Technical WILLYS Front Axle Info needed

Are there "Early' and "Late" Willys stock factory front axles? Did a search and nothing came up. Photos and dimensions would be great, I may need one in the future. Bob

 

'33 to '36 is narrower than the '37 to '41. Four lugs up into the later body. don't know the cut off year.
Norm

 

Do you mean "Willys"?

- EM

 

Four lugs up to the 1939 model 48. The one that looks like a 1937-38 Willys not the 1939 Willys Overland. (Some call the Overland a Sharknose and it has heart shaped headlight lenses )

 

Here is a model I built of the '39 Willys.

 

Thanks, Corrected that shouldn't post late at night. Bob

 

Thanks, hope some photos get posted, I think the early one has a nicer forged area king pin to spring pad.

Bob

 

I say "Willis" because I've been told by older drag racers that's how it's pronounced.

 

If memory serves me right 33-36 have around 3/4" kingpins and 39 and up have 7/8" kingpins.

Pat

 

Legend is that is the way that J. North pronounced it too.

 

Someone has to have a photo of one!


Bob

 

More than 90 years after John North Willys came to Toledo, there is confusion about how to pronounce his name.
“I talked to many people, now deceased, including his private secretary, and all said emphatically that he pronounced it `Willis,' said Ron Szymanski, local Jeep historian. “I can attest to the fact that Willys' relatives all say `Willis.'”
http://www.toledoblade.com/local/20...is-name-Willis-local-Jeep-historian-says.html

 

37, 38 has an inch more drop than a 41,42. not sure the cut off so 39, 40 ??? Some one will chime in with real facts.

 

King pin c/c '33 - 43 inches '40 - 48 inches
Spring center bolt c/c '33 - 22 1/4 inches '40 - 27 inches

 

Mine will always be a Willies!!

 

OK! Thank you NORSON! That sandblasted one in front is what I'm looking for, there should be one out there since I don't see any Willys 77 drag cars using one. Next question is what do the rear spring mounts look like for this axle. Bob

 

They use the same spring shackles and nuts as Willys Jeeps. Can get exactly what you need at a Jeep dealer.

 

1933-1935 shackles are different than 1936. 1936 are like early Jeep and use a U bolt with bushing nuts, the earlier ones are Tryon type shackles. They use a tapered pin in the frame and the spring with a bolt through the center to hold pressure. Look down a couple of posts, I found a pic on my phone

 

I didn't know that. My coupe is a '36.

 

I guess I should ask the obvious question; what car are you wanting this axle for? Your questions are pretty random, do you have a specific Willys in mind?

 

@The37Kid

Well I found a pic on my phone and cropped it. Hope this helps

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^ Thanks! Bob

 

Interesting. Like many others, I'm constantly running across people who pronounce it the way the family did or does. - EM

 

It was used on a Vintage race car I hope to restore. Bob

 

Got it!

 

no its not, the original car maker, john willys, said it was pronounced "willies".

 

I suppose this debate will go on forever, I always called them 'Willys', but when I was a much younger man (maybe 17) I heard 'KS Pittman' (famous gasser fame) call them 'Willis' cars. That took me back because it was the first time I heard it pronounced that way. I then later in life remember seeing a Willys factory advertisement and the man speaking in the commercial called them 'Willis'. DDDenny may be right. I kinda like the sound of Willis myself, and maybe partial because of the time I got to spend hanging around KS for a few summers.

 

Anyone know what thread is on 33-36 Willys spindle for castle nut that holds hub?Not having any luck using 5/8 fine, is it some odd thread?

 

If one of these '33-'36 axles turns up I'm still looking for one. Bob

 

Bob, I know where there are a couple of them.