Help/questions with MB1017A axle numbers and fast-upgrade in North America

[tonydca]

Hello all -

I'm looking at an ex-military 1017 that seems to have found its way through a stint in the US army before ending up on the market. Given the age and cloudy history of these vehicles, I wouldn't be surprised if it has a bit of a dog's breakfast of replaced parts.

I'm trying to determine what gearing/ratio was originally supplied in the driveline, and also if anyone has experience with parts procurement and/or cost for getting the axles upgraded to "fast" ones typically found on vehicles tagged for emergency vehicles. I'm looking at my local heavy truck shop for possibly doing the actual work, but I'd need to make sure I give them the correct set of parts before they dig into it as they've never actually worked on this specific model of truck before.

(Apparently these vehicles had at least three available ratios in the diffs, and when I went for a drive in this one the other day, even though the speedo was not working I could tell it definitely runs at "convoy" speeds, not "highway" speeds!)

I found the following numbers stamped on the axle casings. I'm not sure if they are complete, but the vehicle drives without the transfer case exploding, so presumably if we can determine one, they'll be the same for both F/R:

Rear axle casting: 675 351 0105 48

Front Axle casting (three number sequences in separate places): 381 331 0105 , 05 7 666 40 , DK044

The seller is unsure whether the vehicle was originally built as a 1985 or 1988 model - I'm uncomfortable to publicly list the VIN on the forum, but if anyone here has access to the MB factory database and I could PM them the VIN and engine IDs for any history, I'd be much obliged.

Thanks!

 

[DiploStrat]

These folks are wonderful. Use your browser's translate functions if you do not speak German.

Forum - LN2-Forum.de (ln2-forum.de)

 

[tonydca]

Vielen Danke! (via Google Translate...)

 

[Geo.Lander]

Hi, you can lookup your VIN here: https://mercedes.7zap.com/en/eu/fg/truck/

Any particular reason you do not want to list the VIN?

 

[tonydca]

I don't want to seem rude - I understand your question, and a large part of me feels like I should be able to.

But for no particular reason - just that in my old age I am getting more and more sensitive to privacy issues in general. When in doubt I usually avoid publishing unique identification ID online in public forums.

I haven't purchased this vehicle, and I figured that while axle numbers are pretty generic, VINs are unique. Same as people often blur their license plates when they post vehicle pictures online.

I do appreciate the link!

 

[Joe917]

Is it the one with the wooden homebuilt box?

 

[tonydca]

Is it the one with the wooden homebuilt box?

LOL, no - just your garden-variety ex-mil 1017A. Unfortunately slow axles and in need of a little TLC on account of old age and inactivity I suspect...

PS: Thanks heaps to Geo.Lander for the 7zap website link - very helpful!

 

[Sitec]

Is it the one with the wooden homebuilt box?

I wonder where that vanished too...?

 

[Geo.Lander]

I

Hello all -

I'm looking at an ex-military 1017 that seems to have found its way through a stint in the US army before ending up on the market. Given the age and cloudy history of these vehicles, I wouldn't be surprised if it has a bit of a dog's breakfast of replaced parts.

I'm trying to determine what gearing/ratio was originally supplied in the driveline, and also if anyone has experience with parts procurement and/or cost for getting the axles upgraded to "fast" ones typically found on vehicles tagged for emergency vehicles. I'm looking at my local heavy truck shop for possibly doing the actual work, but I'd need to make sure I give them the correct set of parts before they dig into it as they've never actually worked on this specific model of truck before.

(Apparently these vehicles had at least three available ratios in the diffs, and when I went for a drive in this one the other day, even though the speedo was not working I could tell it definitely runs at "convoy" speeds, not "highway" speeds!)

I found the following numbers stamped on the axle casings. I'm not sure if they are complete, but the vehicle drives without the transfer case exploding, so presumably if we can determine one, they'll be the same for both F/R:

Rear axle casting: 675 351 0105 48

Front Axle casting (three number sequences in separate places): 381 331 0105 , 05 7 666 40 , DK044

The seller is unsure whether the vehicle was originally built as a 1985 or 1988 model - I'm uncomfortable to publicly list the VIN on the forum, but if anyone here has access to the MB factory database and I could PM them the VIN and engine IDs for any history, I'd be much obliged.

Thanks!

You should be able to buy the gearing (you do not need the complete axles is my understanding). I have been on this subject recently. As my VIN states I have as (39:8) front and medium/fast rear (43:10), I find this very confusing to be honest. I highly recommend you check out the threads on LN2 forum to figure out exactly what parts you need to source. Companies like getriebefach in Germany can express you the gears and probably know more about the exact parts needed for the job.

(Translation / SA number)

48: 7 = 6.857 / A65 / A24 slowest axis
41: 6 = 6,833 / A24
43: 7 = 6.143 / A23 / A63
41: 7 = 5857 / A62
40: 7 = 5.710 / A22 / A15
42: 8 = 5,250 / A56 / A08
47: 9 = 5.222 / A61
41: 8 = 5.125 / A19
39: 8 = 4.875 / A21 / A08
38: 8 = 4,750 / A60
43: 10 = 4,300 / A59 / A69 / A89 / A20 / A16 / A08
47: 12 = 3,917 / A58
43: 11 = 3,909 / A14
46: 12 = 3.833 / A55
40: 11 = 3.636 / A10
43: 13 = 3,308 / A25
41: 13 = 3.145 / A77
38: 13 = 2.923 / A? fastest axis

slow axes:
suitable for pack donkeys, steep roads, off-road driving
= lower top speed at the same engine speed
= more power at the same speed
= more consumption

fast axes:
suitable for fast, brisk driving on flat roads or slopes
= higher top speed at the same engine speed
= less power at the same speed
(Disadvantage on steep roads and off-road)
= less consumption

 

[VerMonsterRV]

I


You should be able to buy the gearing (you do not need the complete axles is my understanding). I have been on this subject recently. As my VIN states I have as (39:8) front and medium/fast rear (43:10), I find this very confusing to be honest. I highly recommend you check out the threads on LN2 forum to figure out exactly what parts you need to source. Companies like getriebefach in Germany can express you the gears and probably know more about the exact parts needed for the job.

(Translation / SA number)

48: 7 = 6.857 / A65 / A24 slowest axis
41: 6 = 6,833 / A24
43: 7 = 6.143 / A23 / A63
41: 7 = 5857 / A62
40: 7 = 5.710 / A22 / A15
42: 8 = 5,250 / A56 / A08
47: 9 = 5.222 / A61
41: 8 = 5.125 / A19
39: 8 = 4.875 / A21 / A08
38: 8 = 4,750 / A60
43: 10 = 4,300 / A59 / A69 / A89 / A20 / A16 / A08
47: 12 = 3,917 / A58
43: 11 = 3,909 / A14
46: 12 = 3.833 / A55
40: 11 = 3.636 / A10
43: 13 = 3,308 / A25
41: 13 = 3.145 / A77
38: 13 = 2.923 / A? fastest axis

slow axes:
suitable for pack donkeys, steep roads, off-road driving
= lower top speed at the same engine speed
= more power at the same speed
= more consumption

fast axes:
suitable for fast, brisk driving on flat roads or slopes
= higher top speed at the same engine speed
= less power at the same speed
(Disadvantage on steep roads and off-road)
= less consumption

Our truck is also listed with different front/rear ratios. I have been told by a retired Mercedes truck mechanic that owns an LN2 that the EPC is incorrect (the ratios are the same). I still have it on my to-do list to crawl under and take a picture of the plates on the axles.

 

[Madoxen]

If your truck is old enough or seen enough use do not be supprised if the tags are either so worn you can read/painted over or just not there at all. Truelly frustraiting.

 

[Sitec]

So, is the above list of ratios just to suit the AL3 axle? I have found our front ration in the list (43:10 4,300), but not our rear ratio of 4,333 which is in the larger HL7 axle. The slight difference would I guess help with lead/lag.

On another note, I believe Atego rear axles are a newer version of the AL3 and have a 'fast' ratio in them... I've found one locally I'm going to pull apart.

 

[Cois]

Hi guys,
So it looks like my truck has got the slowest axles on 48:7
Here in South Africa I can get the 47:12 (3,917) ratios available and it looks like with the G3/60 gearbox, I will be at a nice highway speed of 100km/h at 2000rpm.
But I need to check this better. Does anyone have the ratio for the G3/60 gearbox?
I also need some info on my transfer box. There are two numbers on the box (input and output side has different numbers cast in – 3452810001 & 3832810715). Would like to know the ratios here as well.

I was thinking to rather source a replacement gearbox with maybe a 6th gear overdrive, but now that I know I have the slowest axles, no gearbox upgrade will give me the step-up I can get like an axles upgrade.

 

[Geo.Lander]

Hi guys,
So it looks like my truck has got the slowest axles on 48:7
Here in South Africa I can get the 47:12 (3,917) ratios available and it looks like with the G3/60 gearbox, I will be at a nice highway speed of 100km/h at 2000rpm.
But I need to check this better. Does anyone have the ratio for the G3/60 gearbox?
I also need some info on my transfer box. There are two numbers on the box (input and output side has different numbers cast in – 3452810001 & 3832810715). Would like to know the ratios here as well.

I was thinking to rather source a replacement gearbox with maybe a 6th gear overdrive, but now that I know I have the slowest axles, no gearbox upgrade will give me the step-up I can get like an axles upgrade.

I have looked into this in the past, here are Mercedes crownwheel & pinion aftermarket options for the rear axles available from Germany, I think most go with the genuine part for front axle I have been told because they are simply not available..