Posted by Keith in Washington [172.68.142.164] on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 22:08:36 :
In Reply to: Dodge WC-52 Axle History and Questions posted by John Seidts [172.68.65.129] on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 20:22:51 :
Yes there was a progression in axles in the 3/4 ton WCs. The welded covers are later and the bolted ones are earlier. The 8.34 ring gears are early and there are a couple different versions. They all have a bolted cover to start with. The later axles are 9 5/8 ring gears. The early axles with the 9 5/8 had the bolted cover later ones had a welded cover.
So if you have a bolted cover it could be either 8 3/4 or 9 5/8 ring gear. You can also put a 9 5/8 ring and pinion in a 8 3/4 axle with the correct number of gaskets. If the axle has a a ring welded to the differential mounting surface it will have a 9 5/8 ring and pinion.
So it is not straight forward as to which gears are in the axles. You need to either open it up and look or lift the axle and spin the tires and count the rotation of the drive line.
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