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M38 grille on CJ3A?

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:36 am
by maddawg308
Will a military M38 grille simply bolt onto a CJ-3A without any major mods? I realize the radiator of the -3A is radiator mounted, and in the M38 it's frame mounted. Looking at "militarizing" a CJ3A to look more like it's army brother. Resto fanatics, have no fear, the body tub I have on the 3A is pretty nasty, and it isn't really collectable anymore....

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:55 am
by Fortyeight2A
You would need to frame-mount the radiator. The M-38 grille doesn't have provisions for mounting the radiator there. Then you would need to address the question of mounting the M-38 grille. The 3A grille bolts to tabs welded to the frame at the bottom corners, where the M-38 grille is hinged.

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:32 am
by Bill F
the m38 grill is hinged but it also has the hole in it just like the cj3a grill. The raditor mount would be the hardest part.

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:16 am
by Cuz
It would be easier to put the M38 grill hinge frame halves on the 3A frame then it would be to fabricate the two civvy frame brackets.

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:25 am
by cjv-35
Not all cj-3a grills are radiator mounted.From 49 to I believe 50,the radiators were bottom mounted same as mb and 2a.That is the way my 1950 v-35/u is.The parts book on 2a and 3a does not give a specific serial number when the change took place.Good to know that an m-38 grill has the holes for the frame mount 3a support bracket bolts. :)

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 12:39 pm
by petesilfven
The hinged grill makes it a lot easier to remove for engine removal.

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:16 pm
by Bob at Warsaw
I wish that the GPWs had it Pete :D

Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:27 pm
by Bob at Warsaw
308

Was you able to make the Grille work?