Relation between axle dates and DoD of late MB's

[Michael O.]

I'm curious how many days separate the axle dates and the actual DoD of late 1944 MB's. If anyone with their original data plates could post this information I would be mighty obliged! I'm trying to get an idea of the average spread between the two dates. The axles on my Oct '44 MB (MB 379204) are both dated 10-9-44. Since I don't have my original nomenclature plate I can only estimate that the DoD is on or about 10-12-44?

I don't yet know the axle dates on my Sept '44 MB (MB 369488) but the bell housing is dated 9-6. MB 369488 is also missing its nomenclature plate so I'm trying to pinpoint a DoD for her as well. When I can get the dates off those axles I'll post that information also.

Thanks in advance!

[Ralph]

Michael,
I think you can be fairly sure of those close dates on your MB axles/DOD.
My understanding is that once production commenced,the short distance between Spicer & Willys factories...only a few days lead time resulted.
The MB I owned had no data plates either, but by calculation of frame & matching engine numbers,came in at 3/8/43. Both axles were stamped 3/4/43.

[Mark Tombleson]

Anything is better than nothing... but the skew is wide on some jeeps.

My jeep is an extreme example as my original axles are dated 2-3-44.

Engine is block stamp is 5-31-44, transmission 1-12-44 and bell housing 1/7.

Yet my MZ-1 was the last one delivered and the only one in July 1944.

That is 6 months skew.

Mine was most likely due to the delivery for that particular jeep contract... which delivered from February into May 1944.

Makes sense... I'm sure all the axle assemblies were delivered based on the quantity of the contract orders.