Thread: When did Jeep first go intoaction in WWII

Originally Posted by slug_burner

the GAZ 67 what an odd front spring arrangement

Unusual today, but this, or variations on it were not unusual in the twenties and into the thirties - it was a signature design for Overland (later Willys Overland), used front and rear with the springs set at 45 degrees.

John

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.

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.

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.

This type of independent suspension, often with one spring replaced by a link, was widely used in the past. One example I can think of is the postwar Lanchester.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

This type of independent suspension, often with one spring replaced by a link, was widely used in the past. One example I can think of is the postwar Lanchester.

John

John, i wasn't suggesting that centred rear,offset front diffs weren't common in the past or at present.Of course I'm aware that most manufacturers build vehicles this way. It was just that the line drawings of the GAZ was conveniently there to illustrate the points I was making.
Wagoo.

Originally Posted by wagoo

John, i wasn't suggesting that centred rear,offset front diffs weren't common in the past or at present.Of course I'm aware that most manufacturers build vehicles this way. It was just that the line drawings of the GAZ was conveniently there to illustrate the points I was making.
Wagoo.

And good points, for that matter, ones I had not considered as a drawback of centred rear diffs. But then I guess I don't do a lot of dragging diffs through mud! Nor, for that matter have I ever owned a vehicle with offset front and centred rear diff.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I think tracing the Landcruiser descent to this is a bit of a long bow. Both were certainly copied from the Jeep (as was the Landrover), but the Landcruiser was designed well after the war (1948?) specifically for police and other government service.

Not exactly a direct decent obviously, but according to Toyota (who were commissioned to build the AK10) it was an evolution to the Land Cruiser. The 50's Land Cruisers don't look much like today's either.