Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2014 8:15:47 GMT -5
Hi gang...
I've got a local friend with a great looking early M38. (I said friend, so it's not Haines). The major issue with his jeep is that it contains a rat's nest of modern, spliced wires throughout the vehicle. The previous owner converted it to 12 volts and put in an alternator.
Thus, the gauges don't work...among other things.
We are now trying to figure out what our best option is for updating the wire harness. He is going to keep the jeep at 12 volts.
New harnesses are wicked expensive. I don't think they make gauges with the Douglas connectors, either, in twelve volts.
My thoughts (are pretty dumb most of the time, so why would now be different?) are to pick up M38 headlight harness and such (they can be found reasonably) and then modify the ends that connect to the 12 volt pieces.
Then, I'm thinking to reproduce the main harness that runs to the rear of the jeep. The original harness is mostly intact so it can be used as a template and the Douglas connections can be recycled. I somewhat did this for my M37.
What do you guys think? What are other options? I have searched a lot and found other M38ers in 12 volts asking questions, but nobody seems to have any answers.
Boy, I sure do LOVE my 6 volt system in my WW2 jeeps!
I've got a local friend with a great looking early M38. (I said friend, so it's not Haines). The major issue with his jeep is that it contains a rat's nest of modern, spliced wires throughout the vehicle. The previous owner converted it to 12 volts and put in an alternator.
Thus, the gauges don't work...among other things.
We are now trying to figure out what our best option is for updating the wire harness. He is going to keep the jeep at 12 volts.
New harnesses are wicked expensive. I don't think they make gauges with the Douglas connectors, either, in twelve volts.
My thoughts (are pretty dumb most of the time, so why would now be different?) are to pick up M38 headlight harness and such (they can be found reasonably) and then modify the ends that connect to the 12 volt pieces.
Then, I'm thinking to reproduce the main harness that runs to the rear of the jeep. The original harness is mostly intact so it can be used as a template and the Douglas connections can be recycled. I somewhat did this for my M37.
What do you guys think? What are other options? I have searched a lot and found other M38ers in 12 volts asking questions, but nobody seems to have any answers.
Boy, I sure do LOVE my 6 volt system in my WW2 jeeps!
, all very doable and would be a fun project. I would make my own harness, as I to think the repops are spendy, If it was a restored as new to be judged at a convention that would be different, the rear harness on my M715 had a bad spot so I replaced the bad area by soldering and shrink wraping the splices, who would know or care 
