In the second of this two-part feature, John Carroll discovers that Jeep really is an acronym for 'Just Empty Every Pocket', as his Jeep-on-the-cheap mission proves to be anything but
With the axles in place, before too long the ‘MB’ I was referring to as ‘Miscellaneous Bits’ was a rolling chassis and tub on Hotchkiss wheels and 6.50x16 Firestone SAT tyres. I knew that I had to ensure I would get the post-war T90 gearbox in the right place, as there were various holes for crossmembers in the C-section chassis.
The 1941-1945 Willys MB/GPW has a Warner T84-J three-speed gearbox and Spicer-18 two-speed transfer box (1.97:1 ratio in low). The CJ-2A (after #38221), CJ-3A, CJ-3B, CJ-5 and CJ-6 (to 1971) have a Warner T90 three-speed gearbox and Spicer 18 transfer case with a 2.46:1 low range ratio (early CJ-2As have a remote linkage to suit a column change). The T90 is regarded as stronger than the T84. The Model 18 unit endured until 1971 and retained sepDarate levers for high-range 4x4 and low-range 4x4 until the mid-1960s.
