Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,115 Posts1,056,289 Members48,439 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 | I happened to pass a 1943 GMC twin-axle AWD truck up on US12 in Idaho. Stopped to look; it has an interesting driveline setup.
In 2WD mode, the driveshaft drives the readmost of the two rear axles. This driveshaft is along the centrline of the vehicle.
In 4WD, the transfer case drives the front axle and the forward rear axle, via two driveshafts that are offset to the passenger side.
So it looks like 2WD mode is just the rear axle, and 4WD mode is all 3 axles.
The rearmost axle looks fairly normal. The front axle and the other rear axle are different; the left and right axle tubes are one piece with a sort of half-dish. Bolted together, the two halves contain a ring and pinion. It's not clear if there's enough room in there for a differential. Maybe n AWD mode they figure it's better to be a spool hub.
Anyone ever see a setup like this?
Cheers,
George | | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | They might be Timken axles, those had the bolt together configuration. They were used on early Willys pickup trucks and are expensive to rebuild.
Paint & Body Shop moderator
A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | | 
#6209 08/08/2003 11:45 PM | Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 427 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 427 | George, they are actually six wheel drive trucks, not four wheel. That's how the war era trucks (duece and a halfs) were all 6WD setups. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 65 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 65 | George
That system was used on GM trucks until about 1956, when they went to a single driveshaft for the rear axles.
Before the days of diesel, truckers used to pull 35 foot grain trailers with the 235 engines. My dad's dealership used to make what we called double troubles. They'd put a Oldsmobile Rocket V8 behind the cab with a Hydramatic transmission driving a second axle and when they got to a hill, they'd start the engine to pull the hill.
No Kidding!!!
Steve Ley
51 Chevrolet Canopy Express
02 K25 Duramax Crew Cab
| | |
#6211 08/09/2003 10:29 AM | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 Member | | Member Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 | Did the truck look like this one?
[img]http://photo.starblvd.net/~Mechainiacsphotos/1-1-5.jpg?i=1055480191[/img]
You can just make out the rear diff in this pic
[img]http://photo.starblvd.net/~Mechainiacsphotos/1-1-2.jpg?i=1060559631[/img]
There is enough good in the worst of us and enough bad in the best of us that it does not behoove any of us to criticize the rest of us.
-
-
Be yourself. If you are ever lost, It will be much easier to find yourself if you know who you are!
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | I have a '41 GMC military truck out in the woods. It is missing 2 axles but the rest of the drivetrain is there. I always called it 10 wheel drive. The cab appears to be the same as a '41-'46 civilian model with the exception of the windshield doesn't crank out. You push it out by hand and lock it down with thumbscrews. The front sheet metal is similar to the truck Luke posted but the cab is not. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 Member | | Member Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 | Old military w/civilian cab - [img]http://photo.starblvd.net/~Mechainiacsphotos/3-5-4.jpg?i=1063031164&pw=*20F33F355515[/img] - - - How about this set-up on the driveline - [img]http://photo.starblvd.net/~Mechainiacsphotos/3-5-5.jpg?i=1063068239&pw=*3FE03F35587C[/img]
There is enough good in the worst of us and enough bad in the best of us that it does not behoove any of us to criticize the rest of us.
-
-
Be yourself. If you are ever lost, It will be much easier to find yourself if you know who you are!
| | |
#6214 08/10/2003 12:23 AM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 | Yeah, the truck I saw looks just like the ones in Mechaniac's photos - including the axle in the back. The one I passed is for sale if anyone cares - I could drive by and get the number. It *appears* it might be a runner, but I have no idea. And no, this is not a for-sale post, since I am not selling it. 8-)
Thanks for the replies - it's an interesting vehicle and driveline, to say the least. The extra-V8 idea is intriguing, and as cheap as 350/350s are, worth doing IMHO. ;-)
George | | |
|
|
