M38-A1 Frame

I have a chance to aquire a good M38-A1 frame and I was once told that they are a little more substantial than a standard CJ-5 frame. Does anyone now if this urban folklore is true?? I need to replace one of the lighter guage cross members on my own frame and now I'm considering swapping the whole thing. Thanks and cheers

 

frame

Not sure about frame gauge thickness, but you will get the front schackle reversal if you swap.

 

It has a machine gun mount - that has to count for something!

I've heard that there's more strapping or boxing or something, but I don't know the specifics.

 

I would go the easiest route, and swap the whole thing.

 

The steel gauge is the same but there is the shackle reversal in the front, and the front of the frame is boxed up to the front frame horns unlike civilian models. Also, the frames had spots on the sides for tie downs to bolt to, with the nut welded on the inside of the frame so they just bolted on. I think I still have some laying round. Like was already said, there is also the coolness factor of the machine gun support on the second from rear crossmember. IIRC they are also strapped on the bottom side, but would have to check when I got home tonight. Nickmil.

 

Kinburn,
I have a M38A1 and Cj5 sitting in my backyard The things that I always noticed are the tie rods and steering linkage are larger on the M38A1. The frames seem to be about the same gauge but the M38A1 has more areas that are boxed than the CJ5 and frame tie downs on the frame. And like Tim said it has the plate for the machine gun mount.

 

I switched to an m38 frame after my 5's frame was bent. I cut the top and bottom off the old frame and welded the remaining piece of flat steel into the 38's frame, creating fully boxed frame. that was 15 years ago and no cracks to date.

 

I think the springs have more leafs in them as well.

Stan

 

Thanks for all the info Guys...could some one tell me a little more about front shackle reversal?

 

Ian,
Your springs will attach to the frame at one end (called the pivot end) with a single bolt thru the eye of the mainleaf and into a bracket on the frame. It will attach at the other end with a single bolt or bottom half of U bolt thru the other spring eye and the flex shackle assy will then fasten to the fram with a single bolt or the top half of the U bolt assy.

On the M38A1 the flexible shackle is at the rear of the front spring and the fixed pivot is at the front.

On the CJ5 they're the opposite.

I think the military way was suppose to reduce bump steer.

Wes K