[Guest]

I have a 1943 willys jeep w/ 350 chev, muncie 4-speed, warn overdrive, and what I believe to be the stock front and rear differentials w/ 5:38 gears. I think the front is a m-30 with the ball type knuckle and the rear a dana 44, can you tell me if this sounds right???? I would like to upgrade the front for sure but not sure what the best way to go would be? also is the back stout enough to use or should I also step that up??? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[118]

Your front is probably a D25 if it's stock. Your rear is either a D41 or a D44 with a 19 spline carrier. Whether or not they'll hold up depends alot on how you drive it and what size tires you run. What are your plans??

Keith



C-Ya.....................kh

 

[Guest]

If it is indeed the stock axles, the front would be a Dana-25, and the rear is a Dana 23 Full Floater. Neither of these axles live very long with a V-8 spinning them. If your rear is a Dana 44 and the Jeep is a 43', the axle had to come from a 49' or newer. The D25 was used into the 60's, and the D30 came along in the early 70's as an open knuckle design. The closed knuckle D27 was used between the 25 and the 30. The 30 is about the best "near bolt-in" replacement. The back, if it is the D44, can be pretty stout with the Warn FF kit ($750-800 not including locking hubs). There is not a one piece set produced for this. But, Moser will make a custom set if you send them the two piecers for templates. If you have the 5.38 gears, the front has to be a 25 or 27 as those gears were not offered in the 30 (to the best of my knowledge). I am currently investigating the possibility of putting the 5.38 gears into a D44 front axle. I am not sure if there are any D44 front axles that will work with the 5.38 gears (axle shaft dia, and spline counts). I am going to narrow a full size axle, and probably cut new splines in the shafts to match the 5.38 carrier (if both sides have to be narrowed). I hope this info helps.

Cage Up, Wheels Down
Jeepfiend
All my Jeeps are in pieces!

 

[Guest]

The Dana-41 was not used until 46', and maybe a few in the early CJ2's (late 45'). To the best of my knowledge the 23 Full Float was used in all militaries. Which is what a 43' would be. The "Civilian Jeep" CJ was not produced until after the war. Prior to that ALL Jeeps produced were military. If you have the 41, I would get rid of it in favor of a D44 from a later CJ or M38.

Cage Up, Wheels Down
Jeepfiend
All my Jeeps are in pieces!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the good info, I will do some more research to find out for sure what is in it now!!!, as for my plans I primarily use this jeep for trail, sand dunes, logging roads
and some street driving on sunny days, the jeep runs and drives great right now. it has 31 x 10.5 tires now no lift.
I ran a set of my friends 33 x 12.5 boggers at the dunes last weekend, pretty tight fit and alot wider, so I know I am stressing the drivetrain more, I would like to stay with this size tire at least diameter wise. I am not going to do mud bogs or rock crawling (on purpose anyway). any more info will be appreciated, thank you

 

[Guest]

Post a picture, I always like to see Flatties/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif!

Cage Up, Wheels Down
Jeepfiend
All my Jeeps are in pieces!

 

[707]

Back when I was a young pup (1968)my dad had a 1942 with a corvett 327 in his. It had stock axles and would twist them like Pretzels. I still remember limping out of the california desert with only front wheel drive. You should definetly upgrade the axles. It sounds like you do not know if they have been upgraded. I would check them out better and see what you really have.