Question: Free wheeling hubs on WC54's

[peolini]

Hi all of you all knowing folks out there.
I have seen many of surviving WC54 ambulances with free wheeling front hubs, but I have never seen one in war time pictures.
Does anybody know whether they were available during WW2?

Thank you in advance,

Dennis

 

[MWMULES]

No they were not used during the war.
If you want to have free hubs and still have the "correct" look get an extra set and have the splines machined out. I have have done the same with a deuce that spent most of it's time on road. Even gives you a little better gas mileage.

 

[peolini]

Hi, and thank you very much for your reply.
I am not looking for using them myself, but it is subject of a discussion whether they are used in WW2.

 

[gerrykan]

I don't think they were invented until after the war.

 

[svaasand]

I have a set of goverment issue dodge free wheeling hubs, they were date marked early 1950's. Don't think they were available during WWII.
They look like the normal hubs, but with a ball bearing instead of splines. Not possible to engage the front wheel drive with them installed, so they give permanent 4x2. Of course it is a quick job to reinstall the original splined hubs, if needed.