Full floating rear axels

Shopman · Post by **Shopman** » Wed Mar 14, 2018 2:23 pm

How many M38 jeeps were equipped with the full floating rear axels ??

Post by **wesk** » Wed Mar 14, 2018 5:07 pm

Only the 6 prototypes SN MC10001 thru MC10006 had the full floating Spice 23-2 in the rear. Then the semi-floater 41 and 44 showed up for regular production.

billybob · Post by **billybob** » Wed Mar 14, 2018 9:24 pm

My Feb 52 M38 Serial # 53623 has a full floating rear axle. Both front and rear axles are GPW.

Post by **wesk** » Wed Mar 14, 2018 9:53 pm

BillyBob,

Trust me, she did not leave Willys with those axles!

billybob · Post by **billybob** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 6:09 am

Wes, I certainly won't disagree with you. Funny thing is my grandson has a barn find 51 M38, #43889 and it too has the full floating rear axle. Why they are that way we'll probably never know. I have no idea if either one has ever been overseas.

Post by **wesk** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:51 am

Why they are that way is really simple. Supply & demand. In the 50's after Korea the surplus market was flooded with Spicer 23-2 floaters. As the m38's were surplused out these were easier to find then 44's. Keep in mind that the civilian jeep by 1960 was terrorizing the western US and they were eating up all the 44 axles so the M38 owners settled for the cheaper 23-2 floaters. Also the salvage yards had many more salvage early CJ2A floaters then 44's around that period.

billybob · Post by **billybob** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 12:50 pm

Thanks Wes. I remember you telling me that before but I lost it somewhere.

Full floating rear axels

Full floating rear axels

Full floating rear axles.

Full floating rear axles.

Full floating rear axles.