Posted by Fred Coldwell on September 30, 2000 at 11:13:07:
In Reply to: Has anyone here swapped M37 axles under a 41 WC? posted by Brian in Oregon ntxt on September 29, 2000 at 12:01:02:
Brian:
I have not made the swap you asked about, but looked into using M-37 axles on a WC 3/4 ton 4X4 truck, a similar swap. Here are some factors to consider.
The track on a M37 is about 2 inches narrower than a 3/4 ton WC, so may also be narrower than the WC 1/2 ton track. The springs on a M-37 are slightly wider (perhaps 1/4") than on a WC 3/4 ton, so the M-37 spring pads (and U bolts) are too wide to tightly hold WC 3/4 ton springs in place on the M-37 axle, even if relocated to proper track. A solution is to remove the M-37 springs pads and, in your case, replace with the narrower WC 1/2 ton spring pads in correct location on axle housing.
How does the location of the steering arm and drag link knob coming off the top left (driver side) of the front axle compare between the two trucks?
Finally, shock absorbers, brackets and their mounting locations are different for each truck, so (depending on the type of shock you end up using) you may have to swap out the cast brackets that go under the axles into which the U bolts attach. The narrower WC 1/2 ton spring U bolts should not fit into the slightly wider hole spacing on the M-37 cast brackets. M-37 U bolts are too wide, yet another problem.
Overall, it would be much easier to swap in mid- to late-war WC 3/4 ton, or WDX-WM300 Power Wagon, axle assemblies than M-37 axles on your WC 1/2 ton 4X4. Good luck with the swap!