TRANSFER CASE TRAINING

Although this article is intended as a primer for historic military vehicle (HMV) transfer cases in general, it will focus mainly on the Dana Spicer 18 as found in most U.S. military jeeps, including the WWII Ford GPW and Willys MB, as well as the M38, M38A1, M170 and M606. The Dana Spicer 18 was also fitted to Willys and Kaiser civilian jeeps, such as the CJ2, CJ3A, CJ3B, CJ5 and CJ6, as well as used in four-wheel-drive Willys pickups, station wagons, and the FC-150 and FC-170 Forward Control vehicles. Additionally, it was used many foreign-licensed Jeep models, including those built by Mahindra Jeep in India, and Mitsubishi Jeep of Japan, as well as in early model International Scouts.

The Spicer Corporation was founded in 1904 by Clarence Spicer, who soon partnered with Charles Dana. The Dana Spicer Corporation manufactured automotive power train and chassis components through the most of the 20th century.

The Dana 18 is one of the simplest and easiest transfer cases to rebuild and repair. In most cases no special tools except a good pair of snap ring pliers are required. One should have, or make, a brass rod to drive out the intermediate gear shaft and other such tasks; never hit the shaft or other parts directly with a hammer or they may chip. The intermediate shaft drives out through the REAR of the case. The shaft is slightly smaller at the front, and trying to drive it out through the front may crack the case. Check the case for cracks around the intermediate shaft bore. If there are cracks, it usually indicates that someone did try to drive the shaft out through the front.

Designed in 1940, the Dana Spicer Model 18 was in production for 30 years. Even after it was updated to the Model 20, it remained basically the same, making it one of the most successful vehicular components ever made. Even today, all of its internal parts are still being manufactured and are readily found almost anywhere in the world. When viewed as a whole, the design is somewhat elegant for a piece of machinery, almost having the same