Technical WILLYS Front Axle Info needed

Going to bump this thread. I have a few questions on willys axles. I have 3 axles including the one under my Henry J. 2 of them have a 2 inch drop. 1 has a 3 inch drop with dropped tie rod ends. The 2” drop axles we’re both from 1938 according to the owners of the cars they came from. One from a truck gasser and the other from a sedan hot rod. The 3” drop is from a coupe gasser of unknown year. I had a 1940 axle once upon a time but never checked the drop because I thought they were all the same back then. It was my understanding that the ‘40-41 axles were 3” drop and the dropped tie rod ends look like an afterthought to me. And the shackle location may have changed from rear to front around 1940. I’m specifically talking about the 37-41 axles with the 48” kingpin width. Does anybody have any information to further clarify this?

 

here's a couple pictures of one used, think it's a 37-38

 

Can you share more information on the disc brake conversion you show on your bottom photo?

 

Picture of a 40/41 Willys axle I had drilled & chromed for one of my Willys.
IMHO they are the best looking axle ever made, at least by the factory.

 

Kid I have one, I'll check the width tomorrow afternoon.

Pat

 

THANKS! If it is an early one it will make for a great 72nd birthday gift to myself.

 

Bob I just looked and the axle I have is a 40-41. Too bad I was going to throw it in if you bought the Oldsmobile.

Pat

 

Thanks Pat. Maybe just as well, found out a few hours ago we need all new fausets and connections for the kitchen sink. Merry Christmas!
Bob

 

I've heard a few call them "Woolie".....but we won't go there!
Potato.potato
Tomato tomato
Does it REALLY matter?!
Cool old 'car'!!
6sally6

 

If try was spelt tri would it be pronounced any different?

 

I changed Willys pattern from 4 on 4"(101.6) to a metric wheel pattern of 4x100mm. I opened up wheel hub stud hole 0.8mm with a Carbide Bur bit and then redrilled larger for Studs with larger shoulder.
Used some 80's VW rotors calipers.



.

 

Ran into this old thread and thought I would share some pictures of an early disc brake change over for Willys that I found at a swap meet several years ago. These are off a '60s Volvo and were a common upgrade for a Willys gasser. I don't remember what modifications were needed, but they were minimal.

 

Now that all the Hot Rod magazines are downloadable I’m wondering if there’s a tech article about doing that swap from when it was popular? It would be cool if all the articles were searchable…