'52 M38a1 First Drive After 8 Years

So today was an exciting day. After a long long process, it's finally back on the road.

I checked off the last few items on my to-to list....check the fluid in my transmission and x-fer case, buttoned up my vacuum system, wrapped my exhaust, cleaned the gas tank, hooked up the fuel system, and then drive the jeep for the first time in about eight years. I have a few issues I need clean up but it ran and drove mostly well-ish.


I think I have a fuel issue and potentially a timing issue. After reading below and hearing the videos, what do you all think?





Video(s):

Driving around the field next to my neighborhood:




this video shows the idle at the start of my drive. It cleared up a little but I'm thinking I have a few issues to fix to really have it running well




this video shows the exhaust at idle. I still have some popping and minimal backfiring which also leads me to believe I have some issues to work out:




Cylinder 1 temperature still seems low (I swapped out the spark plug cable before running it today)...but maybe it's just showing lower because it's closer to the fan and has good airflow? what are your thoughts on this?


SP1 temp:



SP2/3 temp:



SP4 temp:




I also think I have a fueling issue. The fuel filter I installed between the tank & pump just shows a trickle of fuel....the jeep still ran but I would expect it to flow more than that. How does it look to you all?




At the end of the first drive the jeep died on me but I was able to restart it with starting fluid (no idea why it decided to die).

 

Update: After my original post, I went back out to do some more troubleshooting.

I found and fixed a few issues...now the jeep is running GREAT!!!

I apparently had a major leak around the carb mounting gasket. I cranked down on the mounting nuts and that cleared up.
Next I double checked my float level. I had it set at 1/2in and the correct setting per the TMs is 9/64s...so I was way way off. This fixed a ton of my other issues.

Now the jeep purrs perfectly. Once the wife got home, we all went out for a little drive in the alleys behind our house:

 

Whoohoo!

 

Good work!

I'ld re-check the exhaust Temps and pull the plugs for a look if it's still off after your adjustments. You might need to adjust the valves and run a compression check.

 

Glad you got it figured out, Good Job.