WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

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WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:11 am

The NOS LH MB Fender installed on my MB was ordered direct from Jeep in 1972 using Part number A-2942. Cost was $19.00 or $20. The RH was purchased Army Surplus it had the FSN and ORD #7743847 with Jeep factory Tag. Date of manufacture was 1967. Front Drivers seat with cushions is FSN marked and dated 1959, it was purchased from American Auto Parts in Kansas City via an ad in Popular Science back in 1971 for $45.00 Jeep carried a good inventory of original MB (M-38 and M-38A1, also) thru approx. 1971-72 with NOS L-134 Short Blocks, 636 Carburetors, and many other parts thru mid 70's until suddenly purged by American Motors.
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Wed Oct 02, 2013 8:59 am

Hi Ben,
The NOS LH MB Fender installed on my MB was ordered direct from Jeep in 1972 using Part number A-2942.
How can you tell that the LH Fender was NOS ( made during WW2 or on a replacement government contract ) from Jeep and not NS ( new stock ) made in 1971 or 1972 ?

Of coarse than a question would be - How did Jeep have Government contracted NOS parts in their inventory other than by buying government surplus back for reuse or resale ( which is known to have happened ) ?

Just asking to better understand the Jeep sales system for Government vehicle parts. Thanks in advance for you answer!

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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:17 am

Jeep maintained a spare parts inventory which included MB-Parts numbers. As long as they were carried on their Parts Price List, they were current. The list was updated every 90 days, Coding as to their location or storage site within the system. The list was updated with suffixes such as "T" (Stocked at Toledo) DIS (Discontinued) W/D (Will Discontinue when stock is exhausted) I bought NOS MB Fenders, Anti Squeaks, MB Carburetor Horn Seals, M-38A1 Body Tubs, misc panels and bolt on sheet metal, every bolt, fastener and clip for my new build M-38A1,even NOS Transfer/Transmission Boots which I draw from today, Seat Covers and Cushions for CJ-3A, M-38A1 M-38 Head Lamp Guards, Horn Buttons, Horn Rings, Gauges, Wiper Motors, etc. I am only sorry that I did not have the funds to stock huge quantities in the late 60's early 70's when the parts were still available.
As for authenticity of the A-2942 Fender, why would it not be original? As far as I can tell it is the latest revision with fewer bolt down locations along the chassis. Parts from Jeep Factory Stock did not have Army tags with ORD and Stock Numbers, they only had Willys number.
Remember, these vehicles were still in service and there was still a call for parts. AM General and Chrysler put a quick end to all this. Somewhere around 1977, the Zone office notified all the dealers that a list of 50,000 obsolete parts was available- it never materialized.
Where were you, Tom, when all these exciting parts were available?
I'll bet the A-2942 drawing will confirm what Jeep sold me.
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Tom Wolboldt
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Tom Wolboldt » Wed Oct 02, 2013 11:14 am

Hi Ben,

Thanks! Very insightful !!!!!

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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Oct 02, 2013 2:08 pm

There is a difference between OEM MB Fenders , repro and those that were contracted by the French Army as replacements. Some of the non WOF fenders were quite different. I have a RH Repro from a gentleman named Ted who started selling repro MB parts from Belgium in the mid 80's. He passed away and so did the nice repros he was selling.

I have the impression that the stocking of parts for 30+ year old MB and the CJ-2A/CJ-3A Series Jeeps cost Jeep a lot of profit in late model Jeeps and parts sales. AMC and Chrysler did not wait very long to stop servicing the older Jeeps. An M-38A1 body tub cost me under $300.00 in 1969 and the M-38A1 tub was still in inventory thru 1974.
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Michael O. » Fri Oct 04, 2013 6:06 am

I remember 20 some years ago when I got into this hobby (and I was a very young man...boy does time fly!) parts seemed quite plentiful, especially NOS parts, and they were cheap. There was a local parts supplier who had stocks of parts since the end of WWII and jeep engines stacked half way to the warehouse ceiling. I bought all the parts and engines I could over the years. Now, all that has dried up. Even the big parts dealers don't have the inventory they did even 10 years ago. Original and NOS parts command high prices. Even repro parts sell for more than what the NOS version did 10-15 years ago. I must admit that I couldn't afford to start fresh into this hobby present day.

On a note about repro parts...one of the saving graces recently in this hobby is the availability of quality reproduction parts, from decals to wiring harnesses. Many jeeps would be incorrect/incomplete if it were not for these parts.
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Re: MB PARTS...

Post by lucakiki » Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:35 am

No doubt that some parts were stocked for decades with the same part number. That made things easy for anyone whose job was to keep a jeep in top condition replacing worn or otherwise missing parts.
However we should never forget that a same part under the same part number manufactured in post war years might not be identical to the WAR time counterpart.

This simple truth has no effect when the goal is to service a vehicle, but does have important effects when the goal is originality, be it for judging or for one own's pride.

Whether we are talking starter switches or hood latches... :idea:
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Michael O. » Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:08 am

I agree about the comment about part numbers. I was referring to actual WWII production parts...sitting on shelves for over 50 years...both used and NOS. They received about 75 jeeps alone...all in parts (except body tubs and frames) back in 1946. Used to have boxes full of NOS jeep parts...push pull light switches..."F" fuel filters...it was heaven. Some random stuff is still there. For example, I opened up (carefully) a small wood crate there the other day and found about 100 or so boxes of NOS Oil Seals marked "Seal Assy. Oil Axle Hsg. Inner FOR M8 LIGHT ARMORED CAR SNL GROUP G-186 Drwg. No. A-283831 FORD MOTOR COMPANY".

Too bad most of the G503 stuff is long gone...some if it in my garage.
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:18 am

Time does not stand still when it comes to availability of parts. They can be found by establishing yourself as a serious buyer thru long term relationships with a dealer and long time restorers who practice a two way street in finding parts.
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Michael O. » Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:20 am

Exactly Ben...I'd love to go back in time about 20 years! Fond memories!
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:35 am

And some day it will be the memories of Humvee parts that were once plentiful.
I only have one or two old time Army parts men left to talk shop with out of the dozens we had in the 40's-70's, it is a different ball game now as the experience is no longer out there.
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:25 pm

I miss those $10.00 NOS MB/GPW Fenders and Grills at SARAFANS back in 71-72. NOS MB Windshields were stacked in a school bus, price was $85.00.
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Bob N » Sun Mar 18, 2018 6:36 am

I picked up a NOS complete air filter for my GPW. It was still sealed in the box from when it was packaged or likely repackaged. There were newspaper clippings stuff in the box but I don't recall the date. This was around 1985. The dealer? Surplus City. The price $25 as I recall. I didn't have big bucks in those days so I'm sure it wasn't more than that.
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:19 am

Remember "Hymie" at SARAFANS, he would give the best prices. Hymie could usually be seen shuffling around the shop and warehouse pushing a broom. Probably a relative.
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Re: WHEN MB PARTS WERE PLENTIFUL

Post by 3.6rs » Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:43 am

Tom wrote:
Wed Oct 02, 2013 8:59 am
Hi Ben,
The NOS LH MB Fender installed on my MB was ordered direct from Jeep in 1972 using Part number A-2942.
How can you tell that the LH Fender was NOS ( made during WW2 or on a replacement government contract ) from Jeep and not NS ( new stock ) made in 1971 or 1972 ?

Made in 1971 or 1972 is also NOS


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