M38A1CDN2 and CDN3 Axles

Mike Baker · #1 15-07-11, 09:35

All,

Would like to confirm something for my own sanity:

The pubs all indicate that the front axle on all M38CDN and M38A1CDN trucks was a Spicer (Dana) 25. But, production of the Spicer 25 was discontinued in 1960 and it was replaced with the mostly-identical Spicer 27.

So the question is this: Do M38A1CDN2 and CDN3s, which were all produced after 1960, have a Spicer 25 or a Spicer 27 front axle?

Thanks in advance,

Mike

rob love · #2 15-07-11, 14:07

I checked my data summary for the Cdn 2 and it lists the front diff as a #25. I would have to go look at my Cdn3 for the answer on their diff....seems to me the model numbers are cast into the housings.

Mike Baker · #3 16-07-11, 02:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob love

I checked my data summary for the Cdn 2 and it lists the front diff as a #25. I would have to go look at my Cdn3 for the answer on their diff....seems to me the model numbers are cast into the housings.

The model numbers are supposed to be cast into the bottom-right corner on the front of the housing (according to the manufacturer, anyway), but when I cleaned the gunk off of mine it had "7038" there, which doesn't really mean anything to me.

Doesn't matter much right now, since most of the parts are interchangable, but it would be nice to know which it is....

Thanks for the input,

Mike

chris vickery · #4 16-07-11, 16:30

Mike, I concur with you regarding the "cast in" Dana number.
My CDN3 has a rear diff from a CDN2 at the moment, am changing it out with another CDN3 diff I recently aquired.
Neither of them have the identifier on them as shown in the manuals.
I could not find the number on my front differential either.

rob love · #5 17-07-11, 00:37

Note that the rear diff on a Cdn 3 uses fine spline axles, as opposed to the course spline of the earlier willys. Of course, the Cdn3 also has those terrific one piece axles and the larger self actuating brakes.