Originally Posted by
wagoo
The GAZ 67 reputadely used used a lot of A model Ford mechanical components, even some bodywork, but the add on militirised mudguards made the vehicle look hideous even to my perverted sense of aesthetics.The later Gaz69 was much more pleasing to the eye.As 85County mentioned the Timken style split diff construction is still in production on the UAZ469s Some UAZ 469s I've seen in North Vietnam have very compact diffs and a type of portal hub reduction giving around 4'' increased ground clearance.
While off topic and on the subject of groundclearance, take a look at the front and rear drawings of the Gaz67, showing the centred rear and offcentred front diffs.Now picture the vehicle attempting to plow through thick deep mud.Some of the limited traction available is wasted in having to plow 2 furrows instead of one if both diffs were offset.It is also easy to compare how the cross axle ramp or crown angle of a centred diff is significantly reduced when compared to an offset one.
Centred rear diff with offset front diff has been very common in the past, mainly with four wheel drive conversions, rather than vehicles designed as four wheel drives. However, one example is the Toyota Landcruiser, which had the rear diff centred until about 1960, when a two speed transfer case was added, and they reverted from a four speed to a three speed main gearbox.
Twin quarter elliptic springs were also used on the independant front suspension of the WW2 British Humber 4x4 heavy utility vehicle, but these were mounted transversally and basically did the job of upper and lower wishbones.
Wagoo.