Is this an MWO?

[rob walsh]

Guys,

I'm currently going through a 53 M38a1 and have noticed that the battery box cover thumb screws have been replaced with what looks like round headed fastener (totally smooth) screwed into weld tab that the used to hold the thumbscrews and the cover is replaced by a the later M38a1 style batter cover with the one latch (like the M170) Jeep did not have history in civilian hands.....went from OR national guard to forest service then me...

Is it possible this is an MWO? anybody know about doing this as an MWO?

If you know the M38a1 and the early style thumbscrews, for the cover, you know they are a PITA and why the switched over.....

If this has already been covered, sorry, I could not find it in the archives....

Thanks guys...

rgds,

Rob

Robert Walsh
Boise, Idaho

[Ben Dover]

Probably just a convenience mod, it is possible the original cover was lost. There was no MWO that I have seen. U.S. Forest Service is civilian, and they loan these vehicles to State Forestry Departments who drive them till they have a failure and set them aside for another free vehicle. Maintenance is minimal if at all.

[rob walsh]

Ben,

Thanks for the feedback....

Looks like I can go back to thumbscrews pretty easily....

Rgds,

Rob

Robert Walsh
Boise, Idaho

[Jeeps4Brains]

My M38A1 came with a spring latch battery cover. I restored it and painted it a nice OD green.

Then I started working on the body and found all the screw holes for the original cover. So I got a repro from Midwest Military. It fits great.

Then I added a screw type disconnect to one of the battery terminals. Geez was that a pain to unscrew all those screws each time I wanted to disable the power. Later I added a disconnect down to where the negative cable attaches to the ground near the voltage regulator.

In the military just imagine checking those batteries once a day.