out there for the A1 as well.

that is true on the t90 fluid. The designers probably had an engineering degree...I do not hahaha.
I will heed your wisdom and err on the side of caution. I will stick to the 1qt of fluid.

I am not worried about braking performance and fully understand old car vs new tech (not expecting it to stop like a sportscar). I am doing the brake system overhaul because I do not feel comfortable trusting my life to a brake system that been sitting w/no brake fluid in a field collecting rust for the past 13+ years. I am not expecting my jeep to stop on a dime...but I would like it to stop hahaha
I enjoy driving my Jeep, but I REALLY enjoy stopping my jeep lol.

 

[Maverick1701]

Well my rear diff was leaking after the re-fill. I half-way expected it. When my gasket arrived, the sender had written on the package "DO NOT BEND" in several places around the package. The mailman choose to disregard all warnings and folded the gasket/package to fit in my mailbox ARGH!!!! USPS why are you so frustrating?!??!


I knew the gasket was damaged and I knew better than to install it...but for some reason I went ahead and installed it anyway (I knew I was rolling the dice). I ordered a new gasket from napa yesterday morning (I am a little surprised they did not have a dana44 gasket in stock). My new gasket arrived this morning. I replaced the damaged gasket and re-filled the rear diff after work today. It looks to be holding.


I was going to re-fill the x-fer case and transmission this evening but dispatch called me out to a grass fire (I work for the sheriffs' office). Hopefully I will get to the x-fer/transmission tomorrow after work.

 

[Another Ahab]

Well my rear diff was leaking after the re-fill. I half-way expected it. When my gasket arrived, the sender had written on the package "DO NOT BEND" in several places around the package. The mailman choose to disregard all warnings and folded the gasket/package to fit in my mailbox ARGH!!!! USPS why are you so frustrating?!??!

You always wish the chain of custody did a better job, but that's not so common:

 

[Maverick1701]

today I knocked out a few things on the Jeep. I re-filled the transfer case, installed new rad hose, and diagnosed my generator shake.


X-fer Case:
There isn't enough room under the jeep to tip a gear oil bottle so I had to engineer my own solution. I found some old fuel line I had in the garage. I ran the fuel line through the under pass-seat toolbox drain hole, around the frame, and in to the x-fer case fill hole. The bend between the frame and fill hole kept the hose in place. I then drained the gear oil bottles through the hose into the x-fer case. I did not have one of those super handy fluid pumps and did not want to buy one. I ran out of fluid before I could fill the transmission so that will have to wait until next week.


Generator shimmy:
*flashback to when I first bought my Jeep*
I noticed that while my Jeep runs, the generator shakes and causes some crazy vibrations. I noticed that the generator bracket bolt was loose. I attempted to tighten but did not have any luck (I assumed that the PO stripped out the threads in the block. I also assumed the bolt was threaded right in to the block. I should never assume). At this point I figured I would have to helicoil the bolt hole. I was not looking forward to having to helicoil so I put it off until "later".
*flash forward to this afternoon*
Well today I decided to remove the generator bolt so I could measure for a helicoil kit. As I was jacking with the bolt I noticed a nut on the back of the generator bracket bolt that I somehow missed. AWESOME!!! I won't have to helicoil!!! I tightened the bolt/nut and still had a little movement in the generator. I finally found a loose lower generator mount bolt. I tightened down that bolt and am good to go. No more generator movement.


Rad hoses:
One my first set of radiator hoses I went a little crazy with the cutting to size hahaha. I had to order a new lower hose. This time I made several small cuts vs fewer large cuts. Not surprisingly, this time my hoses did not end up too short. I have some coolant ready to rock. Next week I will re-fill the cooling system. I have to re-fill my motor oil before I re-fill the coolant (so I can purge the air from the cooling system). I may have to fix a small oil pan leak before I add oil. I will diagnose next week.


I am going to be out of town for a few days visiting family so no jeep updates until Monday. My younger brother has a few days of leave before he ships out to Korea. It worked out well with my weekend off syncing up with my brothers military leave.

 

[Maverick1701]

Back from the weekend. It was nice to see my younger brother before he ships out to Korea w/the US Army.


I got my brake drums back from the shop. They were turned and look super pretty now!!! No more of that nasty lip that had been worn in the drums from years of use. I need to order some wheel cylinders and brake shoes. I also need to re-fill my transmission.


I also ordered 4 of those garage Edsal shelving units. 3 are the 72X48X24 (masonite shelf inserts) and one is 78X48X24 (wire shelf). Once they arrive I will post pictures of my shop room. At the moment I have parts/cans of stuff/tools/etc everywhere around the floor. These shelves should help me get organized and make jeep progress faster.


drum pics:

 

[Maverick1701]

Last night I ordered 4 new wheel cylinders from eBay. They should be here in a few days.


the extra money I usually put toward my savings account went elsewhere this time. I decided to splurge on myself and bought some more toys for my shop room. Pics will be posted when they arrive.


1X of these: http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-24-i...abinet-Set-Grey-C-210B/204188454?N=5yc1vZc2gk
I currently use a 5gal bucket tool organizer but that is getting way way past overloaded. It was time to buy a "real" tool storage solution.


3X of these (found $10 cheaper elsewhere after I bought...but that is how it works, right?): http://www.ebay.com/itm/321690781094?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
These are going down the side of my storage/garage room so I can clean all the parts/tools/crap off my floor.


1X of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FZDU4US/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I am actually putting this shelf inside my kitchen. I bought it before I realized I bought the wrong size/model...but oh well. I can still use it.

 

[Another Ahab]

3X of these (found $10 cheaper elsewhere after I bought...but that is how it works, right?):
These are going down the side of my storage/garage room so I can clean all the parts/tools/crap off my floor.

I hate it when that happens (but it does, more than I like to admit).

All this stuff looks great.

 

[Maverick1701]

I hate it when that happens (but it does, more than I like to admit).

All this stuff looks great.

Yea but that is part of life I guess hahaha
thanks. It looks super sharp all setup. I am uploading pictures as I type this.

 

[Maverick1701]

I installed the 78in rack in my kitchen. I live in an old farm house which means that storage is very limited. Ill snap a picture if I remember...but no promises.


The 3 72in racks I installed in my shop/garage room. Until now I have had to just keep stuff in the floor. It made everything super messy while working on projects (like my jeep or motorcycle). The racks were delivered today. I installed them earlier this evening. I also did a basic organization job on all my shop junk. It isn't totally dialed in yet but getting there (I need a few hooks for air hoses and extension cords...minor stuff like that). Also my toolbox should arrive weds. then I can organize all my hand tools and graduate from my 5gal bucket tool organizer.


Here are a few pics:


This was taken after I had pulled everything away from the wall. It is not usually this cluttered... I keep a patch clear enough to move the bike. My choc lab was helping.

WOW actually organized...mostly.

 

[Maverick1701]

Today I mixed coolant (just a hair over 50% coolant) and filled the M38A1s cooling system. I did not run the motor to purge the air pockets because the motor oil is still drained. Once I re-fill the motor oil I will run the motor for a bit and let the air pockets purge/t-stat open/etc. and top off as needed.


I need to re-fill the transmission as well.


I am still waiting on my tool cart to arrive. UPS tracking shows before 3pm tomorrow!!! I can't wait.

 

[Maverick1701]

My new tool box arrived today. This evening I had planned to button up the transmission then purge the coolant system. That plan was blown out of the water by the weather (which ended up missing us). We were forecasted for 2in hail, 60mph+ winds, etc. Thankfully the storm system decided to track further south vs hammering us. I would have just worked under the carport but I moved vehicles around (due to the forecasted hail). I had my patrol unit, my personal ride, and the back half of my M38A1 (since the front clip is in my shop) under the carport.


Since I was unable to work on the Jeep, I took the opportunity to assemble my new tool box. I also got most of my hand tools moved over and organized in my new box.


I probably will not have any updates until next week. Our annual Bob Wills music festival is this weekend with festivities kicking off thursday evening. I am going to be working the festival thursday eve, friday eve, and all day saturday...which leaves little time for playing on the Jeep.

 

[Another Ahab]

I probably will not have any updates until next week. Our annual Bob Wills music festival is this weekend with festivities kicking off thursday evening. I am going to be working the festival thursday eve, friday eve, and all day saturday...which leaves little time for playing on the Jeep.

Oh, Man, and the Texas Playboys; I love that sound.

San Antonio Rose, it's a classic.

Did Wills get his start in Memphis!?

 

[Maverick1701]

Oh, Man, and the Texas Playboys; I love that sound.

San Antonio Rose, it's a classic.

Did Wills get his start in Memphis!?

I agree! He and his group were talented musicians. Unfortunately, no he did not get his start here. He was actually born in OK but he lived on the far side of Hall County in Turkey, TX for a portion of his life. The festival is held there every year on the last weekend in April.

 

[Another Ahab]

I agree! He and his group were talented musicians. Unfortunately, no he did not get his start here. He was actually born in OK but he lived on the far side of Hall County in Turkey, TX for a portion of his life. The festival is held there every year on the last weekend in April.

Drifting, but for a good cause:

- Asleep at the Wheel did some good covers of his stuff

- But my favorite on the pedal steel for them was always Cindy Cashdollar (she could PLAY, buddy; she could play)


https://youtu.be/_gzJAAtvhwE

 

[Maverick1701]

You are right about Ms. Cindy! That woman is a steel guitar playing prodigy.

Funny that you mention asleep at the wheel. They are actually playing at bob wills (they do every year). I will see if I can snap some good pics. They play saturday which is our main day. Here is the link to the festivities w/all the bands:

There are few bands playing each night culminating on saturday evening w/Jody Nix. If you like Western Swing then Turkey, TX is the place to be during the last weekend in April. It is a pretty long 4 days for us at the sheriff's office (there are only 4 of us) but we all enjoy western swing so it isn't really work...sorta hahaha.

 

[Another Ahab]

There are few bands playing each night culminating on saturday evening w/Jody Nix. If you like Western Swing then Turkey, TX is the place to be during the last weekend in April. It is a pretty long 4 days for us at the sheriff's office (there are only 4 of us) but we all enjoy western swing so it isn't really work...sorta hahaha.

It doesn't get any better!

 

[Maverick1701]

Today after work I re-filled the transmission and installed my new seat cushions (I have not purchased a new cushion for the pass seat).


After getting everything buttoned up I thought "what the heck...why not!??". I hopped in the jeep, cranked it over and drove it around the field next to my house, down the alley, and around on my street. I live in a town of 106 people with only a handful of streets so I don't really have to worry about traffic.


The drive went smoothly but I still do not have brakes (that is the next project to tackle). I ran around for about 20mins in an attempt to get the motor up to operating temp. I also found a few little leaks I need to fix. A cursory glance looks like rear of the oil pan gasket, rear pinion, and somewhere in the x-fer/trans area. I have not determined their exact source yet... I need to crawl under and take a look


My shop assistant was right there being "helpful" as always.