The Willys MC, formally the -Ton, 4 x 4, Utility Truck M38, or the G740 by its

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

Standard Nomenclature supply catalog designation, is a quarter-ton

four-wheel drive Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...

military light utility vehicle Military light utility vehicle, or simply light utility vehicle, (LUV), is a term used for the lightest weight class military vehicle category. A Jeep-like four-wheel drive vehicle for military use by definition lighter than other military trucks ...

made by

Willys Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs ...

between 1949 and 1952. It replaced (in production), and succeeded the

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Willys MB The Willys MB and the Ford GPW, both formally called the U.S. Army Truck, -ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance, commonly known as the Willys Jeep, Jeep, or jeep, and sometimes referred to by its List of U.S. military vehicles by supply catalog ...

and Ford GPW models, with a total production of some 50,000 units — less than one tenth the number of WWII models built. Unlike during WWII, Ford was no longer involved in the production. The M38 was a military version of the then-current civilian Jeep CJ-3A. It differed from the CJ-3A in numerous ways, including a reinforced frame and suspension, waterproof 24-volt electrical system, sealed vent system for the engine, transmission, transfer case, fuel system and brake system. Some M38 jeeps served in the Korean theatre of operations, but the majority of units used there were remanufactured World War II jeeps. Approximately 2,300 M38 Jeeps were manufactured by Ford of Canada for Canadian Armed Forces in 1952, designated as the M38-CDN jeep. The M38 Willys MC was succeeded by the M38A1 Willys MD in 1952. The M38 windshield could be folded flat for firing and the body was equipped with a pintle hook for towing and lifting shackles front and rear. The headlights were no longer recessed as on previous models, but protruded with a guard wire in front. The "pioneer" tools (axe and shovel) which were carried on the MB's driver side were transferred to the passenger side of this vehicle.M38 Jeep Reference Guide, Miller 2009

Specifications

*Wheelbase: *Length overall: TM-9-804– 4x4 Utility truck M38, p.3 *Width, minimum: *Height overall: maximum with top up; reducible to M38-Data-Sheet-1.pdf
/ref> *Ground clearance: at the rear axle *Empty weight: *Gross vehicle weight: on road TM-9-804– 4x4 Utility truck M38, p.6 *Payload: on road / off-road.

Engine

*Displacement: *Bore/Stroke: *Compression Ratio: 6.48:1 *Power: at 4000 rpm *Torque: at 2000 rpm *Main Bearings: 3 *Carburetor: Carter YS 637S, downdraft TM-9-804– 4x4 Utility truck M38, p.109

Powertrain

The entire engine air intake and the axle system was fully vented to allow for operation while submerged under water. Its full-floating front axle (

Dana 25 Dana Incorporated is an American supplier of axles, driveshafts, transmissions, and electrodynamic, thermal, sealing, and digital equipment for conventional, hybrid, and electric-powered vehicles. The company's products and services are aimed ...

) was supported by the wheel hub, rather than the axle itself, and provided greater load capacity. The rear axle (

Dana 44 The Dana 44 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation and is used among automobile manufacturers and in the automotive aftermarket The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned wit ...

) was semi-floating. Its drivetrain was the L-head with a T-90 transmission and the Dana 18 transfer case. A few M38 Jeeps were fitted with a transmission

power take-off A power take-off or power takeoff (PTO) is one of several methods for taking power from a power source, such as a running engine, and transmitting it to an application such as an attached implement or separate machine. Most commonly, it is a sp ...

(PTO) driven winch. This feature was not used in regular production models due to increased weight on the front of the vehicle, as well as additional maintenance requirements. WillysM38

Electrical system

The electrical system was upgraded to a 24 volt system which required dual 12 volt batteries connected in series. Its ignition and electrical systems were waterproof; a valuable feature in rainy environments and where deep river fording was necessary.

Notes

Footnotes

Citations

References

General

Technical manuals

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External links

* http://www.willysmjeeps.com * http://www.g503.com/ * http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m38.php3 {{DEFAULTSORT:Willys M38 Jeep vehicles Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States Military light utility vehicles M38 Military vehicles introduced from 1945 to 1949 Military trucks of Canada