front axle swap for 49 Willys Jeep Truck

Hello All Heres a intresting one

What kind of front axle system would be Easy to install & inexpensive to find. to replace the 4x4 unit that the truck as original?

i know there not alot of info here ask and i'll see if i can give you more specifics

thanks all

Cyric

 

You didn't say if you want to drop it or not. But if not you might want to look at speedway g***er front axle kit.

Also you might speak to fiddyfour, but I think he's going MII.

 

Hello Terry

this is not or a droped front end just normal

 

Check MAS Racing, they advertise in Rod & Custom, Street Rodder, ect. Axles from 0 to 7" drop for $179.00. Dean

 

The mail Jeep(2wheeldrive) axle may be a straight swap.

 

****
You know i never even thought about those little boxes on wheels...the just might be a straight swap...anyone know for sure or know much about them.?

 

The 2WD Willys used a completely different ch***is - that's not to say you couldn't swap from a Mail Jeep or 2WD Wagon/Truck....just that it won't be a bolt-in deal.

The problem with the Willys is they're very narrow - I believe the axles are 47" wide (wheel mounting to wheel mounting), so you're probably looking at something custom...

Why are you wanting to switch from 4WD? Early Bronco stuff is all the right width as is Scout & even early Blazer. Other Jeeps like early Wagoneers & J-series trucks are the same width. So if you want to keep 4x4, you've got loads of options.

 

All I can tell you is we put one in my brothers 51 Willys CJ2A?.
That was over 30 yrs. ago so its a little foggy. Iirc the axle bolted
up without much drama. This was only a Willys ch***is and body
from the cowl foward,steering I believe had been modified previously.
Chevy column and saginaw box outfront that you may be able to
make out in these ****py pics.
The problem was as I remember,the mail jeep axle had a 4 bolt
hub and although we did run it for about a year it never had front
brakes(not sure what the issue was or if we just didn't have enough
parts. With a rowdy 327 first with a muncie 4 sp and later a 400
automatic it was a real handful to drive and worse trying to stop.
It kept trying to kill us in this configuration and was eventually
converted back to 4wd and he still has it. No idea what happened
to the axle,but it could very well still be in the parts stash in Ohio.
Might try getting a hold of Woody in tech at http://www.4wd.com/ he deals with this stuff for a living and
knows it better than me.

 

Is it just me, or shouldn't all Jeeps be 4 wheel drive? Taking that front axle out takes all the cool out of it.