Re: Differences in 1/2 ton Weapons Carriers?


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Posted by Brian in Oregon on July 26, 2000 at 21:27:12:

In Reply to: Differences in 1/2 ton Weapons Carriers? posted by Bruce on July 26, 2000 at 19:31:46:

The WC-12 and WC-14 are both closed cab pickups, with the exception of one (1) WC-12 closed cab truck with no body.

I have not been able to prove it, but suspect that the difference is something minor, like perhaps dash gauges going from rectangular to round. There were minor changes made throughout the series, like the addition of a blackout driving light over the brush guard, increased radio suppression, etc. Both the WC-12 and WC-14 have the 230 engine, while earlier closed cab pickups have the 217 engine.

The Army tech manual, TM9-2800, makes mention of a winch for closed cab pickups. However, there is no record of any closed cab pickup or chassis/cab being built with a winch.

The winch frame and non-winch frame are completely different. You cannot make a 1/2 ton WC winch truck from a non-winch truck, except by swapping frames or cabs & bodies. The frame rails are one piece, and the winch model frame rails are longer, extending roughly a foot from in front of the radiator "gorilla cage", instead of being nearly flush. If you spot a closed cab pickup with a winch, it is most likely an open cab weapons carrier that has had a closed cab swapped onto it, though it could just be a conglomeration of parts as well.

All WC 1/2 tonners use a single speed transfer case. Contrary to popular belief, the 3/4 ton WC trucks also have a single speed transfer case. There was a "mechanics kit" that was designed to allow the later 3/4 ton transfer case to be retrofitted into the 1/2 ton vehicles. There is speculation that some of the last of the 1/2 ton vehicles may have come with 3/4 ton transfer cases. The 1 1/2 ton 6x6 transfer case is a 2-speed case with an extra output for the 2nd rear axle driveline. There have been some civilian swaps of the 6x6 transfer case into 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks, which over the years has added to the confusion of which had 2-speed transfer cases. The 3/4 ton trucks are able to carry more and climb better simply because of lower axle gearing, going to a 5.83:1 from the 1/2 tonners 4.89:1.




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