M38A1 or cj5???

I’m wondering if the tub I’ve acquired is possibly a M38A1. It has no tags and it’s the tub only. Are there any identifying factors that are different than the cj5 that I could look for – for instance, if I had the frame I could look or the factory shackle reversal (at least I think the M38A1’s had that…).

Thanks for the help. I bet there is something on this site that tells me – but I also know there are a lot of you out there that could rattle off an answer real quick. Thanks again.

 

Dash if there) is different on an A1. Gauge panel vs. speedo hole. Battery box on cowl is functional vs.fixed on CJ. Slave plug receptacle hole on passenger side cowl, not there on CJ. Does it have a tailgate? A1 doesn't.

 

It's a 5. Thanks for the id help. I knew someone would have a bunch of items to look for!

 

No pics and it's currently sitting in my storage building 200 miles from me. But it's definitely not an A1. The pass side sheet metal is all original and hasn't been cut. No receptacle.

What threw me off being a 5 is it had some "extra" stuff I'm not familiar with in ecj5's. The PO said it was from the early 60's and was a 5. My guess is somewhere in the past 40+ years, somebody welded on to add fittings and cut to accommodate accessories. All on the back end on either side of the tailgate.

 

I've been wondering what the rectangular box on my CJ5 cowl was for. It seemed to have no function. Now I know....Thanks

 

BTW, early CJ5 had the same "reversed" shackles as M38A1.

 

And the A1 didn't have a tailgate.

 

M38a1's has a 3.5" gas tank well in the drivers floor.

 

Only in '55, IIRC.

 

Original CJ-5/6 bodies all have "JEEP" stamped into the side of the cowl. The military models did not. That's a difficult feature to wipe out. I would start with that.

 

My '57 has reversed shackles.

 

Doesn't the M38A1 also have a machine-gun mount under the tub behind the front seats?

 

Yes.