turning radius

billybob · Post by **billybob** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:50 pm

My M-38 - # 53623 2/52 has GPW axles both front and rear. Can someone please give me degree angle to set the turning radius. I'm pretty sure it's different than the standard axles. I had it copied or written down somewhere but now I can't find it. Thanks in advance for any help.

Post by **wesk** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:06 pm

If you actually have the front axle with the steering bellcrank mount on it then here's that info from TM 9-803 WWII MB/GPW:

billybob · Post by **billybob** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:54 pm

Thanks again Wesk for the fast reply. Yes I'm sure it is a GPW unit. There are ford or GPW stamped on just about every piece that I have cleaned up. The steering arm and kingpin are one piece. I wasn't aware of TM 9-803. I looked in TM 10-1513 but I didn't see it. Thanks again.

Post by **wesk** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:51 am

Steering knuckle parts and diff's can easily be GPW & Ford stamped and the axle could still be the later M38 unit. The key way to tell the WWII jeep axle from the post WWII jeep front axles is only the WWII jeep front axle mounts the steering bellcrank on the axle housing. The rest mount the steering bellcrank on the front frame crossmember.

If you really have WWII axles front and rear then you have 4.88:1 gears instead of the M38 5.38:1 gears. The 4.88 gears will cost you on accelerating snort with the stock 7.00-16 M38 tires. The WWII jeeps ran 6.00-16 tires with that ratio.

M38 front axle housing

MB/GPW front axle

WWII MB/GPW front axle housing with pivot post for steering bellcrank.

billybob · Post by **billybob** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:49 am

It has the bellcrank mount on the front of the axle tube, although it is not being used. The one on the frame is the one that has the bellcrank mounted to it. It also has spicer axle shafts in it. The ring gear and pinion if I remember correctly is 39-8 which I believes makes it a 4.88:1. The rear axle is the same ratio. I drove it quite a bit before I tore it down and everything seemed to work fine. I haven't bought the tires yet. I may go with 600-16s. They are also quite a bit cheaper. I guess I have a Hienz 57 jeep. Thanks again for your all your help and try to keep warm up there today.