M38A1 heater questions

1952 - 1968, M38A1, M170, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38a1 series.
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dlevy
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M38A1 heater questions

Post by dlevy » Mon Mar 19, 2018 7:27 pm

Hi,

Can anyone please tell me which is the correct heater for the M38A1?

I think the unit "Heater Vehicular Compartment MS51326" in the first picture is a later unit ?also used in M35's? or was this also used in the M38A1? This has the pipes coming out of the top. The other picture has them coming out of the sides of the unit.

Both pictures are of M38A1's.

Anyone have a correct heater kit (I need the mounting plate, triangular support and the heater itself, I have the ducts, wires, etc.)

Thanks
Dave
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Heater MS51326.jpg
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My_heater_008_1.jpg (75.84 KiB) Viewed 929 times


Joe Gopan
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Re: M38A1 heater questions

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Mar 20, 2018 4:02 am

Both correct for M-38A1.
Upper heater is mid 60's thru present, lower is 50's thru early 60's. Remember, these were in MV specific vehicle kits and could have both spent years in Depot warehouses waiting to be issued. Note the Pre 1962 address of the manufacturer(Hunter), no ZIP Code. :wink: I prefer the earlier heater box. The Army started with Stewart Warner Gas with the M-38A1, it was for colder climates and ended with hot water.
The Hot Water Heaters were sourced from Hunter and E.E. Laboratories , and later from Kysor. They all had the Packard Connector on the Heater Motor Lead. I would not lose too much sleep over the plumbing pattern, both hot water heaters work the same and result in a cozy Jeep. Note that those Copper Elbows were sweated on to the Later Heater unit for convenience of routing the hoses.
And Dave, best resolve your VR Issue as you will have to yank the heater every time you have to work on the VR.

Nice looking M-38A1 U.S.A. 201002900, in the bottom photo. Whose Jeep is it? :wink:
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Cabin Fever
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Re: M38A1 heater questions

Post by Cabin Fever » Tue Mar 20, 2018 1:23 pm

Unless you drive your A1 during the winter, take the water heater out and sell it. That's what I did. I got sick and tired always having to work around it or having to remove it when I wanted to get to the distributor.

This is a photo of the heater I had in my A1.

Image

Image
1955 M38A1 MD 85388

MVPA Member #35153
Member - Red Bull Historic Military Vehicle Association

Joe Gopan
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Re: M38A1 heater questions

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Mar 20, 2018 1:42 pm

Mine's been installed since 1975, nearly 70,000 happy miles. Came in handy on Mt, Washington
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

dlevy
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Re: M38A1 heater questions

Post by dlevy » Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:35 pm

Thanks for the info on the early vs late heaters, Joel. (the lower picture I found in the internet; not sure who's M38A1 it is)

Cabin Fever, that is a nice looking jeep.

I am going to look around for the early heater and kit to install in my M38A1. The later heater in the top picture is the one I took out of my M38A1 when I started the restoration. I think I will put that one in an M151.

If anyone know of any available early heater or parts, please let me know!

Thanks,
Dave

Joe Gopan
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Re: M38A1 heater questions

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:19 am

The second Jeep down is parked in my garage. Have 43 trouble free years of happy miles in its drivers seat.
U.S.A. 201002900.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


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