Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

1950 - 1952, M38, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38.
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carlwatt
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Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by carlwatt » Fri Feb 02, 2018 7:18 pm

I just bought an M38 with an Arctic top. It has a square patch of metal welded over the center of the vent. There are four holes in the cowl in the area where those external arctic heaters went. Did all M38 jeeps with arctic top (cab enclosure) also have that external heater on the cowl? Any info appreciated. Also, my jeep has electric wiper motors. Am I right that it originally had the vacuum wipers relocated to the top of the cab enclosure vertical front window?

Thanks for any advice!!


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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:47 am

There were M-38's in the Army that had the cabs installed and no heaters. Witnessed some at DRMO salvage yards, Ft Devens and Aberdeen PG, to name a few places.
The Stewart Warner M-978 Gas Heater Kits were also installed on soft top M-38 and M-38A1.
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Feb 03, 2018 6:52 am

And the Hunter hot water heaters were installed in the passenger side floor. I don't have the defroster installed.
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Feb 03, 2018 11:28 am

We had the M-38 Hot water heaters in my unit, not much room when wearing 5 Buckle overshoes. This is one of the details that led to the development of the roomier M-38A1.
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Feb 03, 2018 1:57 pm

Funny; I haven't thought about, much less worn, 5 buckle arctics in a long time.
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Feb 03, 2018 2:26 pm

The 5 Buckle boots also make operating the pedals fun.
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by carlwatt » Sat Feb 03, 2018 10:56 pm

Thanks! Really appreciate the info. What model of Hunter Heater is that?

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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by dpcd67 » Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:45 am

Hunter Model 20, 20,000 BTU. But installation kits for the M38 are super rare.
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by DieFledermaus » Wed Aug 15, 2018 7:31 pm

I'd like to get one of these Hunter 20 heaters for my M38. Anybody?
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Aug 16, 2018 4:07 am

The M-38 Hot water kit is rare, I never encountered any at surplus dealers. We had two in the motor pool back in 1960 on M-38 with canvas tops.
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by dpcd67 » Thu Aug 16, 2018 6:54 am

You can still get the M151 kits if you look hard, which include the heater assembly, hoses, wires, valves, BUT, the defroster and deflector is for the 151 not the M38. So, I put these kits in my M37, and M38, and throw away the defroster parts. It just blows hot air into the cab, which is all I want anyway.
Now, I have re-thought the Ordnance approved mounting location, in the passenger floor after sitting there and there is barely room for my tennis shows, crammed side by side. So, I decided to put the heater box on the tool box, between the driver and passenger seats. Run the hoses and wires down through the PTO hole. Still a neat and tidy installation and only have to drill one hole in the tool box and two in the rear floor for mounts. You can index the heat outlet to make the hot air blow directly on the passenger, which is very annoying, or straight up.
Or if you are clever with sheet metal you could make the defroster kit work for the m38 I suppose. Too much clutter for me.
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by captaincarrier » Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:29 pm

I recently finished up the installation of the heater. Not that I need it here (but who needs a 50 cal on a tripod).
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Re: Did Arctic Top jeeps always have the external heater?

Post by DieFledermaus » Thu Jul 08, 2021 9:32 am

I actually found two NOS M38 personnel hot water heaters and installed them. Looking forward to cooler weather. It's way to hot today.
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Mike
AUG 1944 MB, US NAVY
MAR 1952 M38
APR 1952 M38
1957 F2A AERODROME TRAILER
1993 M101
A & P mechanic
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